(670 The Score) Padres right-hander Yu Darvish has long been known for his generosity and fun-loving attitude during his MLB career, including during his three-year tenure with the Cubs.
These days, Darvish is still full of good deeds. Recently, it was a 10-year-old Padres fan named Landon whom Darvish went above and beyond for to make his day, according to San Diego Union-Tribune journalist Annie Heilbrunn.
Landon and his dad made a three-plus-hour trip from Tennessee, where they live, to Atlanta for a Padres-Braves game that was rained out on July 19. After the game was called, Darvish stood outside the dugout to sign autographs while it rained, Heilbrunn reported.
Landon was one of the ecstatic kids who received an autograph. Later, Landon’s mother sent Darvish a note on Instagram thanking him for taking the time in the rain to make her son’s day despite the weather being a disappointment. Much to her surprise, Darvish responded with a message of his own, eventually asking if Landon and the family wanted to come to San Diego to watch the Padres play seeing as the rainout cost Landon his initial chance to see the team in action.
The family took Darvish up on the offer, and he paid for the flights, hotel and tickets, Heilbrunn reported.
“There might be kids who had a promise with their parents to go to a ballgame and waited months – so it would be better for them if I saw them and communicated with them rather than not, because I think that could create a lasting memory for them,” Darvish wrote in a message of his mindset.
Here’s a look at Heilbrunn’s Twitter thread with more background.