Jake Boone, from famous Boone family, finds groove with Windy City ThunderBolts. ‘I’ve never felt any pressure because of my last name.’

Yes, Windy City ThunderBolts infielder Jake Boone is one of those Boones.

The 23-year-old is part of a family of major leaguers.

His father, Bret, played 14 seasons and was a three-time All-Star. His uncle, Aaron, is the New York Yankees’ manager after playing 12 seasons in the big leagues and making an All-Star team. His grandfather, Bob, and great grandfather, Ray, also were All-Stars.

The Boones are the first family to have three generations of players reach the major leagues. And while Jake would definitely like to make it four, he has not let himself become burdened by overwhelming expectations.

“I can honestly say I’ve never felt any pressure because of my last name,” Jake said. “I know within my family, they always support me, but it’s never been, ‘You need to try to be a professional baseball player.’

“I’ve done this all making my own decisions. I know if I didn’t want to be a baseball player, that would have never been a problem with my family.”

In his second minor league season and first with the T-Bolts, Jake Boone has been a steady producer. He’s hitting .280 with 32 runs, nine stolen bases, four home runs and 29 RBIs in 60 games.

Perhaps more importantly, according to Windy City manager Brian Smith, Jake has led by example. He doesn’t expect special treatment because of his Boone last name.

“He’s just a normal kid in the clubhouse,” Smith said. “He respects us and we respect him. He doesn’t act like he’s any different. He’s just another one of the scrappy, poor guys on the team who are trying to make a living playing professional baseball with ripped cleats and ripped batting gloves.”

For his entire life, Boone has been around baseball.

“Growing up, I still remember my dad’s time in Seattle when I’d go to every home game,” he said. “If they won the game, the kids were allowed in the clubhouse. I remember running around with all the other players’ kids having the time of our lives.

“It was just awesome having those experiences and growing up in the game.”

While baseball was a constant part of his world and a steady source of conversation, Boone never felt forced into the sport.

“I was able to fall in love with the game for myself,” he said. “There was a hands-off approach from my family. It was just playing whiffle ball in the backyard with my friends where I fell in love with it.

“It’s a beautiful game. I don’t know how you could not fall in love with it.”

Bret and Bob Boone have made a few trips to Crestwood to watch Jake play.

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“Talking hitting with my grandpa, talking shop with everyone in my family, it’s always been great,” Jake said. “It’s always awesome to have them come out and visit and talk about the game with them.”

Boone has not been given any shortcuts through minor league baseball.

After three seasons at Princeton, he went undrafted and signed as a free agent with the Washington Nationals.

He hit .229 last season with Class A Fredericksburg but was released in May. Now, he’s in the Frontier League, trying to forge his own path to the majors.

“What’s pushing me is my love for the game,” Jake Boone said. “Every level I’ve gone to, there’s always been an adjustment going from high school to college, college to pro ball. I love feeling myself get better and learning more about the game.

“When you make those adjustments, there’s something really fulfilling about knowing you made yourself a little bit better. That’s what keeps me going in pursuing this dream.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.