[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][fwp-anim-text animated=”true” animation=”enter right move 10px over 1s after”]Little Brother Angel will never forget his first Los Angeles Angels game. The 11-year-old boy from Anaheim arrived at Angel Stadium hours before the first pitch would be thrown to meet the best player in baseball.

It was an experience made possible by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire’s ambassador Mike Trout. The Angels outfielder invited two of the organization’s Little Brothers (Little Brother Angel and Little Brother Jesse), along with their mentors, to hang out with him and get autographs, go inside the dugout, take photos on the field and watch batting practice before the game on Aug. 3.[/fwp-anim-text][vc_empty_space height=”32px”][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_fade” interval=”3″ onclick=”link_no” custom_links_target=”_self” images=”3497,3498,3509,3500″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=”” el_id=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][fwp-anim-text animated=”true” animation=”enter right move 10px over 1s after”]

Meet the Littles

[/fwp-anim-text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3501″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][fwp-anim-text animated=”true” animation=”enter right move 10px over 1s after”]Little Brother Angel
Matched with Big Brother Chris for 10 months

Angel—who was born with a deformity on his left arm—was picked on in school, bullied by other kids and thought he would never be able to play baseball. Big Brothers Big Sisters matched him with Big Brother Chris, a huge baseball fan who showed Angel old videos of now-retired MLB pitcher Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand. Ten months ago, Angel wore a large sweater to cover his arm, but now he’s a lot more confident and not to mention obsessed with baseball, the Angels, Mike Trout and Jim Abbott—even learning how to catch, throw and bat one-handed.[/fwp-anim-text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3502″ alignment=”center” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”medium”][fwp-anim-text animated=”true” animation=”enter right move 10px over 1s after”]Little Brother Jesse
Matched with Big Brother Andrew for 3 years, 8 months

Jesse was devastated over his father’s death four years ago and needed support to help him get through the difficult time in his life. A few months later, his mother brought him to Big Brothers Big Sisters to meet his Big Brother Andrew and the two had an immediate connection. For the last three years and eight months, Andrew and Jesse have spent time together twice a week and their favorite thing to do together is go to an Angels game. This was by far the best game both have attended together.[/fwp-anim-text][fwp-anim-text animated=”true” animation=”enter right move 10px over 1s after”]

Thank you Mike Trout for making this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible for Little Brothers Jesse and Angel!

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There are more children like Angel and Jesse waiting for a mentor. For more information how you can join Trout in supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit ocbigs.org/miketrout

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