BOSTON -- Two hours before a game, you can typically find a Major League Baseball player in the cage, taking batting practice on the field or stretching out by the dugout.
On Saturday afternoon, Xander Bogaerts added a unique step to his pregame routine: Help a couple get engaged.
With the Red Sox taking batting practice, a limited number of fans stood behind a roped off area behind home plate taking in the views of Fenway Park. Pregame field passes give fans the opportunity to step foot on the historic ballpark grounds and maybe snag an autograph or two. For Dave and Janey Croes, the passes also included a marriage proposal.
The couple, both from Aruba, have known each other for a long time, 20 years in fact, Janey revealed, and have two children together.
“It’s her first time at Fenway, we are huge Boston Red Sox fans. Our first time in Boston,” Dave told WEEI.com's Rob Bradford. “So it was just, it was the moment.”
As if proposing on the field at Fenway Park wasn’t memorable enough, Dave took an extra step in recruiting an All-Star shortstop and Aruban native to help execute the proposal.
“I got a friend of mine who’s a good friend of Xander,” Dave said, “and I asked him … so we just were coming here just for the first game, for the Opening Day yesterday, and I talked to him and explained what I wanted to do and he said, ‘OK, I’m gonna check with Xander.’”
In between taking swings at the plate, Bogaerts walked over and started a conversation with Janey. While the two chatted, Dave strategically walked behind Janey, got down on one knee and proposed.
Did Janey have any suspicions?
“No!” she yelled with a laugh.
Bogaerts can now update his resume: Four-time Silver Slugger, three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and one-time proposal assister.