Bo Weiss is the son of Major League manager Walt Weiss, but doesn't flaunt it
Bo Weiss - Regis Jesuit (CO) Video: Bo Weiss - Regis Jesuit
See the son of Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss in action
In many ways, Bo Weiss is a lot like the rest of his baseball-rich family. In others, he certainly is not.
The third of four sons of former big-league shortstop and current Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss, Bo is a pitcher, which is one thing that distinguishes him from the rest of the Weiss clan.
The Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) athlete, who just completed his junior season, also has overcome a physical disability to become a budding Division I player, an ailment most onlookers seldom realize he possesses when watching him on the mound.
And from his demeanor on the field and in the dugout, few would guess that the future North Carolina Tar Heel comes from an MLB family either.
"Bo's a humble guy," Regis Jesuit centerfielder Quin Cotton said. "You'd never know his dad was in the majors. If I wasn't so close to him and his family, I probably would have never found out. He definitely keep his head down, definitely works hard and he doesn't use his dad as a crutch or anything like that."
Bo gave a verbal commitment to play for the Tar Heels starting in 2016-17, a nonbinding commitment he made before he was a key member of the Regis Jesuit rotation. His fastball blossomed from about 89 mph late last summer to 92 as he begins his summer season with Slammers Black.
Hardly shabby for a player who was born with a club foot and had multiple surgeries throughout his youth to bring it as close to normal as possible. While it might prevent him from being a position player at a high level, none of that matters for a senior-to-be who throws 92.
"I don't see how anyone could notice from a pitching standpoint," Regis Jesuit coach Matt Darr said. "Maybe if you ran him out in the outfield or watched him run bases, you might notice something small. But on the mound it doesn't affect him at all. He's athletic on the mound and does a good job fielding his position when teams bunt."
For Bo, having a right foot that is a little bit different has been a reality and he doesn't spend an abundance of time thinking about it. If it affects anything baseball-wise, it's non-game activity.
"There are still some deficiencies there, but I've been able to overcome most of it," Bo said. "I don't have much mobility, it's kind of stiff and it's almost two sizes smaller than my left foot. Running is kind of painful if I go for long distances, and I can't really condition by doing sprint work, or go run a mile after a start. I ride the bike instead."
As far as growing up in a major-league family, that too has been a reality, and Weiss really knows no different. Teammates and coaches say the only way one might believe he is from a major-league family is because of his talent level.
In addition to his father, who previously coached at Regis Jesuit prior to taking over the Rockies, older brother Brody Weiss also is accomplished in the sport. The shortstop initially signed with Cal and has since transferred to Riverside City College in Southern California. Bo, though, isn't the type to show up to practice chirping about his pedigree.
"Bo is a very down-to-Earth kid," Darr said. "I think if anything, he would want to defer or kind of deflect any of that about being a big-league guy. He goes out of his way to be just one of the guys. Kind of a quiet kid, and I don't think that you would know from a personality or an attitude or an action standpoint that he comes from that background."
Younger brother Brock, 12, also is following the baseball path and is batting left-handed in youth leagues (all the brothers are righties; dad was a switch hitter). Oldest brother Blake, 27, played baseball in his youth then switched to track before going off to college at Northern Colorado.
Walt's career ended after the 2000 season, so Bo doesn't have much recollection of watching his father in the majors. He won a World Series title with the 1989 Oakland Athletics and also played for the Braves, Marlins and Rockies.
"He was done when I was 3, so I don't remember much," Bo said. "We have some VHS tapes and my brother and I will watch them every once in awhile. Not too often, but it's fun to watch."
Bo went to many Rockies games in his father's initial season at the helm in 2013, but has since been limited by an intense summer schedule.
He went 2-2 with a 6.58 ERA this season amidst a rugged Class 5A schedule. The stat that bodes well is that he struck out 37 batters in just under 28 innings, utilizing the fastball as his out pitch. Darr said Bo possesses the key intangible of rising up in key situations, and the coach is excited to see what the righthander can do for the Raiders next season.
"The goal is to be the No. 1 guy on the mound," Bo said. "We'll see if it happens, but that will be the mindset going into the season."
Just don't count on him crowing about it if he gets it.
