(Video above: Ben Thomas’s day as a Montgomery Biscuit)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Ben Thomas loves baseball. Sadly, the 8-year-old from Auburn is battling leukemia, which threatens to limit the number of swings he may get to take in his life. But last week he had a dream fulfilled when the Montgomery Biscuits, the Class AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, invited him to be a Biscuit for a day.
“He was diagnosed with childhood leukemia in May of last year. He was 7-years-old,” Ben’s mom Christi Thomas explained to WSFA. “He’s done remarkably well ever since. He did miss the first semester of school this fall. (But today) he’s really excited. He loves baseball.”
When Ben arrived at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium prior to the Biscuits’ Friday evening game against the Jacksonville Suns, the team was prepared to welcome their new teammate.
“He got here this afternoon, and we had him a personalized locker with a jersey,” Biscuits employee Jordan Thomas told WSFA. “He got to spend time with the players at batting practice. played some catch on the field and (then threw) out the first pitch.”
During batting practice, Ben chose to take his cuts with a heavy wooden bat, just like the pros. His teammates were impressed.
“It’s a pretty heavy bat,” said Biscuits starting pitcher Jamie Schultz. “It’s no joke. He hit everything. That’s awesome.”
“He probably took 50 to 60 swings and I bet he only swung and missed about six or seven times,” added Biscuits relief pitcher Mark Sappington. “I mean at 8-years-old I missed a lot.”
Ben’s dad, Brandon Thomas, said the family was thankful for the Biscuits taking the time to put a smile on their son’s face.
“It builds his spirit and confidence,” he said, “takes his mind off of all the treatments that he’s having.”
Watch WSFA’s coverage of Ben Thomas’s day as a Montgomery Biscuit in the video above.
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— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) December 3, 2014
