Smeltzer's meaningful meeting with young fan fighting cancer

PHILADELPHIA -- Marlins left-hander Devin Smeltzer is a believer that everything happens for a reason.

A Vorhees, N.J., native, Smeltzer grew up a Phillies fan and often attended games in Mike Lieberthal's and Jimmy Rollins' special sections at Citizens Bank Park. Then, at the age of 9, Smeltzer was diagnosed with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma. One of his core childhood memories came in 2006, when he met his hero, second baseman Chase Utley, during batting practice while receiving treatment. Twelve years later, they reconnected as members in the Dodgers' organization.

As a pediatric cancer survivor, Smeltzer created "Catch Cancer Looking" to support children dealing with cancer. Proceeds from his charity shirt benefit Katie’s Krusaders, an organization founded in memory of Katie Ann Duffin, to cover the out-of-pocket expenses for pediatric cancer patients.

"The biggest thing for me was when I met Utley and [Cole] Hamels, they just treated me like another player," Smeltzer said. "Wasn't like I was a sick kid. It's something that always stuck with me, and just being able to give those kids a sense of normalcy and being a good role model."

With the Marlins scheduled to visit Philadelphia as part of their first road trip of 2023, it appeared unlikely Smeltzer would get a chance to finally take the mound at the hometown ballpark. He opened the season at Triple-A Jacksonville, but due to several short starts in a row on the big league club, Miami selected Smeltzer's contract on Sunday to provide needed depth in the bullpen.

The 27-year-old Smeltzer got the chance to fulfill a childhood dream on Monday night in front of nearly 50 people close to him -- from his family and friends to the doctor who treated him and head nurses -- as he provided four innings of relief at Citizens Bank Park.

"Pretty surreal," Smeltzer said. "Dreamed of that for a long time. Been up and down in the big leagues -- this is my fifth year -- so being able to actually get here for the first time has been a long time coming."

More importantly, Smeltzer got to pay it forward.

Prior to Wednesday's series finale -- which the Marlins won, 3-2, in 10 innings -- Smeltzer met with Frankie LaSasso, a friend of a family friend, on the field. LaSasso was diagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia in December 2020, and he and Smeltzer have confided in each other ever since. With a group of over 170 supporters in attendance, LaSasso celebrated his final day of chemotherapy as the Phillies' “Ball Kid of the Month."

Smeltzer took time to play catch with Frankie and his brother, Gino, and he gave them Marlins caps. In return, Frankie handed Smeltzer a wristband marking the occasion. Smeltzer signed a poster that read "Welcome to the club!" as they posed for photos with the Citizens Bank Park backdrop that Smeltzer often saw as a kid.

"He's a lefty like me," Smeltzer said. "He plays a little bit of first base and outfield and pitches, and [it was] super cool to be able to pass that torch and hopefully inspire him to keep going."