In many ways, the Opitz family is both Colorado sports royalty and Heritage’s first family of baseball. But they’re still looking for their first big-leaguer.
Jake (33 years old), Shane (28) and Casey (21) all starred at the school, where their parents met at a baseball game in 1979. All three were drafted out of Heritage. Jake played at Nebraska and reached Triple-A with the Phillies, and Shane reached Triple-A with the Blue Jays.
Now, the family’s last shot at the majors comes with Casey. A two-year starter at Arkansas, the switch-hitting catcher is projected to be selected in the five-round MLB draft on Wednesday.