Big news: it’s a girl!
During Saturday’s game against the Phillies, Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Puffert sported pink shoelaces, signaling a special occasion. This wasn’t just any game for Puffert; he had a significant reason for his bold choice.
He wore those pink laces to reveal the gender of his brother’s soon-to-arrive baby in Kentucky.
In the broadcast, Arizona’s play-by-play announcer, Steve Barthiome, noted Puffert’s attention-catching shoelaces right as he took the mound. “These are not your typical laces,” he said. “Brandon has a special message for his brother Brett, his wife Hannah, and their family. Congratulations Brett and Hannah—it’s a girl!”
After the game, Puffert expressed how fulfilled he felt to be part of the reveal. It was a heartwarming moment for him. “Being asked to do this was special for me,” he shared with reporters. “I’m a proud big brother, and this is the first baby in the family, so our whole family is excited.” He added that it was a collective joy they were all looking forward to.
The idea of using pink shoelaces came up during a conversation with his brother. Initially, Puffert’s brother suggested pink gloves, but that was a no-go for him. “Then it was pink spikes, and I thought, ‘Maybe just shoelaces might work?’ We compromised.” Puffert’s wife even found the pink shoelaces during a previous series against the Mets last week.
Despite the cheerful motive, the shoelaces didn’t transform Puffert’s performance on the mound, as he allowed three earned runs over six innings during that game.
