Jameson Axford continues recovery from rattlesnake bite, throws out first pitch

In what would quality as a special moment for any major-league player or any parent for that matter, Colorado Rockies closer John Axford watched on as his son, two-year-old Jameson Axford, threw out the first pitch before Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Under any circumstances, it’s a moment in time that the Axford family would take with them forever and cherish. However, given the circumstances and the struggles young Jameson has had to endure for the past six weeks, it amplified those emotions to an almost unimaginable level.

On March 25, Jameson was bitten twice on his right foot by a rattlesnake while playing outside the home the Axford’s were renting in Scottsdale, Ariz. A bite doctors there called the worst they’d ever seen. Jameson was found to have several times more venom in his system than that of normal snake bite victims, which resulted in him spending four weeks in the intensive care units at hospitals in Arizona and later Denver.

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In the weeks that have passed, he’s undergone numerous medical procedures designed to recover damaged tissue, muscle and skin. On Monday, he will undergo his first skin graft surgery. He obviously still has a long way to go in his recovery, but it could stop him from appearing in front of the fans at Coors Field or prevent him from firing that emotional pitch.

“My son hasn’t been at a baseball game since the day he was bit, March 25th,” Axford said before the game. “It’s going to be great. To see my son at a game is going to make me smile, but to be able to see the smile on his face — just the other day we got their uniforms in, so we got their pants and jerseys, ‘Just like daddy,’ as they said.”

Jameson wore the uniform proud, and continued making his family proud just as he has throughout the entire ordeal.

Taking a step back, the story actually has a humorous twist as well, because going into the pitch dad actually wasn’t sure which hand young Jameson would throw with. 

“In the hospital, over the whole time, he was throwing with his right and with his left hand, so I’m not too sure which one he’ll choose when he’s out there,” Axford said. “So he has both gloves.”

He was aptly prepared.

As we saw in the video though, he’s definitely a right-hander, just like his dad and just like big brother J.B., who came diving in to corral the baseball.

It truly was a moment for the entire Axford family to enjoy and share, and it’s a moment we’re not likely to see topped at an MLB park all season.  

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813