Bowen Baker has spent a good deal of his young life playing baseball.

He was a standout at Wheeler High School before moving on to Fairfield University where he'll begin his second year next season. He's pitching for the Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League this summer.

His father, Dan, has been there every step of Bowen's journey.

"He didn't grow up being a big baseball guy, but he's supported me through my whole career," Bowen said. "He was like the first guy there. He was always pitching to me (batting practice), throwing with me and supporting me.

"... He's very involved in my game."

Baseball has and continues to provide an opportunity for Bowen to bond with his father.

They both root for the New York Yankees.

They go to games at Fenway Park and make regular spring training trips to Florida.

"We watch the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, anything we can get to," Bowen said about spring training. "I saw Aaron Judge with my dad, that was pretty cool. It was a really fun experience. I love going down there with him.''

Last year, they arrived just before the pandemic canceled the remaining spring training games, so they went fishing instead.

"I love connecting with my dad over different things."

While Dan works as an engineer, Bowen is taking a different route, studying finance at Fairfield.

"He's the smartest guy ever," Bowen said. "I'm not quite up to his level yet."

Bowen is back on the mound again this summer after taking a redshirt year at Fairfield to work his way back from a torn rotator cuff injury.

Odds are his father will be watching from the sidelines.

"He's just the best Dad that you could ask for. He's always supporting me. He's always loving me. He's always giving me what I need so I can better myself as a person and as a baseball player."