HOUSTON -- For Astros manager Joe Espada, Tuesday held what was perhaps the most enjoyable moment he’s ever had on a baseball field, and certainly one he and his daughter will remember forever.
Viviana, Espada’s youngest daughter, threw out one of the ceremonial first pitches prior to Tuesday’s game as part of the Astros’ third annual Autism Awareness Night, with dad serving as the proud catcher. She was diagnosed with autism in 2017, and has made incredible strides in her social circles and schoolwork in recent years.
“It’s a big night for our family,” Espada said.
Brady Columbus, the 11-year-old godson of Alex Bregman, also threw out a ceremonial pitch. Brady, who is the son of Bregman’s hitting coach Jason Columbus, has autism, which is why Bregman is a huge supporter of the cause. Autism Awareness Night featured lower public address volumes at Minute Maid Park and a sensory room that included video games and sensory toys.
“It requires a lot of patience and love and understanding and acceptance to deal with autism,” Espada said.
In 2017, Espada and his wife, Pamela, noticed some behavioral differences in their youngest daughter, whom the family calls Vivi. She was just 2 years old at the time. Viviana was too young to be formally diagnosed with autism, but that would come the following summer.
“She was just entering pre-K,” Espada said. “That’s when we started seeing things where kids her age, especially in the park, she wasn’t on par with the rest of the kids. But now she has come a really long way. We are really proud of the work she’s done.”
Espada said Viviana has made so much progress from a few years ago, when she wasn’t communicating very well with kids her age.
“Now when she’s at school and I go out to lunch with her, I see her playing at recess with kids and how she interacts and how accepting they are of her. It tells you how far she’s come and how hard she’s worked to be more in that normal age group,” he said. “Her grades at school, how we celebrate how she makes strides in her math, science and reading, those are the victories I enjoy the most.”
Espada said it’s important to use his platform to create more awareness for autism, while reaching out to people who don’t have the ability to get the assistance the family needs.
“We need to do everything in our power to open the doors for people to understand this is real, but there’s help and we have to extend our arms to help others,” Espada said. “Major League Baseball is doing a pretty good job, but we need to do more. I need to do more. Alex Bregman is always doing more, and we won’t stop until we can reach as many homes and as many families as we have to.”