ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Orioles closer Jorge López surprised his son, Mikael, with a birthday party during a trip to Boston two months ago, with teammates filing out of the visiting clubhouse, reliever Joey Krehbiel holding a cake, and singing to the 9-year-old between games of a doubleheader. López registered a four-out save in the nightcap. An incredibly sweet moment even without the confections.
López has another surprise in store for Mikael. How his papá was chosen to the American League’s All-Star team.
Mikael was told about it, but he doesn’t really know.
“I’m just so grateful. Being selected for the first time, I can’t even describe it,” López said yesterday inside the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field.
“Mikael doesn’t understand yet until he gets there and sees everything. He’s never seen it before. I used to watch it at home or at the hospital when he used to be there. But from what I can remember, he couldn’t see it and understand what the All-Star Game means.”