Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel has not been with the team for about two weeks as he deals with family health issues, but his teammates are showing their support for the pitcher at spring training.
Kimbrel and his wife Ashley welcomed a baby girl, Lydia, in November. Just four days after she was born, Lydia underwent a surgical procedure for a heart condition. She has since had multiple surgeries, and Kimbrel returned to Boston for the most recent one at the end of February. On Sunday, Red Sox players wore shirts that said “We Are #LydiaStrong” on them while warming up for their spring training game.
Today we’re wearing #LydiaStrong shirts as we continue to keep the Kimbrel family and their daughter, Lydia, in our thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/eb2pifQGBh
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 11, 2018
Red Sox manager Alex Cora was asked by reporters when Kimbrel might be back with the team, but he would only say that the health of Kimbrel’s daughter is the team’s biggest concern.
“Praying for Lydia. Our thoughts and prayers are with him,” Cora said, per Christopher Smith of MLive.com. “He’s actually throwing up there. He threw a bullpen two days ago. He actually took the (radar) gun to it and he feels really good where he’s at physically and where his arm is. But obviously for us, for the organization, for everybody, the most important thing is Lydia.”
Kimbrel was one of the best closers in baseball last season, posting a ridiculous 1.43 ERA and converting 35 of 39 save opportunities. Here’s hoping everything turns out well for his daughter.
