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Knights manager keeping graduation promise to his son

Wes Helms will miss the next three days to watch his son, Wesley, graduate high school

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The daily grind of Minor League Baseball started last week for the Charlotte Knights, and the season doesn't end until late September.

The team gets each Monday off, but normally that's used to rest and recover, and oftentimes, travel to the next ballpark.

In the world of professional baseball, there's pressure to keep your nose to the grindstone until the final out.

RELATED: Wes Helms will still manage Knights in 2021

That makes what Knights manager Wes Helms is doing pretty cool.

Helms will skip the team's next three games in order to go watch his son graduate high school.

"I promised him before I went to spring training that would be something I wouldn't miss," Helms said after the team's 3-2 win on Thursday night.

Helms, who grew up in Gastonia, will drive to Birmingham, Alabama to see his son, Wesley walk at graduation.

He will miss the Knights remaining three games against Norfolk, and his assistants will manage the team by the committee in his absence.

"The hardest thing to do in this job is to balance your family and balance what we do," Helms said. "This is a grueling job. I haven't seen them in three months."

This is Helms' first season as a manager, and he's in an important spot, helping the Chicago White Sox, Triple-A players along.

But the organization was supportive of his decision.

"It means a lot," he said. "And it makes me do my job better when I don't have to worry about those things."

Wesley Helms Jr., will attend Auburn University and play baseball.

"We have a strong family and a strong family bond," Helms said. 

Off the Clock with Carboni is a weekly, in-depth, inside look at Charlotte sports, including the Carolina PanthersCharlotte Hornets, and more, hosted by WCNC Sports Director Nick Carboni.
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