Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer sized up the team’s newest player before Thursday’s game at Kauffman Stadium.
“What position are you going to play?” Hosmer asked. “Not first base. That’s my position.”
A wide smile formed on Hosmer’s face as the new guy, 6-year-old Rhylan Lopata, fumbled for an answer.
Rhylan signed a contract on Thursday under the watchful eye of general manager Dayton Moore. The ceremony, which was set up through the Missouri Make-A-Wish Foundation, came roughly seven months after Rhylan was diagnosed with Stage 3B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
There was a mass in Rhylan’s chest and the disease had spread to his spleen.