Philly Leader

Nick and Ben Vespi recently had the opportunity to share a field for the first time in their baseball careers. Last Sunday, during an Orioles-Phillies game at BayCare Ballpark, both brothers were present, with Nick representing the Phillies and Ben the Orioles.

Nick Vespi, 29, previously played for Baltimore from 2022 to 2024 before joining Philadelphia's big league camp on a Minor League deal. Meanwhile, his younger brother Ben signed with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent last July after pitching at the University of Central Florida.

Ben described sharing the field with his brother as "a blessing," marking it as their first such experience together. Their father, Bo Vespi, expressed how special this moment was for him and their family: “A surreal moment,” he said. “Honestly, dude, I can’t even put it into words. Pretty special.”

Despite being unable to communicate during the game due to their positions in opposite bullpens, Nick appreciated seeing his brother getting an opportunity with Baltimore. “No, Ben works extremely hard. I’m glad he got this opportunity,” Nick remarked.

The Vespies spent time working out together in Boynton Beach during the offseason. While Nick hopes to make a positive impression on Philadelphia this spring following a stint of frequent travels between Baltimore and Triple-A Norfolk with a 3.88 ERA over 45 appearances for the Orioles.

Ben is optimistic about advancing through Baltimore’s system: “It’s just such an amazing organization,” he stated about joining the O's.

Both brothers are hopeful that they might play together again in future Major League games: “I just tell him... throw strikes; attack hitters,” shared Nick regarding advice given to his younger sibling.

MLB.com Phillies reporter Todd Zolecki contributed additional insights into this story.