Padres News: San Diego Hopsital Partners With Friars To Give Cancer Patients Ultimate Experience

These bright teenagers were able to sign with the Padres for a whole weekend.

Spring Training has been an opportunity for your San Diego Padres to get their prospects comfortable playing with big league teammates, welcome back returning stars, and get a first-look at a roster that has championship aspirations. However, the franchise has also been committed to ensuring that their community is taken care of as well.

As their time in Peoria winds down, the team made time to welcome in 12 cancer patients from the Rady Children's hospital in San Diego. They spent an entire weekend with the Friars and got the full experience of what it's like being around the storied franchise.

Rady's own Chief of External Affairs Officer, Steve Jennings, spoke to the Padres' social media team about how great of a weekend the Friars gave the teenagers and what it meant to the hospital.

A weekend well spent at #PadresST 💛

Teens from @radychildrens each signed a 72-hour contract with the Padres and had the chance to spend time with players and staff during a special trip to Arizona! pic.twitter.com/L9qOxRT6if

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 20, 2023

"The players came out when we were at the complex today to see the Padres game," said Jennings. "They hung out with the kids, chatted, signed baseballs, signed jerseys, including Manny Machado, they were real excited about that. A number of the Padres came and had dinner with us. We had a little bit of a taco party and we got to play video games here at Dave & Buster's. It was really amazing."

(Via The San Diego Padres)

It is these types of events and community outreach that the Padres do that separate them from every other team in the MLB. They reside in what is known as 'America's Finest City' and look to ensure they help in every way possible.

This upcoming 2023 season is bringing more hype and expectations towards the Friars than any other one in recent history. It's going to be an amazing environment every time they take the field at Petco Park and so much attention is going to be brought to San Diego.

Whole City Behind Us#PadresFanFest pic.twitter.com/KKiYInJY7k

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 5, 2023