A tribute on the mound
Chicago White Sox right‑hander Anthony Kay stepped onto the mound wearing a pair of cleats that turned heads during Players’ Weekend. The shoes, emblazoned with the name “Bella,” were a personal tribute to his 12‑year‑old niece, Annabella Kay, who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer.
Cleats crafted with care
The designs were conceived by children receiving care at Lurie Children’s Hospital, a longtime partner of the White Sox, who guided Kay through a collaborative sketching session that turned their drawings into the final artwork.
Beyond the stadium, Kay and his wife Alyssa have made it a habit to spend time in the hospital’s pediatric oncology unit before each game, delivering home‑cooked meals and offering a quiet space for families to share their stories.
A season of resilience
This season Kay sits at 9‑6 with a 3.96 earned run average, having started 24 of 26 games, recorded 104 strikeouts and maintained a 1.33 WHIP over 127 ⅓ innings.
His most recent victory came on April 9 against the Kansas City Royals, marking his first win since 2021 and underscoring his role in a White Sox rotation that has helped the club surge to first place in the American League Central.
Drafted by the New York Mets with the 31st overall pick in 2016, Kay previously showcased his talent in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball before returning to the majors.