ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays outfielder Mikie Mahtook appreciates having a platform to make a difference. That has allowed him to address a cause that is dear to him because of family circumstances.
Mahtook's father, Mikie, died of cardiomyopathy at age 32, when Mikie was only 4 years old.
"Unexpectedly. He was healthy," said Mahtook. "He'd been a college football player. He played at LSU. He was in shape. He was actually playing tennis with a bunch of doctors. And he dropped on the court and instantly died.
"It was one of those things where he showed no symptoms.