What started as a dream week for Oakland A’s relief pitcher Pat Neshek turned tragic after his baby son died 23 hours after being born on Tuesday.
Neshek was ecstatic when he shared the news that his wife had gone into labor on Monday night — the same night the A’s beat the Rangers to clinch a playoff spot and get within a game of the AL West lead:
Thinking of the long nights in AAA, my TJ surgery & the days when I thought it was over..Makes this the sweetest playoff birth of my career!
— Pat Neshek (@PatNeshek) October 2, 2012
What a day, my wife is now in labor!#playoffbaby
— Pat Neshek (@PatNeshek) October 2, 2012
Neshek flew from Oakland to Florida to be with his wife, Stephanee, as she gave birth to their son.
On Tuesday evening, Stephanie shared a picture and other details about the couple’s son, who was born that day.
It’s a boy Gehrig John Neshek…8 lbs 5 oz, born 10/2/12. Pat flew Oakland to FL just in time for birth!#playoffbaby twitter.com/StephaneeNeshe…
— Stephanee Neshek (@StephaneeNeshek) October 3, 2012
The Nesheks were celebrating the birth of their son and the success of Pat’s team. The A’s tied the Rangers for the AL West lead with a win on Tuesday and would be playing for the division title on Wednesday. But that’s when tragedy struck.
Please pray for my family.Tonight my wife & I lost our first & only son 23 hours after he was born with no explanation.
— Pat Neshek (@PatNeshek) October 4, 2012
The thoughts of sympathy began pouring in immediately after Neshek shared the horrible news. A’s outfielder Josh Reddick shared his prayers with the Nesheks. Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, and Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson expressed their sympathies. We do too. We can’t imagine how awful it would be to lose your only son less than a day after he was born. Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Nesheks.
