When a large chunk of ice smashed into the windshield of the Kansas City Royals’ team bus Sunday night in Toronto, Blaine Boyer went into action. The driver, a local man named Fred Folkerts, was hit with shards of glass, so Boyer grabbed the wheel to help steer the bus to safety.
“He was bloodied up,” Boyer told The Athletic. “The whole bus was rocked. It seemed like we got hit by an IED or something crazy.”
“It was insane,” third baseman Mike Moustakas said.
“That could have been real serious,” third-base coach Mike Jirschele said.
If things weren’t going bad enough, a huge chunk of ice flew off one of the Royals’ team buses and slammed into the windshield of the other last night. The shards hit the bus driver and reliever Blaine Boyer had to grab the wheel. The driver was OK. pic.twitter.com/b1kdSxqDQG
— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) April 16, 2018
A 13-year veteran in his first season with the Royals, Boyer deflected praise to Folkerts.
“He was a stud,” Boyer said. “That guy Fred was a trouper. He had shards in his face, and he was locked in on trying to get the bus slowed down.”
But his teammates were thankful for Boyer’s quick action.
“He saved us,” outfielder Alex Gordon said.
Together, Boyer and Folkerts avoided a disaster, guiding the bus to the side of the highway. Others called for an ambulance while Folkerts called his company for another bus.
Taking action is simply what Boyer, a disciple of Jesus Christ, does. In 2015, he and former MLB player Adam LaRoche teamed up with a Christian organization called Exodus Road, which fights against human trafficking. The two later traveled to Southeast Asia for a 10-day undercover mission, wearing hidden cameras and working at brothels, trying to help rescue underage sex slaves.
“Something huge happened there for us,” Boyer told ESPN. “You can’t explain it. Can’t put your finger on it. If you make a wrong move, you’re getting tossed off a building. We were in deep, man, but that’s the way it needed to be done. Adam and I truly believe God brought us there and said, ‘This is what I have for you boys.’”
God had Boyer in the right spot on the team bus, as well.
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” — Hebrews 6:10
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