The Royals Caravan made a stop at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center on Thursday. Alex Gordon, Luke Hochevar, Frank White and John Mayberry visited children, bringing smiles to their faces as they chatted with them.
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| Isabella cuts her eyes at Luke Hochevar |
“The Royals, now,” Paul said.
The players, and former players, stopped by the room of an 11-year-old girl named Kyra. They found out she likes to play soccer.
Michael, a 15-year-old, wanted to talk about football and Hochevar was more than willing, asking him who was going to win this weekend. Michael is a Steelers fan, so that was his pick.
Isabella, who looked to be about three or four, was bashful as Hochevar and Gordon visited with her and her family. She would cut her eyes in Hochevar's direction and then quickly look away. "What a little cutey," Gordon whispered to Hochevar as they left her room.
Brandi, 16-year old, told them she had a relative who used to work at Rosenblatt Stadium so she’d been there a number of times. Gordon chatted with her and handed her several autographs – Mayberry’s, White’s and his own – telling her that Mayberry and White are in the Royals Hall of Fame. Hochevar gave her an autographed Royals baseball cap. Mayberry handed her a stuffed animal.
They repeated the scene at each stop. And even though many of the patients weren’t baseball fans, they couldn’t help but smile, knowing somebody they didn’t know cared enough to stop by for a visit.
Madison, a 10-year-old, was a little shy while Hochevar and Gordon visited her – too shy to do what she really wanted to do, but she eventually got up the courage.
“She asked her mom – who brought two of her soft plastic bracelets to me that say ‘brave’ on them and they have her name and some hearts – because she wanted Luke and Alex to have them,” said Cherie Lytle, media relations liaison for Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. Lytle made sure the players got them.
“It was exciting to see the looks on their faces and to get them some Royals gear and to get them excited about the baseball season,” Hochevar said afterward. “But just spending time with the kids and seeing their faces light up, it’s awesome.”
