Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/356132
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Brandon Guyer, a former baseball standout for the Cavaliers, is not the only member of his household in the limelight. His wife, Lindsay Murphy, is the sports an- chor for a FOX TV affiliate in Washing- ton, D.C., and she was the emcee for an event in February for Special Love. "It is an organization that puts on special events and functions for families [of pediatric cancer patients]," noted Guyer, who met his wife when she interviewed him when he was playing at Virginia. Guyer, 28, who made his Major League Baseball debut with Tampa Bay in 2011, joined his wife at the event in Maryland prior to the start of spring training, and when he did he met Mathias Giordano. "He is a 13-year-old boy who lost his right leg to cancer," said Guyer, a graduate of Herndon High who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2007 out of Virginia. "I talked to him and his family. His story is really inspiring: the maturity he has on his outlook on life," Guyer added. "It was really inspiring. He has some good days and bad days." Guyer kept in touch with Giordano and his family and invited them to Camden Yards in Baltimore when Tampa Bay played the Orioles on June 27. Guyer had his teammates sign a bat that he gave to Giordano, and he also said he would try his best to get a hit for Mathias. Instead Guyer got three hits, all doubles, to set a personal best in that category. But that was not the biggest thrill of the day for Guyer. The best part was being able to see Giordano and his family. "That was just the highlight of the day, to see him and get his mind off of his situation," Guyer said. Camden Yards was already a special setting for Guyer, who as a young boy would make the drive to Baltimore from Northern Virginia to see the Ori- oles play. Then he hit a home run in his first MLB game at Baltimore in 2011. "I always look forward to it," he said of playing at Camden Yards. But this year has still been a chal- lenging one for Guyer, who has spent time on the disabled list and also in Durham with the Triple-A Bulls of the International League. The Rays placed him on the disabled list May 26 with a fractured left thumb. Guyer was sent to Durham on June 14 for a minor league rehab assignment, then activated five days later from the 15-day disabled list. Guyer was starting on a regular basis in July, and he went 11 for 29 (.379) during one seven-game stretch. In 56 games this season for the Rays as of July 29, he was hitting .265 with 10 doubles, a homer and 15 RBI. "I'm just coming into my own [this season]," he said. "I'm just trying to make the most of it." — David Driver CAVALIERSPORTS behind the scenes BASEBALL ALUM BRANDON GUYER Guyer provided Mathias Giordano (right) and his brother Troy (left) with a day to remember in Baltimore on June 27. PHOTO COURTESY LINDSAY MURPHY