A quiet Tuesday evening at a youth baseball field in Maple Shade, New Jersey, turned into one of the most devastating moments a family could ever experience.
Xavier Taylor, a 12-year-old baseball player with Maple Shade Youth Baseball, was walking back toward the dugout during pregame warmups on May 26 when an errant throw from a teammate struck him in the back of the neck. He collapsed immediately on the field and went into cardiac arrest.
His father, Greg Taylor, a retired firefighter, was at the game and ran straight to his son. Xavier was stabilized enough to be airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. He has remained there ever since, on a ventilator, in extremely critical condition.
Greg Taylor later told CBS Philadelphia that no one should carry blame for what happened. An unpredicted ball got loose and struck his son, he said.
It was a freak accident, and he has already spoken with the teammate who threw the ball. Despite the unbearable weight of the situation, the Taylor family has refused to lose hope.
At a candlelight vigil held at Fellowship Columbia Bank Field, the very same field where Xavier collapsed, Greg Taylor stood before a crowd of hundreds and spoke about his son with quiet conviction. He told them that inside Xavier’s baseball hat is a Bible verse, Philippians 4:13, which reads that one can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.
He said that verse is something his son chose and still believes in. He ended his remarks with words that drew cheers from the crowd, promising that his son loves the game and will play it again.
A Town Pours Its Heart Into One Family
What has unfolded in the days since the accident goes beyond typical community support. Hundreds of people attended two separate vigils, one at the baseball field and another held outside Cooper University Hospital, where supporters stood with arms raised toward the intensive care unit.
Many wore shirts printed with the words Shade Strong alongside Xavier’s name. Others showed up to games across the region wearing his number 6 jersey in solidarity.
A fundraising campaign set up to help the Taylor family originally aimed to raise $2,500. It has since crossed $110,000, with contributions coming in from over 1,400 donors.
Volunteers have organized meals for the family scheduled through late June. The Maple Shade Youth Baseball Association canceled its closing ceremonies and postponed all-star activities after consulting directly with the Taylor family, saying their focus remains on supporting Xavier and those who love him.
Perhaps the most striking detail came from Greg Taylor himself, who shared that his youngest son arrived at the hospital carrying a pair of shoes for Xavier. The boy told his parents those shoes were for when Xavier walks out of the hospital on his own.
As of this writing, Xavier Taylor remains on a ventilator at Cooper University Hospital. His family continues to ask for prayers.
