Mike Aviles’ daughter, who is battling leukemia, throws out first pitch
The Cleveland Indians have given their support to infielder Mike Aviles, and his family, all season. Aviles’ four-year-old daughter Adriana was diagnosed with leukemia in May, and the team made it clear to Aviles that his family should come first.
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They doubled down on that sentiment in July, telling Aviles they would not deal him at the deadline so Adriana could continue receiving the same treatment, and so Aviles could remain close to his family.
When Adriana was diagnosed, Aviles promised her that she could throw out a first pitch before a game. He made true on that promise Thursday.
We don’t know about you, but it’s getting a little dusty where we are right now.
We should note that Adriana’s twin sister Maya also threw out a first pitch prior to the game. By the looks of the video, everyone seemed to enjoy their presence. Adriana bonded with manager Terry Francona over their lack of hair, and both kids seemed animated as they warmed up for their big moment. Aviles looked pretty dang happy, too.
On a side note: Credit to reporter Andre Knott for getting through the story as he was being taped up by Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco. That’s dedication.
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Overall, it was an incredibly touching moment. It’s good to see the team stand by Aviles as he deals with a difficult situation, and it’s great to see Adriana is doing well. We’re all rooting for her.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik