RobertAnthony Cruz has dreamed about being a professional baseball player his whole life.
This week, when he got the call to join the MLB's Washington Nationals as a rookie player, he decided to surprise his biggest supporter: his father.
“My dad would often throw me batting practice. Typically it would be after work or on his days off and I can’t remember a single time that he said ‘no,’” Cruz told “World News Tonight.”
In a video that has since gone viral, Cruz surprises his father Ron Cruz at his job in a local auto repair shop to hand him a Washington Nationals official baseball cap. Cruz and his father then shared an emotional moment.
“Your kids -- your sons, daughters -- out there have dreams and as far as our kids, I didn’t want to be the one to tell them that, ‘No, that cannot be done,’” said Ron Cruz.
“My son’s had a dream of being a professional baseball player from the time he was little and it’s very special for us, [and] for him to get his life started and going,” he added.
MORE: High school cancer survivor hits 3-point buzzer beater in basketball championshipRobertAnthony Cruz said that having his father spend time with him made all the difference.
“He was just ready to be there for me. However, I needed him,” said RobertAnthony Cruz. “And growing up, I needed him to throw me batting practice and that’s what he did.”