David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox, give local Make-A-Wish kid a day he will never forget

BOSTON, Massachusetts – On Saturday afternoon, 14-year-old Dominic Driscoll of Middleboro, MA, had his wish to spend the day with the Boston Red Sox granted. Before the game, Driscoll and his family – mom, Kristen, dad, Bill, sister, Natalia, and brother, Gabrien – got a VIP Fenway Park experience. They toured the ballpark, saw inside the Green Monster, and watched batting practice from the field. Driscoll threw out the ceremonial first pitch, wearing the custom jersey gifted to him by the team. The family took in the game from Pavilion Club seats, as the Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-5, thanks to a three-run homerun by Adam Duvall late in the game.

In April, Dom’s “wish reveal” came at the Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Gala, when David “Big Papi” Ortiz brought Dominic on stage to tell him that his wish would be granted. As part of the reveal, Ortiz surprised everyone by telling Dominic he would personally escort him around Fenway Park on his wish day. Ortiz, the 2023 Wish Hero Award recipient, has granted an impressive 39 wishes through Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. During his acceptance remarks at the organization’s 40th anniversary Gala, Ortiz said “Being able to make a wish happen is an honor…it’s one of the biggest homeruns that I could ever hit.”

Driscoll, who has undergone three open heart surgeries, is one of the top amateur power-hitting and pitching prospects in the country. He hopes to be the first player with congenital heart disease to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team. Driscoll raises awareness and funding for congenital heart disease charities, a cause close to Ortiz’s heart and at the focus of The David Ortiz Children’s Fund.

True to his word, Ortiz was there to reunite with Driscoll on Saturday, even taking him into the clubhouse before the game. “We cannot thank the Red Sox and Big Papi enough for providing such unforgettable experiences for Dom and so many of our wish children,” said Amy Carroll, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Vice President of Mission Delivery. “Looking forward to an experience with their favorite team or athlete gives these kids something to hold onto during treatments, and it reminds them that there is so much joy in a world that is often very difficult for them and their families.”

This year, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island celebrates its 40th anniversary. As part of the celebration, the Red Sox will host Make-A-Wish Day at the game on September 9 vs. the Baltimore Orioles. Fans purchasing tickets through the promotion will receive an exclusive Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island branded replica Red Sox jersey, and a portion of ticket sales will benefit the organization’s mission of granting life-changing wishes for local children with critical illnesses. To purchase tickets, visit massri.wish.org/events.