Albert Almora Jr. thrilled father finally gets to meet grandson

Albert Almora Jr. is a proud son. The “Jr.” on the back of his uniform is a hint at that.

The Cubs rookie outfielder also is a proud father of a boy, A.J., who was born Aug. 18.

On Friday night, the eve of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, plans called for Almora’s worlds to collide.

His father, who has prostate cancer, was to meet his grandson for the first time.

And Almora Jr. planned to be there to watch. The younger Almora said his father has seen A.J. on Facetime.

“But it’s not the same,” he said Friday before the Cubs’ workout at Wrigley Field.

Almora Jr. said his parents were to arrive Friday night on a trip more about family than baseball, even though Almora and the Cubs begin the NLCS against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Wrigley Field.

“The first thing I had in mind was my dad getting to meet my son,” Almora Jr. said. “It wasn’t about him coming to the game.

“If he’s up for it, he’ll have a ticket. If he wants to stay at the apartment and be with the baby and watch it on TV, I’ll be more than happy with that.”

Travel can be difficult and uncomfortable for Almora Sr., who earlier this year traveled to Chicago but felt too weak he couldn’t leave his hotel room to watch his son play at Wrigley after he arrived.

Almora Jr., who wasn’t a lock to make the Cubs’ NL Division Series roster, proved management made the right decision in keeping him active when he made a diving catch in right field that turned into a double play and preserved a tie in the ninth inning of Game 3 against the Giants.

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The Cubs lost that game 6-5. But Almora, who entered the game as a part of a double switch, proved his mettle in a place three-time Gold Glove winner Jason Heyward usually roams.

“Albert is a really good outfielder,” manager Joe Maddon said. “So you probably don’t feel as good about making that move if you have to with somebody else going in the game, but with Albert going in the game I felt good about it.”

Almora greeted his postseason uncertainty with professionalism. He said he would be the team’s biggest cheerleader if he didn’t make the roster.

His part, he said, was whatever the Cubs asked him to do.

“It was simple, even in the regular season,” he said. “I knew what my role was — that’s coming in to try to prevent a run from scoring, coming in to pinch hit, moving a runner over or getting him in.

“I don’t try to overthink it. Now I’m just here to help.”

And see his father meet his son.

pskrbina@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ChiTribSkrbina

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