Adam, Drake LaRoche To Throw Out First Pitch Ahead Of Game 2 Of Nationals-Dodgers

(CBS) The duo that was at the center of the first chapter of a chaotic White Sox season will be in the spotlight, at least momentarily, come playoff time.

Former White Sox designated hitter Adam LaRoche and his teenage son, Drake, will throw out the first pitch ahead of Game 2 of the NLDS between the Nationals and Dodgers in Washington D.C. on Saturday, the Post's Chelsea Janes reported. LaRoche played for the Nationals from 2011-'14, with the organization allowing Drake free reign to be around the team and clubhouse.

That was the case in 2015 in LaRoche's first season with the White Sox as well, but when executive Kenny Williams asked him in March ahead of the 2016 season to scale back the time Drake spent around the team, a controversy ensued that garnered national headlines and opened up debate about children in the workplace. Instead of abiding by Williams' wishes, LaRoche abruptly retired.

That led to a most memorable quote from outfielder Adam Eaton in explaining Drake's importance.

"Drake was more than just a kid that came to the clubhouse," Eaton said in March on 670 The Score. "He did more for people than we did for him by having him there every day. It's a difficult dynamic to understand, and that's why there's such a strong outreach for us.

"We lost a leader in Drake, which is crazy enough that a 14-year-old could be looked at like that, but the kid was so tremendous."