BOSTON – The poster board was taped next to the exit door of Fenway Park’s visitors' clubhouse, where it could be seen – and slapped – by every Yankee on his way to the field. In the style of the famed Notre Dame sign, it read: “Play Like a Warrior Today,” with an image of a heart.
It was the handiwork of 7-year-old Walker Farrington, a patient at Boston Children’s Hospital who was born with a congenital heart defect. As he awaits a transplant, young Walker has been showing pinstriped pride in enemy territory, frequently dressing head to toe in a full Yankees uniform.
The Yankees learned about Walker via social media, prompting surprise visits from Ben Rice, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren this week. Manager Aaron Boone checked in with Walker on Thursday, bringing the sign to Fenway as his team aimed for a three-game sweep of the Red Sox.
“I’m grateful I got to go do that and meet him and a few of the other kids over there,” Boone said. “Walker’s family was awesome. He’s got a lot of personality, and he’s super upbeat. It was just fun hanging around with him.”
Rice stopped by the hospital during Monday’s off-day, meeting with Walker and other patients. Schlittler and Warren were there on Tuesday.
“It was fun,” Rice said. “It just puts things into perspective for you. You see what this little guy and his family are going through. For him to still have such a great attitude and be so positive, it was really cool to see.”
Rice said Walker asked him several questions, including his favorite food and the identity of the team’s best dancer. The answers?
“Pancakes,” Rice said, “and José Caballero.”
Walker and his parents, who live in Westchester County, N.Y., will be in patient living at Boston Children's Hospital for approximately 12 to 18 months as they await what his mother, Nicole, has called “Walker’s miracle heart.”
After the Yankees’ 4-0 victory Tuesday, Walker and his mother rode the elevator to the hospital roof. According to a social media post, he was sore and tired after a heart catheterization procedure, but he still cradled a small megaphone to shout: “Go Yankees!”
“I know he’ll be yelling, ‘Let’s go Yankees!’ at around 6 o’clock over there,” Boone said. “I’m hoping we hear it from the hospital.”
As he prepared for Wednesday’s game, Rice wore a red bracelet on his left wrist, which he said was a gift from young Walker – and a way to show support.
“We know he’s watching the games,” Rice said.