HOUSTON — A young baseball fan who is fighting cancer was all smiles Tuesday when she got the chance to meet her idol – Houston Astros slugger José Altuve.
According to KTRK and KHOU, the second baseman welcomed 7-year-old Abigail Arias and her family to the team's clubhouse before Tuesday's World Series opener. Freeport police Chief Ray Garivey, who named Abigail an honorary officer earlier this year, also was invited.
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All of the guests received free tickets to watch the Astros face the Washington Nationals that evening, KTRK reported.
In a Facebook post, Abigail's father, Ruben Arias, said his daughter gave Altuve an "Abigail Strong" bracelet and a shirt that the girl designed with help from clothing brand Relentless Defender. Proceeds from sales of the shirts, which are available on the company's website, help Abigail's family cover medical costs, CBS News reported.
Altuve appeared to wear both items in social media photos, donning the shirt before he took the field and the bracelet during the game.
Follwing her meeting with Altuve, Abigail spoke to KHOU about the experience.
"I told him, 'Altuve, please make a home run for me,'" she told the TV station.
The MLB star told reporters that meeting Abigail meant a lot to him.
"If I can bring a smile to her face, I am happy to do it," he said, according to KHOU.