Seattle teammates, Northeast Ohio natives celebrate homecoming at Progressive Field

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Progressive Field is about 20 miles from Raley’s Tree Farms in Hinckley, but growing up working in the family business for Mariners outfielder Luke Raley, the ballpark might as well have been located on the other side of the moon.

“When I was at the tree lot, I didn’t talk about baseball,” Raley said. “Not for any reason other than I was there to sell Christmas trees, not talk about baseball.”

Generations of Northeast Ohioans have gotten their Christmas trees from the family’s lot on Ridge Road, but few made the connection that the 6-foot-4 lad strapping saplings to their car roofs would someday go on to have a career in the big leagues. Nowadays, Raley says it happens more often than you’d think. But when he worked on the lot, Major League Baseball was the last thing on his mind.

“It’s just one of those things that people kind of put two and two together and realize we get our trees from Raley’s Tree Farm,” he said.

Baseball is all that’s on Raley’s mind this week as his Mariners are in town for three games against the Guardians. In Tuesday’s series opener, Raley collected two hits including his first home run in his hometown ballpark. He also picked up his first career ejection after arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt in the ninth inning of Seattle’s 8-5 win.

Raley, who starred at Medina Highland High before he was drafted out of Lake Erie College by the Dodgers in 2016, said despite missing the end of the contest it has been fun coming back to Cleveland and being able to see family and friends. But there is definitely work to be done.

“Being successful is kind of the back of my mind,” Raley said. “I want to have good at-bats, want to do the right things for the team, so that’s most important.”

Raley’s Seattle teammate, Dominic Canzone, is making his first trip to Progressive Field as a big leaguer. The Walsh Jesuit product and Sagamore Hills native said he grew up a big fan of Kenny Lofton and the late-1990s Indians teams that won six division titles in seven seasons. But the memory that stands out to him whenever he walks into the ballpark is watching Rajai Davis hit a game-tying home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series against Chicago.

“That was just the loudest I’ve ever heard any venue in sports to this day,” Canzone said.

In Tuesday’s series opener, Canzone went hitless in three plate appearances with a strikeout before being replaced in right field by Mitch Haniger. But like any ball player who grew up in Cleveland, the experience of taking the field at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario was special.

“I think it’s one of the most beautiful ballparks out there,” Canzone said. “They do a great job, especially with the surface. So, no complaints there and it’s been just an awesome week so far.”

Raley said it has been fun having another Clevelander along for the ride in his second trip to Progressive Field as a pro. Having an ally to defend Northeast Ohio in the clubhouse has also helped.

“It’s just kind of how things go in the clubhouse when you go back home, you get some smack talk (from other teammates),” Raley said. “It’s nice to have Dom here to defend The Land.”