Aug 10, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Joey Meneses (45) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Nationals send gift to family after man steals baseball from daughter

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/7/22

One of the more upsetting recent MLB stories fortunately has a happy ending coming off the Labor Day holiday weekend.

As noted by TMZ Sports, the Washington Nationals were celebrating Youth Champions Day for last Thursday's home game against the Oakland Athletics and invited the Shenandoah Rec League Babe Ruth 10U All-Star Softball squad to Nationals Park for the occasion. At one point during the contest, Washington outfielder Joey Meneses tossed a baseball toward a 10-year-old girl who was ready to grab the souvenir before a grown man caught it and then refused to hand it over:

Grown man steals baseball from little girl. @Nationals can you get Joey Meneses to sign a baseball and send it to my daughter? ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/itcQFseOQO
— Gina Hilliard (@GinaHilliard33) September 2, 2022

Regina Hilliard, the girl's mother, tweeted a video of the incident and asked the Nationals if Meneses could send a signed baseball to make things right. It took some time and the clip going viral, but the club eventually responded:

hey Gina! Mind giving us a follow and we'll send you a DM?
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 6, 2022

Hilliard has since confirmed that the Nationals are sending a gift to the family to make up for the man's actions:

Thank you @Nationals for reaching out and apologizing to hear that our experience that night was negatively impacted. They are sending something our way and hope that this can serve as a symbol of a good experience at the park rather than a bad one! ❤️⚾️
— Gina Hilliard (@GinaHilliard33) September 7, 2022

The Nationals began Wednesday holding a record of 48-88 and sitting in last in the National League East standings but found a way to put smiles on the faces of some fans in the closing days of summer.

More must-reads: