{"id":28366,"date":"2026-06-07T10:45:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T10:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=28366"},"modified":"2026-06-07T10:45:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T10:45:53","slug":"we-believe-in-miracles-nearly-two-weeks-after-12-year-old-xavier-taylor-suffered-a-devastating-injury-on-a-baseball-field-an-entire-community-is-refusing-to-give-up-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=28366","title":{"rendered":"\u2018WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES.\u2019\u201d Nearly two weeks after 12-year-old Xavier Taylor suffered a devastating injury on a baseball field, an entire community is refusing to give up hope. From blue porch lights and baseball bats displayed outside homes to tributes from professional teams and players, thousands are rallying around the young athlete as he continues his fight in the hospital. His family says there are encouraging signs of progress, while prayers and messages of support continue pouring in from across the country. What started as a local tragedy has become a powerful reminder of how many lives one young boy has touched"},"content":{"rendered":"<article id=\"post-57553\" class=\"post-57553 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-newsass\">\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"kCTVx qtHut lqtkC HkWF HfYhe kGyAC \" data-testid=\"prism-headline\">\n<h1 class=\"vMjAx eeTZd tntuS eHrJ \"><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Community rallies around critically injured Maple Shade baseball player<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"LeadVideoWrapper aspectRatio-16x9\">\n<div class=\"FittWebPlayerContainer aspect-ratio dock StickyVideoPlayer FittWebPlayerContainer--16x9 FittWebPlayerContainer--videoPlaying FittWebPlayerContainer--shouldPlay\" data-testid=\"fitt-web-player\" data-ui-ptr-scope=\"\">\n<div class=\" hidden controls-container \">\n<div class=\"controls-footer\">\n<div class=\"controls-sub-footer\">\n<div class=\"experience-controls\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-container\">\n<div class=\" button-container \" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Full Screen\" aria-disabled=\"false\" aria-pressed=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/_7x05Ue7Bwk\/maxresdefault.jpg\" alt=\"Community rallies around critically injured Maple Shade baseball player\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"VideoCaption nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU eEzcu lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<div class=\"HXPPJ barbu yKsXL IzgMt VcHIt uhSzI YGNMU cRAsZ xqMcl QtRul \"><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Community rallies around critically injured NJ baseball player<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"XQpSH \" data-testid=\"prism-divider\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"xvlfx ZRifP TKoO eaKKC EcdEg bOdfO qXhdi NFNeu UyHES \" data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \"><span class=\"oyrPY qlwaB AGxeB \">MAPLE SHADE, N.J. (WPVI) \u2014\u00a0<\/span>A wave of support continues to grow for 12-year-old Xavier Taylor, the\u00a0Maple Shade baseball player critically injured\u00a0after being struck in the neck by a ball during warmups nearly two weeks ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cWe believe in miracles,\u201d said Karen Tilton, president of Maple Shade Girls Softball, as the community unites around the young athlete.<\/p>\n<div class=\"dBxLHuD2\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Residents across the region and country have worn Xavier\u2019s number 6 at games, placed bats outside their homes, and dressed in blue to show solidarity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cIt\u2019s heartwarming. It really is,\u201d said Geralyn Williams of Mount Laurel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"Bl64H6dd\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR zFTjo hakZw HlUVI \" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.abcotvs.com\/dip\/images\/19232693_060426-wpvi-ben-xavier-img.png\" alt=\"\" data-testid=\"prism-image\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Xavier remains hospitalized on a ventilator, and the severity of his injuries has weighed heavily on friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cIt makes me sad to see him in the hospital right now,\u201d said McKinley Schoonover, one of Xavier\u2019s friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Still, his father says there are signs of progress. Xavier is no longer on blood pressure medication, his vital signs are stable, and he is receiving nutritional care.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cI hope he\u2019s feeling the love right now from all of us,\u201d said Tilton.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The baseball world has also reached out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs visited Xavier and gave him a signed bat. The Trenton Thunder honored him at home plate and dedicated a signed bat \u201cas a symbol that he\u2019s not fighting this battle alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The Tampa Bay Rays sent him a video from the team.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div class=\"WrapperInlineVideo WrapperInlineVideo--dmp aspectRatio-16x9\">\n<div class=\"MediaPlaceholder relative MediaPlaceholder--16x9 cursor-pointer ImmersiveMediaPlaceholder\" aria-hidden=\"false\">\n<figure class=\"Image aspect-ratio--parent MediaPlaceholder__Image\">\n<div class=\"RatioFrame aspect-ratio--16x9\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"Image__Wrapper aspect-ratio--child\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.abcotvs.com\/dip\/images\/19190645_052826-wpvi-baseball-player-vigil-11pm-CC-vid.jpg?w=608\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-mptype=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"MediaPlaceholder__Overlay absolute-fill flex flex-center-all\">\n<div class=\"MediaPlaceholder__Button flex flex-center-all\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play video\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"VideoCaption nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU eEzcu lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<div class=\"HXPPJ barbu yKsXL IzgMt VcHIt uhSzI YGNMU cRAsZ xqMcl QtRul \"><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Community gathers to pray for 12-year-old baseball player critically injured before game<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Bright blue porch lights have begun appearing around town in Xavier\u2019s honor. The Benjamin Franklin Bridge and Camden City Hall were also lit up in blue this week. The community fundraising efforts have surpassed $125,000 to support his family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Meanwhile, messages of encouragement continue to pour in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cI hope you get way better, and everyone, including me, is sending prayers to you,\u201d Schoonover said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">Williams added, \u201cThe Lord is with you, and you will get better.\u201d Tilton told him, \u201cYou have so much left to do here, and everyone cannot wait to see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Community rallies around critically injured Maple Shade baseball player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_7x05Ue7Bwk\" width=\"350\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-origwidth=\"350\" data-origheight=\"235\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><ins class=\"982a9496\" data-key=\"1d8babb8af5c33364b24f298a401432e\"><\/ins>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-tags\"><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"entry-footer\">\n<div class=\"share-icons\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Community rallies around critically injured Maple Shade baseball player Community rallies around critically injured NJ baseball player MAPLE SHADE, N.J. (WPVI) \u2014\u00a0A wave of support continues to&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28366"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28368,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28366\/revisions\/28368"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}