Football or Baseball for Gretzky? Here is a story from Harold Abend

Trevor Gretzky excels at two sports, just like his famous father
Son of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has passion for baseball and football
Harold Abend Special to ESPN RISE

LONG BEACH, Calif. - The expression "it's in the blood" has never been more appropriate than in describing the 2010 Area Code Baseball games at Blair Field.

Out of the 200 high school baseball players assembled for this year's six-day event, six are sons of former Major Leaguers.

Photo by: Scott Kurtz
It was a busy spring and summer for Trevor, he participated in an Elite 11 event in Las Vegas and now the Area Code Baseball Games in August.

That's a pretty fair number considering the thousands of boys who tried out for a spot on one of the eight teams competing.

The sons of the former pros are Oakland Athletics outfielder Alec Bankhead, son of Scott Bankhead; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Bonilla, son of Bobby Bonilla; Milwaukee Brewers (White) outfielder Shawon Dunston, son of Shawon Dunston; A's Catcher Brett Geren, son of current A's Manager Bob Geren; Texas Rangers outfielder C.J. McElroy, son of Chuck McElroy; and Cincinnati Reds infielder Drew Stankiewicz, son of Andy Stankiewicz.

However, only one player has a dad whose professional prowess was in a sport other than baseball.

Trevor Gretzky's father played a sport contested on a rink rather than a diamond. Wayne Gretzky may very well be the greatest ice hockey player to ever lace up a pair of skates.

Even so, baseball is in the younger Gretzky's blood.

"Baseball is my dad's favorite sport. He was even offered out of high school by the Blue Jays," Trevor told ESPN RISE after his Milwaukee Brewers White team pinned an 8-5 loss on the Cincinnati Reds in the final game Friday.

His father's sport choice was a no-brainer as a native of Canada, but Trevor is faced with a choice of his own that may or may not be an easy one.

The .341 hitter with 33 RBIs for 21-8 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) is also a highly-regarded quarterback prospect although he saw limited action as the Lions backup to the son of another famous dad, Nick Montana.

Even though he only threw 41 passes with 23 completions for 288 yards with four touchdowns, Gretzky still gets high marks from ESPN RISE's Greg Biggins who saw him at the EA Sports Elite 11 regional camp at UNLV in June.

"He's a tremendous athlete and his ability to throw on the run with accuracy and velocity was the best in the camp," wrote Biggins in his story about the UNLV camp.

His overall athleticism showed in the baseball SPARQ testing when his 67.84 rating was No. 31 overall and No. 3 among first and third basemen.

"It was fun," said Gretzky about the SPARQ testing. "Any time you can show what you can do athletically, it's a good thing."

He may have college football coaches calling soon but right now baseball is flowing through his veins.

At 6-3 and left-handed as a batter but right-handed as a thrower, he's perfect for a quarterback but also for a first baseman.

"Baseball was my first love. I've played it since I was a little kid."

USC and UCLA have expressed interest in him for baseball. Gretzky likes Arizona State as well.

"I talk to USC the most and I really like ASU. Hopefully more will come along after these games and people see me."

Analyst and former major-leaguer Rex Hudler said Gretzky possesses the tools scouts are looking for.

"I like his hustle too. He gets down the line to first quick for a tall kid and he's pretty solid around the bag at first on defense," said Hudler.

Still, there are those who think football will eventually be where Gretzky makes his mark.

"I've heard from some schools but there haven't been any offers. If football offers come I'll think about it or even the possibility of playing both, but right now its baseball," he said.

Gretzky has his dad behind him. The first four days of Area Code the senior Gretzky was front and center down in the box seats near the field closely watching the action and talking with scouts.

The family has even engaged a hitting coach Roger Frash and a family friend and former college coach Dustin Kelly, to work with Trevor.

"With football you don't get that much time to swing the bat," Gretzky said. "Right now I've been in the cage every day working with my hands."

Football is right around the corner, so Trevor may have to sneak into the batting cage when the Oaks Christian football coaches aren't looking.