You have got to watch this. This. Is. Beautiful.
Deadspin reports:
Teddy Kremer is a 30-year-old man with Down Syndrome, and he developed a bond with the Reds last summer, when he took a turn as the team’s batboy. Last night, Teddy again got to be the batboy, which meant he again brought his boundless enthusiasm into the Reds’ dugout. Only this time, Teddy also made a special request of Frazier:
“He’s so funny, he said, ‘C’mon, hit me a home run, I love you.’ I said, ‘I love you too, I’ll hit you one,’” Frazier recalled.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the Reds already well on their way to an 11-1 win over (who else?) the Marlins, Frazier stepped in against John Maine. And sure enough, Frazier launched an 0-1 pitch over the wall in center field for a home run. A giddy Teddy was there to greet him at home plate. Teddy was so thrilled and got so caught up in the celebration he forgot to pick up Frazier’s bat.
More Frazier, per the Cincinnati Enquirer:
“It was great how excited — that look,” Frazier said. “I started smiling even before I hit home plate because I knew it. … You can’t get mad—even if you have a terrible day. How can you be mad when you’ve got a guy like that around?”
April 23, 2013 at 7:43 pm
Yay! As a local who saw this as it was happening, I'd hoped it would go viral!
-Elodie
April 24, 2013 at 5:22 am
…."angel" in the dugout….;)
April 24, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Todd Frazier is quickly becoming a local legend. He saved a dude's life with the Heimlich in a Pittsburgh steakhouse last year, and he won the Little League World Series. Glad others are finding out about him.
April 24, 2013 at 9:25 pm
As a local, Todd Frazier is my favorite man on that team right now. He radiates the joy of playing the game and has a heart of gold from what I can tell. I saw an interview he did last year with a tween aged girl during which the nervous young girl seemed to be put at ease by Todd's willingness to answer any question she threw at him and laugh a few times along the way.
The other part I like about him is his plate music. While most of the guys take their trip to the plate with heavy metal, hip hop, or rap, Todd walks to the plate to the crooning of Frank Sinatra! Haha!
Proud to be able to cheer on a team with guys like Frazier on the roster.