WESTPORT IN PENNSYLVANIA. TONIGHT THE ROYALS ARE GOING VIRAL FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OFF THE FIELD. KMBC NINE ALAN SHOPE SHOWS US THE SPECIAL MOMENT WITH SALVY. SOMEBODY CAN JUST SEE US AND ASK TO PLAY. THE LITTLE BALLPARK IN THIS WYANDOTTE COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A VERY SPECIAL NAME. WE ALL JOKINGLY CALL IT THE SANDLOT. LIKE THE MOVIE SEEMS FITTING. THERE’S EVEN A DOG ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE THAT ALWAYS WANTS TO TAKE THE BALL. WHEN YOU HIT IT OVER, IT, AND IT’S A GAME THAT’S BEEN PLAYED HERE SEVERAL NIGHTS A WEEK DURING BASEBALL SEASON. FOR THREE YEARS. BUT ON THURSDAY NIGHT, THEY CALLED UP A MAJOR LEAGUE CATCHER TO THEIR WIFFLE BALL GAME. HE WAS LIKE, HELLO GUYS, CAN I PLAY? THE TEAM SHOCKED IT WAS SALVADOR PEREZ VISITING A FRIEND AND STOPPING OFF TO PLAY A FEW INNINGS. MOM LESLIE LARNED GRABBED HER PHONE AND STARTED RECORDING. HE JUST STARTED PLAYING. HE DIDN’T REALLY DO ANYTHING AND THEY JUST KEPT PLAYING. AND WHY NOT? ANYTIME. A NINE TIME ALL STAR ROLLS UP, IT’S GAME ON. HE JUST WANTED TO PLAY. I THINK IT WAS MY OFF DAY, BUT I PLAYED LIKE THREE INNINGS, SO I KIND OF TIRED A LITTLE BIT. HE PLAYED DEFENSE, HE BATTED AND HE ASKED THE BOYS TO TAKE A PICTURE AND IF SALVY SHOWING UP TO THE SANDLOT WASN’T COOL ENOUGH, AT LEAST ONE PLAYER WILL HAVE A MEMORY. HE’LL NEVER FORGET. HE HIT A HOMER OFF ONE OF THE KIDS BACK THERE. I GAVE HIM ONE DOWN THE MIDDLE AND HE. YEAH, HE HIT ONE OFF ME. DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO STRIKE SALVY OUT? NO. IT’S HARD TO HIT THAT BALL IF YOU GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO PITCH TO SALVY SOMEDAY. ARE YOU GOING TO? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO THROW HIM? I DON’T KNOW, PROBABLY NOT A FASTBALL AGAIN IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, NEAR THE LEGENDS ALAN SHOPE KMBC NINE NEWS. HE CAN HIT THE HEATER. SALVY SAYS THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE’S EVER PLAYED WIFFLE BALL. REALLY? THIS GUY, ONE OF THESE DAYS, IF THINGS JUST BREAK RIGHT, HE’S IN THE HALL OF FAME. HIS NUMBERS ARE TRENDING CERTAINLY IN THAT DIRECTION. AND I WONDER WHEN THAT BIG DAY COMES, IF A MOMENT LIK
‘Hello guys, can I play?’: MLB catcher joins neighborhood Wiffle ball game
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Updated: 4:01 PM PDT Aug 25, 2024
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Pérez surprised a Kansas neighborhood by joining their Wiffle ball game.The small ballpark, affectionately known as "The Sandlot," has been a gathering spot for local kids several nights a week during baseball season for the past three years.“He was like, ‘Hello guys, can I play?’” said 9-year-old Cameron Lard.The kids were shocked to see Pérez, who was visiting a friend, ask to join their game.Cameron’s mom, Lesley Lard, quickly grabbed her phone to record the moment.“He just started playing. He didn’t really do anything, and they just kept playing,” she said.Pérez, a nine-time All-Star, played for about 15 minutes, taking turns on defense, batting, and even posing for pictures with the kids.“I think it was, like, my off day, bro. I think I played, like, three innings. I’m kind of tired a little bit,” Pérez said before Friday’s game.“He played for 15 minutes. He played defense, he batted, and he asked the boys to take a picture,” Lesley said.The highlight of the evening came when Pérez hit a home run off one of the kids.“He hit a homer off one of the kids back there,” Cameron said.Henry Golubski, the young pitcher who gave up the home run, shared his experience.“I gave him one down the middle, and he hit one off me,” he said.
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Pérez surprised a Kansas neighborhood by joining their Wiffle ball game.
The small ballpark, affectionately known as "The Sandlot," has been a gathering spot for local kids several nights a week during baseball season for the past three years.
“He was like, ‘Hello guys, can I play?’” said 9-year-old Cameron Lard.
The kids were shocked to see Pérez, who was visiting a friend, ask to join their game.
Cameron’s mom, Lesley Lard, quickly grabbed her phone to record the moment.
“He just started playing. He didn’t really do anything, and they just kept playing,” she said.
Pérez, a nine-time All-Star, played for about 15 minutes, taking turns on defense, batting, and even posing for pictures with the kids.
“I think it was, like, my off day, bro. I think I played, like, three innings. I’m kind of tired a little bit,” Pérez said before Friday’s game.
“He played for 15 minutes. He played defense, he batted, and he asked the boys to take a picture,” Lesley said.
The highlight of the evening came when Pérez hit a home run off one of the kids.
“He hit a homer off one of the kids back there,” Cameron said.
Henry Golubski, the young pitcher who gave up the home run, shared his experience.
“I gave him one down the middle, and he hit one off me,” he said.
