Garrett Whitlock of Red Sox Honors Late Brother with Song Bury Me in Georgia when entering games

Boston (AP) – Red Sox Reliever Garrett Whitlock has quietly found a way to honor his younger brother, who drowned almost two years ago. When he enters the Taurus in Fenway Park, the 28-year-old right hand jogs to the hill with country artist Kane Brown’s song “Bury Me in Georgia” playing in the background. “When my brother was over, I would hear the song, and that would remind me a lot about it,” Whitlock said of The Associated Press while standing at his lock -up box before Friday’s game against Atlanta. “I also just like its flow and things, so it has a double purpose, but I enjoy the song and it reminds me of my brother.” On September 2, 2023, Whitlock’s 23-year-old brother, Gavrie, slid off with an dock and fell into Lake Lanier in the suburban Atlanta. Whitlock, the team’s Jimmy fund captain for the third consecutive season – a charity with the club working to help children with cancer since the 1950s – said he is considering using the song as a tribute “two or three weeks ago.” “Just because I heard it for the first time in a long time, and I was like,” Man, I really enjoy the song and it reminded me of my brother, “he said. “So I was like,” Do you know what, it would be a good way to do both. ” Whitlock said he didn’t even say to his wife, Jordan or his mother about the tribute. Before making the switch, he walked to the hill to “Long Black Train” by Josh Turner. “I haven’t really told anyone yet,” he said. “I haven’t told my wife or anything yet. I didn’t say my mother anything. Actually, I think Jordan still heard it. She wasn’t here yet when I pitched. ‘ Whitlock said he thought of his brother when he first came out of the bull after making the change. “I did it. This is one of them: you know, when I think of him, I certainly get emotional and everything, ‘he says, talking softly. “But as I said, a kind of a nice way to enjoy the song and always remember him.” He did not think that his teammates even noticed the tribute – except perhaps reliever Brennan Bernardino – because most of them were not 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 played in Kansas City last weekend and asked him how he was doing. “Many of these guys were not here when it happened,” he said. “Bernie came to me in Kansas City and was like,” First time back. You are ok? “I know Bernie is really aware of it. ”___