A great athlete can inspire others while they are on the field, but it’s when they can do the same thing off the field, that makes a bigger impact.
One baseball player has shown that even when it doesn’t involve playing the game, being part of a team is what matters most.
Especially if that part of the team is the fans. And when one of them was crying, lost from his family, Harper did the only thing he knew how, he went and comforted the 7-year-old Caleb.
Harper, a father of two, took time during the beginning events of the game to stop and check on Caleb. The boy couldn’t locate his brothers and was scared.
An NBC Sports reporter tweeted out the now-viral picture of Harper sitting beside the young boy. According to MLB, Caleb was separated from his brothers, when the boys went to get their picture taken with Phillies players.
Phillies outfield Bryce Harper comforts 7-year-old Caleb, who got separated from his brothers during a recent game.
After the boy was able to point out where they had been in the stands, Harper and the boy were soon reunited with the child’s brothers. The three boys got a chance to pose with Harper for a selfie, too.
Harper has two children, a son, Krew Aron, and a daughter, Brooklyn Elizabeth, with his wife, Kayla.
The kind-hearted baseball player has been with the Phillies since 2019, when he was signed to a $330-million contract.
He credits his success, and his ability to stay grounded, to his family.
I have an amazing family, I have an amazing wife, two beautiful kids that keep me very humbled and grounded,” Harper said. “When I leave the field, it’s all about them.
After his act of kindness, Harper went on to hit a home run, leading the Phillies to a 9-6 win against the Kansas City Royals.
The boy’s grandmother, Diane, assured everyone that Caleb was back to his smiling self after the ordeal.
Fans couldn’t be prouder of Harper. One user tweeted: “Bryce Harper is truly an outstanding human being!! An all-around good guy!! Sometimes it goes beyond baseball!!” Another said, “Great photo!!! Definitely a wall-hanger. Harper shows he’s a champion where it counts most!”
Bryce Harper, far right, poses with Caleb, center, and his brothers. Photo courtesy of Taryn Hatcher/Twitter
For another, it was just a reminder that Harper has always put his city and fans first. “This guy is truly too good to be true! I’ve been around for quite a few baseball seasons and really can’t remember a guy that does some of the things he does and embraces the city he plays in the way he does. Incredible. Philadelphia doesn’t know how lucky they are to have this guy,” one user said.
Harper has always been open about his love of being in Philadelphia.
“I just love being a Phillie, plain and simple. It’s something I dreamed about. This fanbase, this city – I love them, plain and simple. I feel like I’m part of this family, there’s nothing like it. I could go on and on, everybody thinks I pander a lot, but it’s real. It’s so real. It’s from the bottom of my heart, and I’m just thankful to put this jersey on every day,” Harper said.
For a look at Harper’s sweet moment with the lost child, watch below.
