Make-A-Wish recipient Delfina Budziak, 11, dines with Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer at a Jack Astor's restaurant in Toronto on Wednesday.Jeremy Chan/The Canadian Press
With a bow in her hair and dressed in a Toronto Blue Jays T-shirt, Delfina Budziak sat at a table beside George Springer on Wednesday at Jack Astor’s restaurant in downtown Toronto.
The 11-year-old was diagnosed with liver disease at two months old and had a liver transplant seven months later. Now she plays second base and as an outfielder for the 11-and-under Jays boys’ team in the Aurora-King Baseball Association.
Two years ago she was granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and used it to visit Disney World with her family and to attend a Blue Jays spring training game against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., where she caught a ball tossed by Alejandro Kirk.
Springer, Toronto’s designated hitter and part-time outfielder, is a star in the major leagues but Delfina’s star shone brighter at the Make-A-Wish Foundation event.
She sat in front of a phalanx of television cameras and knocked one question after another out of the park as Springer looked on quite impressed. At one point, he reached over and gave her a first bump.
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They were both at the restaurant to announce the kickoff of a campaign to raise money for Make-A-Wish. From now through Jan. 4, the chain’s three-dozen restaurants across the country will donate proceeds from its Santa’s Secret menu items to the not-for-profit organization.
Jack Astor’s began that last year and raised $100,000. This year it has set a goal of $250,000.
Springer is Delfina’s Blue Jays hero and when she saw him arrive on Wednesday she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“When I saw him walk through the door I froze,” she said. “I couldn’t speak for three minutes.”
Springer's three-run home run in the seventh inning of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners was a standout moment in team's postseason run, which captivated Canada.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Meaghan Stovel McKnight, the chief executive for Make-A-Wish Canada, introduced the ballplayer and the young liver transplant recipient.
The entire restaurant is decorated for Christmas, with inflatable snowmen, candy canes, reindeer and giant ornaments strung from the ceiling along with twinkling white lights.
“Children across the country are building wish lists and we know that wishes are medicinal,” Stovel McKnight said. A child is diagnosed with a serious illness – sometimes fatal – every two hours. There are 3,700 children across Canada waiting for a wish to be granted by the foundation.
Springer flew in from the United States to make the personal appearance. Jack Astor’s has named him its captain for this holiday season.
Springer struggled with stuttering in his youth and still occasionally stutters, and from that has special compassion for kids.
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“I was very fortunate to have the life I did,” Springer said. “But I can’t compare what I went through with what this young girl has gone through in her life.
“Through Make-A-Wish I now have a better understanding of the challenges sick kids go through. When it comes to special kids I have a very soft spot in my heart. It is very heartwarming to be involved.”
Springer is married with two children and lives in Stuart, Fla., during the off-season.
He said that he and his teammates have not discussed the should-have could-haves that come with losing the World Series in extra innings in Game 7 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That is over and done with.
“It is what it is,” he said without lament. “You have to move forward and learn from everything that happened.”
He has spent the last month at home and spending time with his kids.
“There has been a lot of being a dad, and just getting away from baseball,” Springer said. “But it has been a quick month. Pretty soon it will time for spring training.”
Springer said that he and his Blue Jay teammates haven't been looking back at what could have been, in the wake of their Game 7 World Series loss.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Pitchers and catchers – but most players really, will report to camp in Dunedin, Fla., on Feb. 12.
The team has been active recently. On Tuesday the Jays signed right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year contract for US$210-million. That is the largest contract the club has ever offered to a free agent and its second largest overall after Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 14-year US$500-million deal.
Signed as a free agent, Cease has a 65-58 record over seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres. He has struck out more than 200 batters five times.
“For him to want to come to Toronto is special for us,” Springer said. “I think it shows where the organization is and where we want to be as a team.”
Delfina and her family had photos taken with Springer at the end of the event. Her mother, Betsy, was her liver donor.
She was initially ruled out as a donor candidate because she had nodules on her liver. Nobody else in the family was found to be suitable. Betsy eventually had a procedure to remove the nodules and was given the go-ahead to donate.
Until the nodules were removed she was considered a risk for possible liver cancer.
“It had gotten a little scary near the end because it looked like we had almost run out of options,” she said. “Delfina likes to say I saved her life, but she might have saved mine, too.”