Millar brothers, sons of a World Series champion, earn chance to spend the summer with the Mat-Su Miners

During Kevin Millar's college baseball career, there were still two preferred summer destinations for a player — Alaska and the Cape. A connection led the Lamar University standout, future big leaguer and World Series champion to the opportunity to play for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League. But this summer, Millar has had the chance to experience the Alaska Baseball League and see the famed ABL through the eyes of his children.

Millar's sons Kash and Kanyon are members of the 2026 Mat-Su Miners.

"There's nothing better than, as a dad, watching your boys play," Kevin, a 12-year Major League player who helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2004 World Series, said during his recent trip to Palmer.

Kash and Kanyon both played at Temple College in Temple, Texas, during the collegiate season. Kash is a sophomore infielder. Kanyon is a freshman infielder. The opportunity for the Millar brothers to head to Alaska and play for the Miners came late in the recruiting process. Kevin had a connection to the Cape as a college player. Kash and Kanyon found their connection to Alaska.

A scout from the Kansas City Royals was at one of their junior college games during the spring. The scout knows Mat-Su Miners general manager Pete Christopher and called Christopher to recommend Kash and Kanyon.

"Pete called us and asked if we had any plans for summer ball," Kash said. "It happened really quick."

A few days later, Christopher offered the Millar brothers spots on the team.

"It's the greatest experience that anybody can have at this age, especially being at a place where they care about you," Kevin said. "Great group of guys. Great staff. Great group of people, and it all starts with Pete and his wife, Denise. Meeting Pete for the first time, it was like we've been friends for 40 years. You know right away the passion that they have."

Kevin has spent his life around the game of baseball. He helped his high school team win a city title in the Los Angeles area, played in the NCAA tournament in college, and spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball. His work continues in broadcasting for the MLB Network.

As Kevin and his wife Jeanna started a family, Kevin said there was no premeditated agenda for his children to follow in his footsteps.

"There's no pressure," Kevin, who also has a daughter, said. "But it's kind of in your blood."

Kevin made his Major League debut with Florida in 1998 and played more than 100 games with the Marlins the following year. He was with the Marlins through 2002 and followed with three seasons in Boston, three more in Baltimore and was with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009.

"As they were little kids, I was at the back end of my career," Kevin said.

Kash (2005) and Kanyon (2006) were both born after Millar and the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. Kevin said his boys would start coming to games when he played in Baltimore and were old enough to visit the clubhouse during his season in Toronto.

"They would come in and shower if we won. That was our thing," Kevin said. "They would come in with their little bags, and if the Blue Jays won that night, they'd come into the locker room.

"They've been around baseball their whole life."

Kash said he mainly remembers his dad's time in Toronto.

"Being on the field and hanging out in the clubhouse with him, always following him around," Kash said.

Kanyon has similar memories, but said it took a while for him to realize what his dad had accomplished in baseball.

"I was like 9 or 10 years old," Kanyon said.  "When I really got into baseball I understood it."

Both said it was great to learn more about their dad's baseball career as they got older.

"Watching all of the Netflix stuff and the documentaries, it's been a pretty cool experience seeing what he's done and being a son of his," Kash said.

As Kash and Kanyon learned more about their dad while growing up, Kevin has had the chance to watch both of his sons create their own careers in the game of baseball.

"They're like my best friends now," Kevin said. "There's the father-son relationship, and then you have the friendship and the guidance. Just to be able to answer questions, because the game, I think people don't realize how hard it is. The game of baseball is the greatest game in the world, but it's the hardest game in the world. There are so many failures and there's so much grind. But the grind you have to enjoy."

Kevin has been a dad and a mentor.

"He's always been really understanding with how hard the game is, and not to put too much pressure on us," Kanyon said.

Kash echoed.

"He's always been there. He's never been upset about a performance," Kash said. "It's all about effort and attitude."

Kevin was part of the historic 2004 Boston team that earned the franchise a World Series title for the first time since 1918, erasing the legendary 'Curse of the Bambino'. He hit .297 that season with 18 home runs, 74 RBI and 74 runs scored. He had a career high 25 home runs and 96 RBI with Boston in 2003. In 12 Major League seasons, the first baseman and outfielder recorded 1,284 hits, 170 home runs, 648 runs and 699 RBI.

Jeremiah Bartz is a longtime sports writer who resides in Palmer.