Jered Weaver honors late Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart by naming first son after him
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver's wife, Kristin, gave birth to the couple's first child Friday, a healthy son Aden, named after Nick Adenhart.
Adenhart was 22 years old when he died four years ago. He, along with two friends, was killed by a drunk driver hours after throwing six shutout innings against the Oakland A's.
Then emerging as a dominant pitcher, Weaver had befriended the younger Adenhart. They were to form the core of an emerging Angels' rotation.
More, they'd discovered they laughed at the same things and loved the game in the same ways. They'd hung out at the ballpark and away from it, Nick playing the younger brother in the friendship. In early April 2009, Weaver was embarking on his break-through season, in which he'd win 16 games and become the ace of the Angels' staff. Four years younger than Weaver, Adenhart had just made his best big-league start.
The car in which he was a passenger was struck in an intersection.
Four years later, the Angels still mourn Adenhart's passing. He is pictured, smiling, in a pregame video montage of past and current Angels. Before every game he pitches, Weaver scratches a tribute to Adenhart – "NA" – in the mound.
Weaver has remained in contact with Adenhart's parents, along with Nick's stepbrother, Henry. The family has visited the Angels when the club was on the road.
Jered and Kristin honored them all with the naming of their first son, and it runs even deeper. The Weavers had recently met a young boy, Aidan, who was in poor health. At the age of 11, he'd come to Angel Stadium to meet his two favorite players, Jered Weaver and Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox. Kristin also met Aidan, and adored his spirit. Aidan passed away in September.
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