As the son of a former MLB player, Jared James knows he draws extra attention

THUNDER BAY – Jared James knows he draws extra attention every time he steps out onto the baseball diamond.

The son of former Major League Baseball player Dion James, the 21-year-old Thunder Bay Border Cats leftfielder acknowledged people are looking for him to match the results of his father.

“First impressions are everlasting. When they hear that the eyes are going to be on me. It’s going to be, ‘I saw him here and he had a good day’ or ‘I saw him here and it wasn’t so great,’” James said after his team dropped a 10-5 decision to the Alexandria Blue Anchors last Saturday for their fifth loss in six home games.

“The pressure will be like that but at the same time I like it that way because I get looked at and I like the pressure of feeling like somebody is watching me.”

His father spent 11 years in the big leagues between 1983 and 1996, suiting up for four different clubs and finishing with a .288 career batting average with 32 home runs and 266 runs batted in.

Though battling nagging injuries, James has made his presence felt so far in Thunder Bay.

Heading into Tuesday’s road contest against the Mankato MoonDogs, he sports a .347 batting average with four extra-base hits and four runs batted in while suiting up in 14 Northwoods League contests.

Border Cats manager Danny Benedetti said it’s clear that James has the talent to go forward in the sport.

“His swing his going to get him to the next level and even when he’s 100 per cent his outfield play can get him there as well. He’s got what it takes and he does the right things,” he said.

“It’s very fun to watch and hopefully it can spread to some of the other players.”

While typically a middle of the order hitter at school with Long Beach State University, James has become the team’s regular leadoff hitter.

“It puts a lot of trust in me to get on base and score runs. Usually when you’re up in the leadoff position you’re going to be in a situation where there’s two outs and a guy to score,” he said.

“It’s with situations like that I want to be clutch and get those hits when we need them.”

His skipper said James has done a good job adjusting to the new role.

“He starts the whole game where he gets the opportunity to see as many pitches in order for the hitters behind him to get the same opportunity because it’s going to help them get their timing down,” Benedetti said.

“It’s important he does the job of a leadoff hitter to see a lot of pitches and get on base.”

While James has performed at the plate, the Border Cats have tailed off as a team.

Thunder Bay has dropped five straight and eight of their past nine contests to drop out of the first half North Division hunt.
James knows it’s still a long season and the club just needs to hang in.

“You just have to stay positive. Sometimes when you get on a little streak like we are right now unfortunately you have to keep rooting on for the team even though we’re down,” he said.

The Border Cats return to Tbaytel Park at Port Arthur Stadium on Thursday night when they host the Rochester Honkers with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.