Two Minor League Baseball pitchers, who were both named Brady Feigl and had eerily similar looks, decided to take a DNA test to find out if they were actually related after years of being mistaken for the other.
The first instance of confusion occurred in 2015, when both Feigls had the exact same elbow surgery performed by the same doctor, Dr. James Andrews.
The older Feigl, who is 32 and plays for the Long Island Ducks, received a call from the doctor’s office asking when he would be reporting for surgery, only to find out that it was actually the younger Feigl, who is 27 and plays for the Las Vegas Aviators, that was scheduled for surgery.
Both athletes measure 6 feet, 4 inches tall, have fiery red hair, and wear glasses.
In 2017, the duo fell into another identity crisis, after the University of Missouri’s baseball team tagged the wrong Feigl on Twitter in a birthday tribute.
The former San Diego Padres player responded, “Wrong Brady Feigl. Might be looking for @bfeigl39…”
Big birthday shoutout to JR Pitcher @bmfeigl! Have an awesome day! 🎉 #BirthdayReb pic.twitter.com/KlPjPBqKLL
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) November 27, 2017
Despite their age gap and the fact that they are not related, the Feigls still feel bonded to each other. “We’re still brothers in a way,” the older Feigl said.
Interestingly, the Feigls may not be the only two out there who are identical strangers.
An August 2022 study of 32 pairs by Cell Reports found that people who look alike yet are not related share genetic similarities.
In the study, the participants who were identified as lookalikes were asked to take a DNA test and answer a questionnaire about their lives.
The scientists also used facial recognition programs to analyze the doppelgängers’ images.
This is kind of crazy:
Two men:
Both named Brady Feigl
Both 6’4”
Both minor league baseball pitchers
Both look similar (see below)
Both 53% German.
Both had same arm surgery with the same doctorNot related. Had never met.https://t.co/oAHq4uDMIN
— Brian Riedl 🧀 🇺🇦 (@Brian_Riedl) March 1, 2019
According to the senior author, Manel Esteller of the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain, “Genomics clusters them together, and the rest sets them apart.”
The study revealed that people who look alike share certain genetic similarities, but other factors like environment, lifestyle and chance also play a role in shaping one’s physical appearance.
It also brought to light how challenging it can be to tell identical strangers apart, emphasizing the importance of DNA testing to confirm identity.
Brady Feigl and Brady Feigl each recently took a DNA test.
The results confirmed they are not related and there is, in fact, a glitch in the Matrix. pic.twitter.com/CWHEY1Bbhd
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) January 12, 2023
The story of the two Brady Feigls is a unique and interesting case of mistaken identity. It also highlights the importance of DNA testing and the role of genetics in determining physical appearance.
The study of genomics, or the study of genetic information, plays a crucial role in understanding the similarities and differences between individuals.
