CLEVELAND — It's hard to root against a guy like Leonys Martin.
The Cleveland Indians outfielder found himself in a grave situation last year, when a bacterial infection nearly took his life. After weeks of treatment and months of rehabilitation, Martin made a full recovery and has since become an everyday player in the Indians' lineup.
He even thanked fans earlier this season for their support.
“Very grateful to finally come back to The Land and see this,” Martin wrote in an Instagram post. “Thank you for thinking of me during the most difficult time of my career.”
Now, Martin is pitching in to help someone else suffering from health issues.
According to GoFundMe, Twitter user @EmilySeitz found a stray cat at her door and decided to take her in, naming her Leonys in honor of the Indians' outfielder. But the cat has a massive hernia on her stomach, which will require $800 surgery.
A GoFundMe campaign was started Monday to raise funds for Leonys' surgery. Three days later, the campaign's $800 goal was met, and Martin plans to add to the total.
Twitter user @VeryGoodKerry had been tweeting about Leonys' surgery when the real Martin chimed in, asking how he could help. Now, Martin has made arrangements to contribute to the cat's surgery.
The Indians are set to begin an 11-game homestand with the Baltimore Orioles tonight.