The McGinnis baseball legacy expands to Arkansas.

Words by Hannah Manasco | Images by Al Blanton

In the vast backyard of his quiet rural home, a young Barry McGinnis carefully selects the perfect, level spot amidst the freshly cut grass. His excitement is palpable. Since becoming a father, Barry anticipated the moment he would get to share his love of baseball with his son. Nearby, three-year-old Aiden stands eagerly, itching to join his dad.

With a plastic ball in hand, Barry leads his son a few feet ahead. Kneeling to Aiden's eye level, he explains, "Okay, son. I'll toss you the ball, and your job is to hit it, alright?" 

The young boy enthusiastically nods, adjusting his grip on the yellow plastic bat, his attention transfixed to his dad's hand.

Barry tosses the ball. Aiden swings with all his might, sending the ball soaring across the yard.

Years later, Aiden sits on a dusty dugout bench. The familiar sound of his pre-game playlist helps him focus as he carefully laces up his cleats. Absent-mindedly, he checks to ensure the bracelets his sister gave him are still secure.

Playing baseball with one's dad is often a foundational father-son bonding moment, but it can also be a pastime that fades as interests change and life becomes more demanding. However, for Aiden McGinnis, this was where his love for the game first took root.

Over the years, as the McGinnis family grew, so did Aiden's passion for the game and Barry's unwavering support.

"My parents always told me to work hard for what I want, and it makes me think of how much they've sacrificed for me. I'm going to make them proud, and I'm going to do what it takes for that," Aiden says.

His dad arguably takes the top spot on Aiden's roster of role models. But like any young baseball fanatic, Aiden also draws inspiration from his favorite Major League player, former Atlanta Braves baseman Chipper Jones.

"I'm a big fan of his. My room is stacked with Braves gear and memorabilia," Aiden says. "I even met him at his last game in Atlanta a few years back. I try to mimic everything he does."

In terms of a support system, McGinnis says his grandfathers are neck and neck with his dad for the title of "Biggest Fan." Whether by a "good luck" text message or a pat on the shoulder after a loss, Aiden says his family is "all tapped in."

Aiden graduated from Jasper High School in 2022, and says it was there that he decided to begin taking the sport seriously. He played on the junior varsity team until his junior year and dedicated all his free time to improving, practicing up to four times a week. Even as the pandemic halted the world, Aiden still found a way to get better at baseball.

"There was nobody on the school's field, so my friend and I went up every day to work on our arms," Aiden says with a grin, "To be honest, we probably weren't supposed to be out there, but we were working on our long arms, so we had yards between us."

Countless hours of dedicated work led Aiden to finish his high school career as an outfielder for the Jasper Vikings' varsity team.

His story doesn't end there, though. After catching the eye of head coach Chris Curry, Aiden joined the baseball team at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). Two more years of collegiate play await him, and while playing baseball, Aiden will also earn a degree in accounting.

As he anticipates the next phase of his playing career, Aiden offers some advice for young athletes: "You've got to have confidence and believe that you're the best player. Have a passion for it. When you lose, flush it out. The game is a brotherhood. It's all about having fun with your friends." 78