Crosstown Cup is a Remillard sibling rivalry

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO – There was a time in 2019 when Will Remillard served as a development coach for the Tennessee Smokies Double-A affiliate of the Cubs, and Zach Remillard, his younger brother by 17 months, played for Birmingham, the White Sox Double-A affiliate.

So, when Tennessee and Birmingham met on the field from Aug. 23-27, humorous questions concerning potential family assistance and overall team allegiance were hurled in Will’s direction.

“Everybody asked me, ‘Are you going to tell your brother what’s coming? Are you rooting for him? Who are you rooting for tonight?’” Will told me during the Cubs’ 4-3 victory over the White Sox Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. “It's always: ‘I want my brother to go 4-for-4 and I want the Cubs to win.’ So that’s how I go about it.”

In that case, Will had to be somewhat satisfied with the results of the Crosstown Cup matchup on the North Side. Zach finished 1-for-4 with one run scored and a stellar running catch in short right field from his second base position during Tuesday's 5-3 White Sox victory.

Zach didn’t play Wednesday when Christopher Morel’s three-run walkoff home run against White Sox closer Gregory Santos gave the Cubs an exciting victory. But this story is far more about the bonds of brotherly love than sibling rivalry within Chicago.

After 694 Minor League games and 2,725 Minor League plate appearances, Zach has made the most of his big-league debut at age 29 in ’23 with a .259 average, one home run, 15 RBIs, 15 runs scored and four stolen bases. And Will couldn’t be prouder.

“It’s been incredible to watch him and talk to him about his experiences and kind of just get his take on what it’s like to be a big leaguer,” Will said. “It’s always about a winning mentality. That’s what he’s showing he can do. It’s not always about going 3-for-4 or 4-for-4. It’s about what can he do to get on base and make the plays he needs to make in order for the team to win.”

“We’ve always had a really good relationship,” Zach said. “We’ve always supported each other as much as possible and help each other boost our careers. It’s also awesome to have him in the same city.”

From 2014-18, Will was a catcher in the Cubs system after being selected in the 19th round of the 2013 Draft out of Coastal Carolina. Injuries derailed a promising career, with Will slashing .272/.370/.371 over 309 Minor League plate appearances. His baseball acumen is now being used by the Cubs in a coaching capacity as the organization’s manager of hitting development.

The Remillard brothers laughed when asked if there were any bragging rights on the line in the Crosstown Cup, which the Cubs captured via three wins in four games. It’s always family first, with the added bonus of both Remillards living about 15 minutes away from each other in Chicago.

“Once it comes to our relationship, nothing else really matters,” said Will, who calls Zach one of the best baseball minds he knows. “Baseball is something that brought us closer than ever together, but it never gets between us. We talk when he wants to talk or when he has something to talk about. We text back and forth, just not necessarily about baseball. Just talk as brothers most of the time.”

“He loves the game, knows the game,” said Zach, who was a 10th-round pick by the White Sox in the 2016 Draft. “Whether it be in the offseason working or even when we were younger, he’s always been my No. 1 fan, a huge supporter. I wouldn’t be here without him.”