Brandon Laird was on his way back to the clubhouse after practice on Saturday when he spotted a young boy looking down on him from the stands. The boy wore a yellow shirt and black-rimmed glasses and a baseball glove covered one of his hands. He offered a small wave as Laird looked up and noticed him.

From Laird¡¯s position, he could read the white letters on the underside of the brim of the boy¡¯s hat. It read ¡°Laird 5.¡±

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters third baseman stopped and exchanged a brief greeting with the child before heading through the door at Zozo Marine Field in Chiba. He was back a few minutes later, clutching a bat he later passed through the net to the woman the child stood with, and thanked the boy for cheering for him.