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Red-hot Joey Votto brings Canadian kindness to Cincinnati

While heading to the plate, Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto pointed at six-year-old Walter Herbert. He homered on the 2nd pitch and said thanks to his new buddy by offering him the bat and a game-worn jersey.

1st baseman hits home run, gives his bat and jersey to boy with cancer

Sophie Baron · CBC Sports ·
In the midst of an impressive season leading the league in on-base percentage, Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto always has time for the fans. (Cincinnati Reds/Facebook)

With a 27-year age gap between them, Joey Votto and a six-year-old boy seem like unlikely friends.

But ever since Walter "Suberbubz" Herbert became the Cincinnati Reds' honourary captain for their Aug. 27 game vs. Pittsburgh, the two have been #FriendshipGoals.

When Votto crushed his 34th home run of the season during a 7-2 win over the Mets on Thursday, he saw his friend in the front row wearing a blue shirt that read: "BE KIND."

The first baseman didn't really need the reminder and was quick to run over to Superbubz and thank him in true Canadian fashion — with a high five.

But he didn't stop there.

Votto ran into the dugout and returned with the bat and later a red game-worn jersey for the young boy who is dying of stage 4 neuroblastoma.

"We did not expect that," Superbubz's mom, Emily, said in an interview with The Associated Press after the game. "We thought he'd say hi when he recognized him. We were very surprised he went all out."

Votto declined to comment on his participation, but when told that the family was thrilled, he said, "That's what's important."

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