ANAHEIM, Calif. – Some of David and Dominic Fletcher’s fondest childhood memories as brothers includes visits to Angel Stadium alongside their father. Fast forward years later and the brothers returned to the Big A on Friday as pros instead of fans, but this time the air was bittersweet. 

Nearly three weeks before his sons faced off for the first time in the majors, beloved father of David and Dominic, Timothy Owen Fletcher, passed away unexpectedly. Tim was 60 years old and living in Arkansas when the tragedy occurred. 

“I think this would have been one of his proudest moments,” stated Dominic, the younger Fletcher brother. “Every night he’d turn on the TV and have both of our games going on simultaneously. To be able to be here and watch would’ve been one of his favorite things.”

The Diamondbacks recalled Dominic, an outfielder, from Triple A early Friday. It was in that moment he also realized he would play against his brother later that day, and he quickly picked up the phone to tell David the news. Dominic made his MLB debut on April 30 with Arizona and hit .308 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 22 games with the team.

David, who is three years older, was also recently recalled to the major leagues on June 24. He is averaging .235 in 34 plate appearances this season with the Halos and has started in five out of six games since rejoining the team.

“It’s awesome,” David said. “It’s something that we kind of thought would happen one day and could be a special series.”

The brothers both played for Team Italy earlier this year at the World Baseball Classic in honor of their mother’s birthplace. Now, their mother and friends get to watch the brothers compete as opponents in the MLB on Friday.

The night’s emotion also got a hold of Phil Nevin, who has two sons currently playing professional baseball. 

“As a parent, I couldn’t imagine being in the stands watching your boys play against each other, which is happening tonight,” said manager Phil Nevin. “It’s got to be really a special moment for their family and what’s going on with them over the last couple of weeks. It’s a tragedy in the family, but then for them to get together like this, it was like it was meant to be.”

Whether or not the moves from both organizations were destiny being played out, this should make for an intriguing yet heartfelt series between the Fletcher brothers.