SEATTLE -- Jack Evans had his first open-heart surgery 600 miles from his North Dakota home when he was still a baby.

As he recovered in the NICU, the nurses often urged his parents, Matt and Sara, to take a break from their constant vigil. One day, that gentle nudge to breathe came in the form of free game tickets to the St. Paul Saints, the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate. Mom and Dad needed a little escape, and baseball soon became their answer.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: Tuesday on FOX, 8 p.m. ET

Then, the Ronald McDonald House Charities offered tickets. Once Jack was old enough, the family was scheduling all of his treatments around baseball so they could take in a game. Once, Jack even received treatment in the morning and caught a game that night. It became a way of life for the Evans clan, and so when it was time for Jack’s Make-A-Wish request, there was really no doubt what he would choose.

On Friday night, Jack’s All-Star Week began.

The 17-year-old joined Evan Dyme, 14, from New Jersey; Legend Miles, 14, from California; Gabriel Delacruz, 15, from California; and Jacob Paskell, 17, from Massachusetts as the guests of honor at the Make-A-Wish Welcome Reception presented by Hankook Tire in downtown Seattle.

“I really believe in the power of baseball to provide joy and healing,” said Nova Newcomer, the Mariners’ director of community affairs. “Our work is really all about all the ways that we can provide a fun and inspiring baseball and softball experience to families no matter what each family or child is going through at that time.

“When you come into the ballpark, that’s an experience for you all to have fun and enjoy it, and have that be a lifetime memory with your family.”

While the five teens fight different battles, they’re also united in their love for baseball and were about to embark on an unforgettable All-Star journey.

Each year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants life-changing requests for children with critical illnesses, giving them -- and their families -- an emotional and physical boost during their fight. Since 1980, Major League Baseball and its clubs have worked with Make-A-Wish to grant wishes for children, donate tickets, and raise money for local chapters.

Over the past 20 years, they’ve fulfilled more than 100 kids’ All-Star Game wishes.

Friday night was no different. MLB and the Mariners made sure each of the teens received a swag bag chock full of gifts, including a bat with their name stamped on it, a personalized jersey from each kid’s favorite team, and an All-Star Game sweatshirt, T-shirt, hat, water bottle and official program to start.

“Thank you for choosing baseball as your wish,” said April Brown, MLB’s vice president of social responsibility and community affairs, “and as part of your journey that’s going to give you a lot of excitement, and that just means the most to us.”

The gifts were presented to the boys by three of MLB’s top prospects, who will participate in Saturday night’s 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Middle infielder Kyren Paris, (the Angels’ No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline), outfielder Victor Scott II (Cardinals, No. 25) and middle infielder Ryan Bliss (D-backs, No. 29) took photos during the welcome reception, signed autographs and talked shop with the families, while the Orioles, Mariners and Rockies mascots worked the room and made everyone laugh.

Thanks to a generous donation from Hankook Tire, the boys and their families will also enjoy all the All-Star festivities this week from a private suite at T-Mobile Park, attend the MLB Draft and receive VIP treatment at the Capital One PLAY BALL Park at Lumen Field, making for an experience full of memories Sara Evans said her family will treasure forever.

“I’m so happy that you picked the All-Star Game. I think you’re going to have memories for a lifetime,” said Melissa Arias, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington. “I know you’ve been through a lot, and you’re going to continue to work hard and do great things in life, but I hope you also always remember these experiences and the hope and joy that it brings.”