Completed Event: Baseball versus UNLV on April 12, 2026 , Loss , 8, to, 14
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Insider: Barnes' brother starts in World Series
10/26/2017 5:07:00 PM | Baseball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
GCU catcher Griffin Barnes attends Austin's Dodgers games
The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers were in the World Series, Grand Canyon catcher Griffin Barnes and his three siblings had not been born but his parents, Dennis and Stephanie, were at the game watching Mike Gallego, Stephanie's brother, play for Oakland.
This week, Barnes and his siblings were at the World Series' return to Dodger Stadium because Barnes' oldest brother, Austin, is playing for their favorite childhood team, the Dodgers.
Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes started World Series Games 1 and 2. Griffin took a break from GCU fall baseball to join his family in Riverside, Calif., and attend the two games with his other brother, Dylan; his sister, Savannah; his parents; and Austin's fianceé, Nicole.
"Coach Stank (Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz) told me to come to this because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Griffin said. "He really wanted me to go and experience this.
"I grew up a Dodgers fan and I always dreamed about the Dodgers going to the World Series. Having my brother be part of that team bringing the World Series back to L.A., there really are no words to describe it. We're all so proud and support him every way. The fact that he's on the Dodgers, a team we rooted for growing up, just makes it even more special."
Griffin said he has attended about 50 games at Dodger Stadium in his life, many with Austin, but he never experienced anything like the games that the Dodgers and Houston Astros split on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"It's the craziest I've ever seen Dodger Stadium," Griffin said. "It was unbelievable. The atmosphere. After they (the Dodgers) tied it up with Kiki's (Hernandez) single, the place went nuts. I've also never heard it go so quiet as when (Houston's Jose) Altuve and (Carlos) Correa went back-to-back (with home runs). It was dead silent. I've never heard it like that, both so loud and so quiet."
Austin, a former Arizona State player, is in his first full season with the Dodgers. The 27-year-old held a part-time starting role during the regular season and hit .289 in 102 games. He has one hit in seven at-bats in the World Series.
Austin is just catching up to his baby brother in one category – SportsCenter appearances. Griffin caught fame in May when he earned the No. 1 spot on ESPN SportsCenter's Top Plays for a catch he made from behind the plate at Brazell Stadium on a bunt foul tip. Griffin hit the ball with his right wrist as he pulled off his catcher's mask, dived to tap it upward with his bare right hand and then caught it with his glove hand.
"You're not the only one on SportsCenter now," Austin told Griffin after doing a live ESPN interview following Game 1.
Griffin grew up getting the typical little brother treatment – rough stuff and doing his older brothers' chores. But just as he now appreciates how that role toughened him up, Griffin relishes what he gets out of phone conversations with Austin after nearly every Dodgers game.
By sharing the same position, Griffin watches games from home through Austin's eyes.
"He asks about certain plays and what I think," Griffin said. "I feel like he almost quizzes me to help me learn the game more."
The Barnes family experience will not stop with the World Series moving to Houston for Games 3, 4 and 5 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. His baseball family, direct and distant, texts each other throughout Austin's games.
Griffin will not be at the games in Houston. He keeps open the possibility of returning to Dodger Stadium for Game 6, if necessary, in Los Angeles on Tuesday, but he drove back to Phoenix on Thursday.
"I want to get back to playing," Griffin said.
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
This week, Barnes and his siblings were at the World Series' return to Dodger Stadium because Barnes' oldest brother, Austin, is playing for their favorite childhood team, the Dodgers.
Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes started World Series Games 1 and 2. Griffin took a break from GCU fall baseball to join his family in Riverside, Calif., and attend the two games with his other brother, Dylan; his sister, Savannah; his parents; and Austin's fianceé, Nicole.
"Coach Stank (Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz) told me to come to this because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Griffin said. "He really wanted me to go and experience this.
"I grew up a Dodgers fan and I always dreamed about the Dodgers going to the World Series. Having my brother be part of that team bringing the World Series back to L.A., there really are no words to describe it. We're all so proud and support him every way. The fact that he's on the Dodgers, a team we rooted for growing up, just makes it even more special."
Griffin said he has attended about 50 games at Dodger Stadium in his life, many with Austin, but he never experienced anything like the games that the Dodgers and Houston Astros split on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"It's the craziest I've ever seen Dodger Stadium," Griffin said. "It was unbelievable. The atmosphere. After they (the Dodgers) tied it up with Kiki's (Hernandez) single, the place went nuts. I've also never heard it go so quiet as when (Houston's Jose) Altuve and (Carlos) Correa went back-to-back (with home runs). It was dead silent. I've never heard it like that, both so loud and so quiet."
Austin, a former Arizona State player, is in his first full season with the Dodgers. The 27-year-old held a part-time starting role during the regular season and hit .289 in 102 games. He has one hit in seven at-bats in the World Series.
Austin is just catching up to his baby brother in one category – SportsCenter appearances. Griffin caught fame in May when he earned the No. 1 spot on ESPN SportsCenter's Top Plays for a catch he made from behind the plate at Brazell Stadium on a bunt foul tip. Griffin hit the ball with his right wrist as he pulled off his catcher's mask, dived to tap it upward with his bare right hand and then caught it with his glove hand.
"You're not the only one on SportsCenter now," Austin told Griffin after doing a live ESPN interview following Game 1.
Griffin grew up getting the typical little brother treatment – rough stuff and doing his older brothers' chores. But just as he now appreciates how that role toughened him up, Griffin relishes what he gets out of phone conversations with Austin after nearly every Dodgers game.
By sharing the same position, Griffin watches games from home through Austin's eyes.
"He asks about certain plays and what I think," Griffin said. "I feel like he almost quizzes me to help me learn the game more."
The Barnes family experience will not stop with the World Series moving to Houston for Games 3, 4 and 5 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. His baseball family, direct and distant, texts each other throughout Austin's games.
Griffin will not be at the games in Houston. He keeps open the possibility of returning to Dodger Stadium for Game 6, if necessary, in Los Angeles on Tuesday, but he drove back to Phoenix on Thursday.
"I want to get back to playing," Griffin said.
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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