pretty nice moment to because
you know , I chatted with
Brandon before the game and the
fact that you guys are honoring
Jean and he's wearing his custom
cleats today to and how
important mental health
awareness is for Brandon and I
thought that was just , it was
almost have proposed that it
happened kind of fitting because
I know him and his wife Madison
do a lot with the crisis center
of Tampa Bay , but it is , you
know , it's about Jean and
remembering him honoring him and
it was awesome that his mom and
dad Tony and Carlos were out
here.
They've been just pretty
remarkable family for what
they've been through , but we're
so grateful that they've spent a
couple of days with us and like
Brandon , I told his mom Tony
I've got Jean shoes on that he
painted for me and I wouldn't be
wearing him in spring training
but felt that this was important
to do , that was the beautiful
thing about Jean is is no matter
what , no matter what the
situation was , he was just
always there to help you out and
kind of bring you back down to
earth and just kind of calm the
storm and that's what made Jean
so special to all of us as he
always had a way of calming us
down everything.
Jean Jean was , you know , he
was , he was a great guy , you
know , just I get choked up
every time I got to talk about
him , you know , just just
overall he was there for
everybody every day , always had
a smile , we joked a lot , We ,
we got really close during the
pandemic , talking about stocks
and shoes , he was a big shoe
connoisseur.
So you know , there's nothing I
can say but you know , I love
Jean I love his family and you
know , as tragic as everything
has been , has brought us a lot
together and you know nothing
but love and respect for his
family , just all in all , just
the day , getting the honor ,
Jean seeing his parents before
the game to be able to come out
and perform and you know ,
honestly just honor the number
of the name and all that kind of
stuff is means everything ,
especially , you know , everyone
to show up people out here
understanding what today is ,
it's been a great family , it
makes it easier when it's
printed on our , on on our bands
right here , that probably going
to end up being wearing for for
the rest of the year.
It's you know , suffering in
silence.
You know , it's it's not ok if
you're , you're struggling with
something , reach out and get
help.
You know , there's a lot of
people out there that are
willing to help you and that
maybe just don't know what's
going on.
So , you know , just reaching
out the world a better place
with you in it.
You know , people want you here
whether you know it right now or
not and you know , the world is
a better place with you in it