Alexander debuts, follows in family footsteps

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KANSAS CITY – Newest Royals infielder CJ Alexander is no stranger to the big leagues despite only being up with Kansas City since Monday.

His family ties are all over baseball, the most recent being his younger brother, Blaze Alexander, debuting this year for the D-backs on Opening Day. CJ and Blaze’s father, Chuck Alexander, was drafted by the Cleveland organization in the 15th round of the 1988 Draft, and spent four years in the Minors as a left-handed relief pitcher.

Chuck’s cousin, Dan Plesac, was a first-round Draft pick by the Brewers in 1983, and was a three-time All-Star reliever whose 18-year career took him through Milwaukee, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Arizona and Philadelphia. Dan’s brother, Joe, was a second-round pick in 1983 by the Padres, and pitched for six years in the Minors.

Dan and Joe’s nephew, Zach Plesac, was drafted by the Guardians in 2019 and is with the Angels now.

So baseball was a constant point of conversation and activity whenever the family got together.

“We were always talking baseball, playing catch, playing tennis or wiffle ball in the backyard at family gatherings,” CJ said. “That was always the family thing to do.”

Especially with the Alexander brothers, who are two years apart.

“Going to bed, because we shared the same room, and just talking about where we wanted to be in our lives down the road,” CJ said. “And it was always at this stage. We just saw the vision and kept pushing hard. Our dad was a big factor in that, our mom as well, keeping us on the right path and pushing us to get here.”

“All we could think about is getting to the big leagues and playing with each other,” Blaze added.

Both Alexanders were taken in the 2018 Draft, CJ by the Braves in the 20th round out of State College of Florida and Blaze by the D-backs in the 11th round out of IMG Academy. Now 27 and 25 years old, respectively, they train together in Arizona in the offseason, but their paths never crossed in the Minors. CJ was traded to the Royals in 2022 as part of the three-player package for a Competitive Balance Draft pick.

Now they’re both at the big league level. When CJ got word Sunday that his debut would be Monday at Kauffman Stadium, his parents were his first call. Blaze, who was on the D-backs' flight home from Philly at that time, was not far behind.

Tons of emotion filled CJ when he got to the stadium Monday, from anxiousness to excitement, and no one knew the feeling more than his younger brother, who watched on TV in Arizona while the rest of the Alexander family made its way to The K.

“I did tell him, ‘Don’t think too much about your first at-bat,’” Blaze said. “I mean, that’s all I thought about the whole entire day. And you got three, four more right after that. So don’t get caught up in the first at-bat, just go out there and be loose and have fun.”

CJ called Blaze the best baseball player he’s ever seen. Blaze used the same wording when talking about CJ, who had been raking in Triple-A Omaha this year, with a .323/.369/.555 slash line, 16 doubles and nine homers, helping the Storm Chasers, crowned first-half International League champions, to the best record in Minor League Baseball (50-25).

CJ and Blaze have been chasing the same dream since they were little. Now they’re achieving it.

“Always growing up, I just wanted to be like my brother,” Blaze said. “Just do the things he does. It’s a lot of hard work that he’s put in, and it definitely wasn’t the quickest or easiest route, he had the challenges and obstacles, but he persevered. I’m more excited for him than I am for myself being up here. It’s a dream come true for me and the family.”

MLB.com reporter Jesús Cano contributed to this story.