DENVER -- Three Rockies players paid a visit to Children's Hospital Colorado on Wednesday afternoon to cheer up several children and their families.
Right-hander Tyler Chatwood, catcher Nick Hundley and right-hander Jason Motte were among those in the Rockies organization to spend time with the children, the third time the team has visited the hospital this season.
One of the children, 6-year-old Caleb Overhuls, was excited to share jokes with Hundley and Chatwood. They showed off a picture of his superhero birthday cake from a month ago as they shared plenty of smiles.
"I just met a baseball player, so that makes me excited," Caleb said. "We kind of talked about superheroes. Wolverine is my favorite because he can't die and he heals from the inside out. And plus he has those claws."
• Children's Hospital visit photo gallery
Hundley said the visit was humbling and that he enjoyed putting a smile on the children's faces. Caleb was certainly excited, saying he would remember every part of the day.
"I asked him his favorite numbers," Hundley said. "He said, 'I have three favorite numbers: 1, 12, and a million.' Just unbelievable spirit to see the families and the strength of the parents standing right behind them. They're there every step of the way, which is inspiring. As a dad, it makes you want to be a better father, too. To watch these families go through what they're going through is incredible."
Faith Albertson, a 15-year-old from Colorado Springs, appreciated the visit from Hundley. She played volleyball and enjoyed watching the sport during the Olympics. She hopes to visit them someday.
"It was fun," Faith said. "Usually I guess you could say some famous people are not exactly polite, but he was really nice and funny."
Involvement with children's hospitals and pediatric cancer is important to the Rockies, especially during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Motte's foundation will help fund a trip to bring children with cancer to Spring Training next year, and his foundation has held fundraisers for children's hospitals.
The Rockies players also handed out beanies with members of Love Your Melon. A block of tickets for the Rockies' Sept. 17 game will have a portion of the proceeds sent to help kids with cancer through the group.
"I think because of the prestige and what they bring to the table as professional baseball players, it's important for them to be able to use that level that they have to make a difference in people's lives," Rockies vice president of community & retail operations Jim Kellogg said. "Some of them don't feel like they can do that, but they really can because they're a special person to have the talents and abilities that they have."