TAMPA, Fla. (April 27, 2026) – For most players, the dream is to reach an MLB clubhouse. For Jevin Relaford, it was where he started his career.
 
Long before he became the Bulls' starting shortstop, Jevin was a kid running through MLB clubhouses, absorbing the rhythms of the game from a perspective most ballplayers never experience. His father, Desi Relaford, spent 11 seasons in Major League Baseball. That background didn't just shape Jevin's opportunity—it shaped his mindset.
 
"I was in the clubhouse at five or six," Jevin said. "So I had a different view early on… I understood my dad wasn't just a dad."
 
Growing up as the son of a big leaguer can come with pressure. For Jevin, it came with perspective. Rather than receiving the typical reassurance after a tough game, Jevin got honesty.
 
"If I went 0-for[X], it wasn't 'you'll get it next time,'" he said. "It was, 'we need to work on this.' It just made me a better player."
 
That tone was set intentionally by Desi, who never fully separated being a father from being a baseball mind.
 
"I'm a baseball guy first," Desi admitted. "I don't make excuses. I try to be objective… because dads can have a skewed vision."
 
But baseball wasn't the only game that defined his childhood. Growing up in a highly competitive athletic environment in Jacksonville, Jevin played multiple sports and was surrounded by high-level talent, including future college and professional athletes like Carson Beck. From football fields to baseball diamonds, that environment pushed him to compete—and stand out—at an early age.
 
By the time he reached Little League, he was already ahead—fielding cleanly, understanding mechanics, and even standing out as the only kid who could consistently catch the ball. Jevin remembers those moments vividly—and not always fondly.
 
"If it wasn't to his chest with the right spin, I was hearing about it," he said with a laugh. "At the time, I didn't like throwing with him."
 
But those details—four-seam grip, proper rotation, rhythm—became second nature. Now, they're part of what separates him.
 
"I get it now," Jevin said. "It helped a lot."
 
Even the tough moments became part of the story. Before one Little League tryout, Jevin took a pop-up off the eye while practicing in the sun. His face swelled, but he still went out and performed well enough to be one of the first players selected.
 
"That's just who he's been," Desi said. "He went out there and did his thing." Their relationship evolved further when Desi became more than just a voice at home—he became Jevin's coach.
 
From youth travel ball to summer collegiate leagues, including time together with the Burlington Sock Puppets (formerly the Burlington Royals) and the Greeneville Flyboys/Otterbots in the Appalachian League, the two spent years in the dugout together.
 
"I think those were some of the biggest years for my development," he said. "It was college-level competition with a professional structure—and having him there made a huge difference."
 
For Desi, the experience was equally meaningful—but for different reasons.
 
"As a dad, it's special to spend that kind of time doing something you both love," he said. "And then as a coach, to help him develop into the player he's become… that's the best part."
  On the field, the similarities between father and son are clear. Both are athletic, fundamentally sound, and natural shortstops. Desi broke into professional baseball as a shortstop before becoming a utility player.
 
"Shortstop's tough," he said. "Everything else felt like a day off."
 
Jevin followed a similar path, eventually settling into the position after moving around early in his career. Like his father, he was trained to play everywhere—but thrives at short. Their games mirror each other in many ways, though Desi notes a few differences.
 
"I might've had a little more power at that age," he said, smiling. "Maybe a better arm."
 
Desi understands better than most how difficult it is to reach—and stay—in professional baseball. That perspective shapes how he views his son's future.
 
"He has the ability to play professionally," Desi said. "But playing 11 years in the big leagues? That's rare. That's a different conversation."
 
What gives him confidence is Jevin's consistency.
 
"At every level, he's found a way to hit," Desi said. "He'll adjust, and he'll keep producing."
 
For Jevin, the goal isn't to replicate his father's career—it's to build his own, using the tools and mindset he's been given.
 
From backyard drills to college ball, from tough lessons to proud moments, their journey reflects a balance few achieve—a father pushing his son to be great, and a son embracing that challenge.
 
"I love watching him grow into the player he's become," Desi said. "But more than that, he's a good person. That's what makes it special."
 
And for Jevin, that foundation may be the most valuable thing he carries forward—no matter how far the game takes him.
 
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About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball program, founded in 1966, enters its 61st season in 2026 as a member of the American Conference. Head coach Mitch Hannahs returns for his second year after leading the Bulls to 32 wins in his debut—USF's most since 2018—and 16 victories in conference play, their best league performance since joining the American.
 
USF has made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by a Super Regional run in 2021. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles and six regular season championships.
 
The program has produced 134 MLB Draft picks, including three in 2025. Notable alumni include two-time MLB All-Star and 2018 first-round pick Shane McClanahan, 2022 fifth-round pick Orion Kerkering, and Washington Nationals starting pitcher Brad Lord. Bulls players have earned 12 All-America and 19 Freshman All-America honors.
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