The son of two tennis legends is looking to become a pro athlete in himself – but in a very different sport.
The World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in Tuscon are coming up, with Brazil, Germany, Colombia and China set to face off early next month.
And Jaden Agassi – the 23-year-old son of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf – will be on the mound next month representing his mother’s home nation.
The former USC player was born in Nevada and does have some experience playing the sport that his parents dominated to the tune of 30 Grand Slam titles.
Nonetheless, he was more drawn to the diamond as he grew up.
‘I started playing baseball when I was six years old in T-ball,’ Agassi told MLB.com.
Jaz Agassi, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Jaden Agassi pose on the court after a pickleball tournament earlier this month
Agassi is set to represent Germany at the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers next month
Agassi was a pitcher for USC in college and is trying to work his way up the baseball ranks
‘I loved it. I’ve picked up a tennis racket a good amount, but it was always hard for me to keep that ball in between the lines. I just wanted to hit that thing as far as I could. Baseball had my love since day one.’
The pitcher compared his composure on the mound to his mother’s on the court, while he somewhat jokingly acknowledged his dad’s hitting power in an old ad.
‘I’ve got to give the edge to my dad. He did a Nike commercial way back where he’s taking batting practice at Fenway, which is funny. He treats it like a backhand and crushes it.’
Of course, Agassi and Graf are more known for their prowess on the tennis court, with both players becoming the top-ranked players in the world at their respective peaks.
Graf won a whopping 22 singles Slams, including seven Wimbledon championships.
A young Jaden is seen watching his father alongside his mom Graf at the 2005 US Open
Agassi won eight Slams, including four at the Australian Open and a lone Wimbledon title in 1992.
Their son, Jaden, struggled in college as he registered a 6.20 ERA, but he turned a corner in the MLB Draft League last year.
He finished that season with a 2.96 ERA, and was named the Player of the Week on July 9.
Now, he’ll be suiting up for Germany as he takes the next step in his baseball journey.
‘I’m so excited,’ he said.
‘It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little boy to compete on an international scale. [I want to] make my mom proud, make Germany proud and do them right.’
