OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — August Wold pulled on his tiny green No. 19 Athletics jersey, began swinging a Khris Davis bat from both sides while standing in front of his very own locker, then made sure everyone knew something was still missing.
“I hope I get to use batting gloves,” the boy said. “Do I get to keep all this stuff?”
All this 8-year-old Little Leaguer wants is to play for the As. They gave Wold the next closest thing with a mock contract and signing, complete with a press release announcing the deal, in collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Wold, who is from the Northern California town of Redding and suffers from a gastrointestinal disorder that has required numerous surgeries, was unofficially added to the roster for Saturday nights game against the Texas Rangers. He visited the clubhouse in uniform, and watched batting practice on the field. He even had his own press conference the way new players typically do when joining a team.
Wold sat in the dugout next to Liam Hendriks, who said, “Come on in, bro.”
“Its hot in here,” Wold told the pitcher. The boy received fist bumps from other players and walked to the batting cage with slugger Matt Olson. Wold chatted with shortstop Marcus Semien.
Wold has been playing baseball for a couple of years and already emerged as one of his teams most reliable hitters.
“Its great that he can be with us and see what we do, see what a professionals life is all about, the way we work, practice and are passionate about baseball,” Semien said. “A lot of us in this room still feel like young kids ourselves. Its our passion for the game, as much fun as we have. Hopefully we can brighten up his day and make him feel better because Im sure hes not feeling great all the time. For me as a parent, I feel for his parents, too. You never want anything to be wrong with your kids. Any time your kids sick, you worry. Its just hard.”
Later, Wold was set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Along for all the fun and special moments were his parents and five of his six siblings.
“Youre doing Read More – Source
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — August Wold pulled on his tiny green No. 19 Athletics jersey, began swinging a Khris Davis bat from both sides while standing in front of his very own locker, then made sure everyone knew something was still missing.
“I hope I get to use batting gloves,” the boy said. “Do I get to keep all this stuff?”
All this 8-year-old Little Leaguer wants is to play for the As. They gave Wold the next closest thing with a mock contract and signing, complete with a press release announcing the deal, in collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Wold, who is from the Northern California town of Redding and suffers from a gastrointestinal disorder that has required numerous surgeries, was unofficially added to the roster for Saturday nights game against the Texas Rangers. He visited the clubhouse in uniform, and watched batting practice on the field. He even had his own press conference the way new players typically do when joining a team.
Wold sat in the dugout next to Liam Hendriks, who said, “Come on in, bro.”
“Its hot in here,” Wold told the pitcher. The boy received fist bumps from other players and walked to the batting cage with slugger Matt Olson. Wold chatted with shortstop Marcus Semien.
Wold has been playing baseball for a couple of years and already emerged as one of his teams most reliable hitters.
“Its great that he can be with us and see what we do, see what a professionals life is all about, the way we work, practice and are passionate about baseball,” Semien said. “A lot of us in this room still feel like young kids ourselves. Its our passion for the game, as much fun as we have. Hopefully we can brighten up his day and make him feel better because Im sure hes not feeling great all the time. For me as a parent, I feel for his parents, too. You never want anything to be wrong with your kids. Any time your kids sick, you worry. Its just hard.”
Later, Wold was set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Along for all the fun and special moments were his parents and five of his six siblings.
“Youre doing Read More – Source
