The three boys in the Dana family of Montgomery all have the chance to be a part of a Major League Baseball organization in the same calendar year.
The eldest, Cullen Dana, was a pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization from July 2018 until March 2022, but was recently released due to a shoulder injury. He has since returned home, and is now helping his younger brothers and their budding baseball career opportunities.
Caden, the family’s youngest, is currently a senior starting pitcher and high school All-American at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey and is committed to play Division I baseball at the University of Kentucky. His high school starts regularly draw scouts from MLB teams.
Cullen has seen what his youngest brother brings to the mound. He sees similarities between Caden and Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole.
“He’s got an electric fastball and I tell him to throw it more often,” Cullen said. “I mean, I never had a fastball like that. I wish I could throw a fastball like that, so I’d definitely say his fastball has a lot of [life and] a lot of spin.”
The second-eldest Dana, Casey, is currently a graduate student at the University of Connecticut, finishing his final season of NCAA eligibility with the Huskies. He has hit 10 home runs in just 44 games, and could be selected in the upcoming MLB draft.
Cullen and Casey say they’re happy to help guide Caden as he faces some tough baseball decisions.
“I was a very serious guy, playing this game at a high school level, and I tell him now ‘have fun; this is your last year playing high school baseball’ and have a blast. This is your last year playing baseball with your best friends,” said Casey.
“It’s true; you don’t get these times back. At the next level, it’s not the same. It becomes more of a job, then it actually does become a job,” said Cullen.
The three brothers all started their careers with the Montgomery Generals travel team. Caden was the bat boy and ran around the dugout while his older brothers took their place in the lineup.
“It all started there, watching them compete,” said Caden. “Once I was finally old enough to get out there and play travel ball, I always just followed them, followed their footsteps.”
Just like his brothers, Caden decided Don Bosco Prep was the perfect spot, playing under a pitching coach that has turned family friend. Jim Wladyka has known Caden since he was young, and watched him grow into the ballplayer he is today.
“Honestly, he’s extremely selfless, when dealing with what he’s doing, how he’s doing it, when he’s talking to people, so on and so forth,” said Wladyka. “I have two young boys, a daughter as well … and that’s a family I want my family to be like, my boys to be like.”