Champ Pederson started his new job at Chase Field on Tuesday when the Diamondbacks hosted the Texas Rangers.
The older brother of Diamondbacks slugger Joc Pederson is part of game day operations for the team. He's easy to spot — just look for his last name on the back of the jersey he wears — and he can be found on the field between innings, cheering on the kids in hot dog costumes while they run in place, holding a checkered flag at the finish line of the Legends mascot races, or throwing T-shirts into the crowd from atop a dugout.
“The front office believed in me, so I always wanted a job here," Pederson said. "I was born for this. Born for October."
October, as in postseason baseball. Champ has seen a lot of it with his brother being a part of the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves; Joc won a World Series title with each club. And come this October, if the Diamondbacks get to host playoff games, Champ might have them on his work schedule.
Champ's goal is to work in the Diamondbacks' front office. He said he'd like to work with team president and CEO Derrick Hall one day.
Hall got the ball rolling on that front. He heard that Champ enjoyed working with the Giants and Dodgers, two of Joc's former teams, and spoke to the presidents of those teams about Champ. A friend of Joc's who works for the Dodgers also put in a good word about Champ to the Diamondbacks.
Champ was born with Down syndrome. His happy attitude and personality have always inspired his younger siblings, and it has helped him land jobs with baseball teams and elsewhere.
In 2018, Champ announced the starting lineup for the Golden State Warriors on their Special Needs Family Appreciation Night at the team's former home, Oakland's Oracle Arena. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr brought Champ, who had a part-time job in Warriors' business operations, to Kerr's pregame media session.
"We are all in lockstep with how sweet a young man he is and how great a brother he has here watching over him," Hall said via email. "I asked our People and Culture department to find the perfect fit. We considered greeter, team shop employee, clubhouse assistant and now activation team. This seems to be ideal as he is part of the in-game promotional team and gets to engage with our fans."
Two days into his new gig, Champ is doing just that. He slaps high fives with co-workers and fans, waves a rally towel and dances to deejay music at the stadium.
"I get them fired up," he said.
Hall extends his appreciation.
"It is obvious he loves the game of baseball and understands it well," he said. "Having him share that passion and knowledge with our fans at home games is a win for us."
The Pederson family had hoped Champ could find a role with the Diamondbacks but didn't pressure Hall into making it happen. Shortly after Joc signed with the team, Hall told the family that hiring Champ "was our intention and that he’d be in great hands."
Champ would have started working with the Diamondbacks sooner, but he was employed elsewhere and had some traveling commitments until recently.
Joc Pederson was asked if his brother's new job fits who he is as a person.
"I think so," Joc said. "Bringing a lot of energy, making people's days and just putting a smile on their face."
Friday’s Diamondbacks-Brewers pitching matchup
Brewers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-2, 5.83) vs. Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (10-8, 3.81)
At Chase Field: The Diamondbacks did some rearranging of their starting rotation, skipping Ryne Nelson's turn, which would have come this weekend. But if right-hander Merrill Kelly has to go on the injured list with a hamstring injury from his start Wednesday, Nelson could slot back as soon as Monday in Colorado. On Friday, Rodriguez gets the ball after an extra day of rest hoping to improve his results from his previous two starts. After his return from injury, he won two of his first four starts and got beyond the five-inning mark in all of them. But in his past two appearances, he's lasted just four innings each and took the loss in both, Sept. 2 against the Dodgers and Sept. 7 at Houston. He's faced the Brewers just one another time in his career. Peralta, as of Thursday, is tied for the National League lead in walks with 60, but the one-time All-Star has won three of his past four starts (the fourth a no-decision). He's 3-0 with a 0.55 ERA against the Diamondbacks in his career.
Coming up
Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (9-8, 4.42) vs. Brewers RHP Tobias Myers (7-5, 2.93)
Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (12-6, 3.55) vs. Brewers LHP D.L. Hall (1-1, 4.01)
Monday : At Coors Field, Denver, Colo., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Rockies TBA.
What to know about the Milwaukee Brewers
Arizona prepares to face one of baseball's better teams, the Brewers, who are moving closer to clinching the National League Central Division despite a 3-6 record in September entering play on Thursday. The Diamondbacks play four games against the Brewers in Milwaukee next week. Playing without veteran All-Star Christian Yelich for the rest of the season after he underwent back surgery last month, the Brewers have put together one of the leading pitching staffs in the majors and are led on offense by another All-Star, William Contreras, and rookie Jackson Chourio, who had 19 home runs and 69 runs entering Thursday. Shortstop Willy Adames was the team leader in home runs and RBIs with 30 and 102 going into Thursday's game at San Francisco. The starting rotation is fronted by Freddy Peralta (10-8. 3.81 ERA) and Colin Rea (12-5, 4.21), with Peralta sixth in the NL, entering Thursday, in strikeouts with 179. First-year manager Pat Murphy was Arizona State's head baseball coach from 1995 to 2009, guiding the program to four College World Series and amassing a 629-284-1 record in Tempe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Champ Pederson, older brother of Arizona Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson, lands fun job with club
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