For longtime baseball fans, time shows itself through generations.

First, the sons of your favorite players reach the majors. Then you’re watching their grandsons, like Mike Yastrzemski, and realize how much time has passed.

The same is true for a franchise. The IronPigs are getting older.

In 2009, fan favorites Rich Thompson and Andy Tracy played at Coca-Cola Park, joined by veteran Miguel Cairo, who had already suited up for Toronto, the Cubs, Tampa, St. Louis, both New York teams and Seattle. That summer, his eight-year-old son, Christian, was often by his side.

A decade later, Christian Cairo was a fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians). When minor league baseball returned in 2021, Andy Tracy was managing Triple-A Columbus. By June 2024, Cairo was promoted there to play for him. In March 2026, he joined the IronPigs.

That’s what you call full circle.

“Oh, yeah, I remember running around here as a kid when my dad played here,” said Cairo with a big smile that is often present. “I got to spend that summer with him, and I was young, but I remember it; there are a lot of memories here.”

He also has fond memories of Andy Tracy the player.

“He’s the man. Andy Tracy’s the man,” said Cairo. “He used to throw to me in the cage if my dad was busy and he was just really, really awesome.”

The younger Cairo, now 24, has established himself as a versatile player who is capable of playing different positions and playing them all well. The only position that Cairo has not played is catcher, which he has no real desire to try. Offensively, Cairo has shown himself to be limited, and is a career .226 hitter in the minors, but is batting .267 through nine games.

The elder Cairo stayed in baseball after his playing days when he ventured into some low level front office jobs and minor league coaching jobs. Twice he has been a major league coach, and both times took over as the interim manager of the team with both the White Sox and last season with the Nationals. He is now the infield coach for the Baltimore Orioles.

When the opportunity came to sign with the Philles during the offseason, Cairo took it. Part of the reason was that he had some familiarity with the organization and the IronPigs. Both his dad and Tracy always had good things to say about both.

“I was very excited. It’s a great organization and a great team,” said the current IronPig. “I’m excited to be in the organization and get to play. I’m looking forward to working my way up there (to Philadelphia) and to play for a championship and help contribute.”

By the way, get ready. Tracy’s son, Cooper Tracy, is a highly touted player who helped lead Olentangy High School in Ohio to their first state championship last season. Cooper is now a freshman who is getting playing time at Adrian College in Michigan, where he is batting .375 with the Bulldogs.

HOW DID WE GET HERE? ... When Lehigh Valley opens its six-game home series against the Rochester Red Wings (Nationals) this week, it will do so as the division leader in the International League’s Eastern Division. At 7-2, Lehigh Valley has a half-game lead over Worcester (Red Sox), and a one-game lead over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees). Zack Wheeler will make his third rehab start for Lehigh Valley Wednesday night, and will likely pitch for them again next week when they play in St. Paul.

PIGS DIG THE LONG BALL ... In the first weekend of the season, Lehigh Valley had one home run in its three games against Toledo (Tigers). In Durham, the bats came alive and the IronPigs hit seven home runs in six games. Bryan De La Cruz opened the season by going 0-16, and then homered in back-to-back innings on Friday and added another over the weekend. Felix Reyes launched two in Durham where the Pigs were mightier than the Bulls and won five of the six games.

WELCOME BACK ... Just like Mr. Kotter made a triumphant return to James Buchanan High School in 1970s television – you may need to Google that one – Garrett Stubbs has returned to Lehigh Valley. After clearing waivers and accepting an assignment to Lehigh Valley, Stubbs homered twice in two games in Durham. In the second of his two games, Stubbs played at third base as the Phillies look to increase his versatility.

HANDS OFF ... Catcher Rene Pinto broke his hand in Durham and has been placed on the injured list. Outfielder Cade Fergus was activated from the developmental list to take his roster spot.