Inspiring youngsters feted by Yankees

NEW YORK -- The Yankees concluded the 12th installment of HOPE Week with a doubleheader of remarkable stories Friday, welcoming 11-year-old Blake Wheatley onto the field at Yankee Stadium and spending time on the virtual diamond with 15-year-old Luke Post.

Wheatley, a Little Leaguer from Maryland, was recently diagnosed with the same bicuspid aortic valve condition that prompted manager Aaron Boone to have a pacemaker installed this spring.

"Today has been an amazing experience for Blake to be able to come out here and fulfill his dream of being on a Major League field," said his father, Adam Wheatley. "The Yankees organization has been tremendous. I feel like his confidence is going to go up; he'll feel better about himself and his condition. I can't thank the Yankees organization enough."

Boone and Wheatley had been scheduled to meet before Thursday's rainout against the Angels. Although rain postponed the Subway Series opener, the Wheatley family was welcomed through Yankee Stadium's gates. Boone greeted Wheatley on the field and the duo engaged in a spirited game of catch, with Wheatley whipping throws along the first-base line.

A middle infielder and right-handed pitcher who competes on the No. 1-ranked travel team in his home state's age bracket, Wheatley was rushed to a hospital in February after passing out during practice. Tests revealed that the youngster had a congenital defect where his bicuspid aortic valve had only two cusps to manage blood flow instead of three.

"Baseball is a language we have in common," Boone said. "You could tell, just by playing catch with him, what a good athlete he is. We have something in the heart that bonds us. I'm glad he got to experience this."

Post, a high school freshman from Virginia, has been hospitalized regularly with t-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Diagnosed with his condition in May 2019, Post designed a "No One Fights Alone" T-shirt as part of Child Cancer Awareness Month in September 2020.

The fundraiser took off, selling more than 200 shirts to raise more than $6,000. The proceeds were used to stock items in a teen room at University of Virginia Children's Hospital, providing popular books, games and movies.

"I still get a little anxious about treatment, but I know it's almost finished," said Post, who is expected to complete his treatment in August. "I can think about the other kids using the gifts we've given, and it makes me feel happy knowing that I'm helping other people."

In a virtual event on Friday, Yankees players logged on to play video games with Post and other children at the hospital, including showdowns in "MLB: The Show" in which the big leaguers struggled mightily.

"He's definitely the real deal," said Brett Gardner. "He knows how to pitch. It was a tough challenge, but we had a lot of fun."

Gardner, Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres, Tyler Wade and Luis Severino traded the controllers, taking on Post's Mets in a five-inning Subway Series showdown. The real-life Yankees were held to two hits by Post's virtual Jacob deGrom.

"I really enjoyed the smack talk," said Post, who is expected to attend a game with his family later this season. "Striking them out the whole time; it was pretty funny to see them keep trying."