/ STAFF WRITER
TEMPE, Ariz. – Kevin Grendell was slogging his way through another summer, buried deep in the minor leagues long past the time he should have advanced farther, when he discovered a motivation that changed his career.
A little girl.
Her head barely peeking over the railing, as taller boys behind reached over her to get autographs from the ballplayers, the girl caught Grendell’s attention. Something in her ears. Upon closer inspection, they were cochlear implants, devices to aid those who are hearing impaired.
Grendell, the subject of such scorn from other children when he was growing up with hearing aids in both ears, gave the girl a baseball.