d'Arnaud's 3-HR game helps grieving family find peace

This story was originally published on Friday, Apil 26, 2024.

ATLANTA -- As Lance d’Arnaud sadly watched his father near his death this past October, he said, “If there is an afterlife, show me a sign when you’re there.”

Nearly six months later, the d’Arnaud family received a clear sign that Ted d’Arnaud is indeed still watching over them.

After Travis d'Arnaud enjoyed his three-homer performance against the Rangers, he called his dad (Lance), who reminded his son that he had just produced this great game on his grandfather’s (Ted) birthday.

“I was like, ‘Oh wow,’” d’Arnaud said. “It’s freaking wild. It kept me up until like 7 a.m.”

d’Arnaud’s performance alone was enough to keep him up all night savoring the excitement.

After all, with his second career three-homer game, d’Arnaud:

• Joined Johnny Bench and Gary Carter as the only catchers to tally multiple three-homer games.

• Became the third Braves player since at least 1901 to hit a grand slam in a three-homer game. The last had been Adam Duvall during a 29-9 win over the Marlins on Sept. 9, 2020. Orlando Cepeda also did it on July 26, 1970.

• Became the fourth Braves catcher, and first since Dale Murphy on May 18, 1979, to hit three homers in one game. The others were Bob Tillman (July 30, 1969) and Gene Oliver (July 30, 1966).

The sleepless night didn’t keep d’Arnaud from also homering the next day, and once again when he returned to the lineup two days later against the Marlins. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first Braves player since at least 1953 to homer five times within a span of eight at-bats or fewer.

“I don’t know how to explain it, except I’m just going to keep riding this wave and not try to do too much” d’Arnaud said.

This week was a special one for the d’Arnauds. Lance struggled to deal with his father’s passing. But he can be comforted that he seems to have gotten the sign he was seeking.

Ted d’Arnaud was a loving grandfather, whose baseball fandom was primarily based on his grandsons, Travis and Chase, being big leaguers. When he went to New York to see Travis play for the Mets, he came to Citi Field wearing a Yankees hat.

Travis recalled the comical moment: “He was like, ‘What? It says New York. I don’t know baseball. I’m just here to watch my grandson.’”

Travis didn’t get back to California in time to say his final goodbye to his grandfather, who lived five years after being told he might have just two years to live due to testicular cancer. But the incredible week gave him -- and the rest of his family -- reason to believe his grandfather was still with them.