Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock throws against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning during a baseball game, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock throws against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning during a baseball game, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
BOSTON (AP) 鈥 Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock has quietly found a way to honor his younger brother, who drowned nearly two years ago.
When he enters from the bullpen at Fenway Park, the 28-year-old right-hander jogs to the mound with country artist Kane Brown鈥檚 song 鈥淏ury Me in Georgia鈥 playing in the background.
鈥淲hen my brother did pass away, I would hear that song and it would remind me of him a lot,鈥 Whitlock told The Associated Press while standing at his locker before Friday’s game against Atlanta. 鈥淚 also just like the flow of it and stuff, so it kind of has dual purpose, but I do enjoy the song and that does remind me about my brother.鈥
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On Sept. 2, 2023, Whitlock鈥檚 23-year-old brother, Gavrie, slipped running down a dock and fell into Lake Lanier in suburban Atlanta.
Whitlock, the team鈥檚 Jimmy Fund Captain for the third straight season 鈥 a charity the club works with to help children with cancer since the 1950s 鈥 said he thought of using the song as a tribute 鈥渢wo or three weeks ago.鈥
鈥淛ust because I heard it for the first time in a long time and I was like: 鈥楳an, I really enjoy that song and it reminded me of my brother,鈥欌 he said. 鈥淪o, I was like: 鈥榊ou know what, that would be kind of like a cool way to do both.鈥欌
Whitlock said he hadn’t even told his wife, Jordan, or his mother about the tribute.
Before making the switch, he walked to the mound to 鈥淟ong Black Train鈥 by Josh Turner.
鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 really told anyone yet,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 told my wife or anything yet. I hadn鈥檛 told my mom anything. Actually, I don鈥檛 think Jordan鈥檚 heard it yet. She hasn鈥檛 been here when I pitched yet.鈥
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Whitlock said he thought of his brother when he came out of the bullpen the first time after making the change.
鈥淚 did. That鈥檚 one of those: You know, when I think about him, I definitely get emotional and everything,鈥 he said, speaking softly. 鈥淏ut, like I said, kind of a cool way to enjoy the song and always remember him.鈥
He didn鈥檛 think his teammates even noticed the tribute 鈥 except maybe fellow reliever Brennan Bernardino 鈥 because most of them weren鈥檛 with the team when he learned of his brother’s death during a trip to Kansas City.
He said Bernardino approached him when the team was playing at Kansas City last weekend and asked how he was doing.
鈥淎 lot of these guys weren鈥檛 here when it happened,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ernie came up to me in Kansas City and was like: 鈥楩irst time being back. You OK?鈥 I know Bernie鈥檚 really conscious of it.鈥
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