MLB player Riley O’Brien comes from a family with mixed ethnic backgrounds, as his parents, Frank and Kerri, are of different ethnicities.
Born on February 6, 1995, in Seattle, Washington, Riley O’Brien has made a name for himself as a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
His full name is Riley Chun-Young O’Brien, which shows his mixed heritage. Riley’s mother, Kerri Hong, is Korean-American, and his father, Frank, is Caucasian.
Given his mother’s side, he is eligible to play for the Korean national team in events such as the World Baseball Classic.
Not to be forgotten, Riley’s family ties to baseball go back even further.
His grandfather, Johnny O’Brien, was an infielder who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and even spent time with the Cardinals in 1958.
Similarly, his great-uncle, Eddie O’Brien, also played in the majors.
“They’ve Given Me Nothing but Support,” Riley Expressed His Gratitude to His Parents!
Riley’s father, Frank O’Brien, maintains a private life away from the media. However, he takes great pride in his career.
One instance is when Riley O’Brien was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in November 2023; his father, Frank, talked about an old Cardinals hat that belonged to Riley’s grandfather, Johnny, a former player for the team.
During a family gathering at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Frank brought the hat onto the field for photos after the game. He called it a special family keepsake.
This spoke volumes about how proud Frank is of Riley’s continued family baseball legacy.
Frank has also been spotted attending Riley’s games in several events, including one where he played for the Mariners’ Triple-A team in Tacoma, which is close to home.
Speaking of Riley’s mother, Kerri, she has played a significant part in opening doors for him in international baseball.
In an interview on July 21, 2025, Riley spoke about his eligibility for the Korean World Baseball Classic team. He said that if selected for the 2026 event, he would join without hesitation.
Unlike his father, who maintains a private life, his mother, Kerri, occasionally shares about his games. She is very vocal about being extremely proud of Riley.
In his recent September 13, 2025, match, she shared a Facebook post writing:
What a thrilling series! 🙌🏼
It was very touching to see Riley receiving abundant support from his hometown families and friends who showed up to cheer him on, and I’m deeply thankful. 🥹🙏🏼
Whereas the MLB star also acknowledges his parents’ sacrifices.
Back in 2017, during his senior year at the College of Idaho, when the Tampa Bay Rays drafted him in the 8th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, he took to his Instagram to express his gratitude to his parents. He wrote:
Glad my parents were able to make it out here for Senior Day.. They’ve given me nothing but support and I couldn’t be more grateful for that 💜
Riley O’Brien
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Riley O’Brien married Chellyn O’Brien in November 2023, after dating for 9 years.
- The MLB player has a brother named Brendan O’Brien.
