Trenton Thunder honor injured South Jersey youth baseball player before game
Support for Xavier and his family has grown throughout the community in the weeks since the accident.
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The Trenton Thunder honored a 12-year-old South Jersey boy Thursday night after he was critically injured in what family members described as a freak accident on a baseball field.
Xavier Taylor, of Maple Shade, has been fighting for his life since late last month, when family members said he was struck in the neck by a baseball during warmups on the field.
Greg Taylor, Xavier's father, is also his coach. He was there when the tragedy struck.
"In that absolute moment, fight or flight kicks in," he said. "Any one of those players I treat as if they're a child of mine. That's how close that we've all become over the years."
Support for Xavier and his family has grown throughout the community in the weeks since the accident.
Hundreds of Xavier’s neighbors from Maple Shade walked the field path before the game at Arm & Hammer Park to show their support. They wore 'Maple Strong' shirts featuring Xavier's No. 6. The Trenton Thunder also dedicated a signed bat to Xavier before Thursday night’s game.
"It's all he's ever talked about. Him playing short-stop, third base, pitching. I mean, the kid will play anywhere someone puts a mat on a baseball field," Taylor said of his son. "Know that every day, he feels the love, the support, and the outpouring he's seen from the entire world at this point for him."
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Messages of support from youth baseball teams across New Jersey and around the country have also poured in since last week. The Delaware River Port Authority even illuminated the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia in blue, the color of Xavier’s team.
"It gives you goosebumps when you see it. You go out there and you see all the No. 6's and it gives you chills," Trenton Thunder general manager Jon Bodnar said. "It's just about being there for the family and supporting them any way we can."
Xavier’s family says he remains hospitalized.
"He still remains critical on a ventilator, but over the last few days, they're tinkering with things. Vital signs have kind of stabilized," Xavier's father said. "We're praying very faithfully every day that our son is going to wake up."
The community has organized several prayer vigils in support of Xavier and his family.
