WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A major league pitcher from Central Texas honored two beloved local men fighting late-stage cancer during a cancer tribute game Friday and his gesture brought the unsuspecting men to tears.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and 2018 Robinson High School graduate Braxton Ashcraft, 25, held up a sign saying “I Stand Up For Wes & John” during the Pirate’s Stand Up To Cancer tribute game at PNC Park Friday.
Wes Waller, or Robinson, and John Maldonado, of Lorena, are lifelong friends of Ashcraft’s family and both are battling stage four renal cell carcinoma or kidney cancer.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and 2018 Robinson High School graduate Braxton Ashcraft, 25, held up a sign saying “I Stand Up For Wes & John” during the Pirate’s Stand Up To Cancer tribute game at PNC Park Friday.(Courtesy photos)
Neither knew the rising MLB star was going to honor them on the biggest stage in baseball.
“These two guys have meant so much to me for a very long time and I just felt like it was a good opportunity for me to honor these guys and let them know that I support them and not just me but everyone in our community,” Ashcraft told KWTX.
Wes and John have known Braxton since he was a kid.
Their families are all intertwined through the softball world where Braxton’s dad, Tony, coached with the men.
John and Wes are longtime Buzz select softball coaches and Wes is the founder.
“It’s such an honor to see that just knowing Braxton since he was five years old and now to see what he’s doing now,” John said. “It was an amazing honor to see hm holding that sign up.”
“Not only is this one of my favorite families of all time, but this is my new favorite pro athlete of all time and for many reasons why,” Wes said.
Maldonado is the owner of BIG’S Mayberry’s Tavern in Lorena and works at Ferguson.
He was diagnosed in 2023 with the cancer that has since moved to both lungs.
Wes is an employee of UBI Products and was diagnosed in 2015.
He’s undergone chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. He’s also had a kidney and a half removed, but doctors say he’s now exhausted all options as the cancer has moved to his partial kidney, his lungs and his neck.
Despite their diagnosis, both men spend countless hours fundraising for other people in need.
Wes recently held a fundraiser for John which raised over $100,000.
The community also returned the favor by hosting a fundraiser raising money for Waller.
Ashcraft said honoring these two men who do so much for others was the least he could do.
“They serve us and they do so much for us in our community and it’s nice to be able to give back to them and recognize that and be able to just let them know as they don’t look for pity or anything like that , just let them know that we support them and be able to stand with them through their journey,” Ashcraft said.
Ashcraft has already made a big splash in MLB since making his debut for the Pirates on May 26 in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks where he pitched three scoreless innings.
He will pitch Tuesday night against the Orioles and when he takes the mound you can make certain Wes and John will be supporting him.
“There are no words to truly express how I felt when I saw the picture of Braxton holding his sign,” John said. “The fact that he chose Wes and I to stand up for was such an amazing honor. I was completely overcome with emotion. I can’t wait to hug his neck when I see him again. ”
“What an honor from you to us, Braxton!” Wes added.
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