FanShot

Alex Wood's heart is as big as that left arm of his

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With the inevitable bad spring break story or two looming on the horizon, I thought I'd try to brighten your day with a heartwarming story about how Diamond Dawg alumnus Alex Wood, now one of the most dominant arms in the Atlanta Braves' rotation, is using his fame in a wonderful way. Wood invited Thompson Ritter, a 17-year-old tough-as-nails survivor of cancer, and his family to workout with the team at their spring training facility in Florida. We so often hear about how athletes inspire their fans. This sounds more like a case of the opposite. Ritter, who despite having endured two operations to remove tumors in his back, is a standout pitcher for George Walton Academy in Monroe, and got to share his story of hope and perseverance with the Braves. Here's to hoping we see Ritter pitching for his beloved Diamond Dawgs in the near future!