Cal Raleigh Makes Special Visit to St. Joseph Medical Center’s Tiniest Patients

February 2026

A special visitor recently made his way through the halls of St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. As he turned the corner to enter the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), nurses applauded and held up signs, their faces beaming with excitement. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners catcher, wanted to bring joy to patients and staff before heading to Arizona for Spring Training. He signed autographs, posed for pictures with patients, and spoke with families at their bedside. He began his surprise visit with the hospitals’ smallest patients. 

Baby Joseph Ostenson-Gaitan came into the world earlier than expected. Evelin and her boyfriend had just found out they were having a boy. They were elated, but that joy quickly turned to uncertainty when Evelin began experiencing pain one evening. They were  at their home in Shelton, Washington when her water broke.  Immediately, they called 9-1-1. Shortly after, at only 24 weeks old,  baby Joseph was born in their living room. When paramedics arrived, baby Joseph was bundled up and taken by helicopter to SJMC. 

“We didn’t know if he would make it,” said Evelin. 

Joseph was born weighing under 2lbs. 

“His due date is next week,” said Evelin. “On day one, he got his first helicopter ride. Since then, we’ve been in the hospital for 102 days.”

Evelin said it’s been a roller coaster ride.

“There were lots of tears,” said Evelin. “The highs are really high and the lows are really low,” she said. 

Getting to meet Raleigh was certainly a bright spot during what has been a difficult journey. Joseph’s father is a big Mariners fan, and although he couldn’t make it for the visit, Evelin snapped lots of pictures for him. 

“He’s a future hall-of-famer,” she joked with Raleigh. 

When Raleigh met Joseph, they immediately clicked. Joseph  was placed into his arms, and he gently cradled the small baby and smiled brightly. 

Next door, baby Camila and her family were all smiles. The two families became fast friends in the NICU. Baby Camila has been in the hospital for 93 days. Like her neighbor Joseph, her medical journey has been filled with ups and downs. 

“It was a rough start in the beginning,” said Camila’s father, Anthony Gutierrez. “It’s a marathon; not a race. She makes short strides, but she’s improved so much.”

Ramely, Camila’s mother, was admitted to the hospital at 25 weeks. She had preeclampsia, and her care team told the family they may need to deliver early. At 27 weeks and one day, Ramely delivered Camila by emergency cesarean section. 

She was born weighing 1lbs and 8 ounces. 

Ramely and Anthony adorned their Mariners jerseys and waited excitedly for Raleigh to swing by. 

When he entered the room, their excitement was evident. They chatted, Raleigh signed their jerseys and he took photos with the family and also their best friend next door. It was the first time baby Camila and baby Joseph got to meet face-to-face. 

“They are going to be best friends,” the families said.

The NICU was buzzing with joy and appreciation after Raleigh left the unit.

“Thank you, Cal Raleigh, for taking the time to visit the babies and families in the NICU at St. Joseph Medical Center,” said Kim Deynaka, Director of the NICU & NICU Operations St Joseph Medical Center. “Your presence brought smiles, lifted spirits, and created moments of joy that meant more than words can express—for our families and for our staff.We’re so grateful for your heart, your time, and the joy you shared with our tiniest fighters and the team that cares for them every day.”

“All the nurses have been amazing,” said Ramely. “They have gone above and beyond. They truly know our baby, and they have all been so helpful, kind and gentle.”

When asked what they’d tell Raleigh, they chuckled. 

“Thank you, and go Mariners!” they said.

A few floors down, two cardiac patients smiled when they were told Raleigh was visiting the Cardiac Care Unit. 

“I knew it,” joked Oscar Bonnevie Jr. “Last year was something else,” he said, recounting the season the Mariners had. 

He smiled ear-to-ear when the towering baseball player walked into his hospital room. 

Oscar has been a Mariners fan since the beginning. He said the visit was a good surprise. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Earlier this week, Oscar underwent a successful heart surgery. 

A few rooms away, Todd Faulkner was recovering from his third heart surgery at SJMC. His first heart surgery was in 2015, and since then, he’s been carefully monitored by the heart team at SJMC. 

“They saved my life,” said Faulkner. “I wouldn’t be here without the heart team.”

He was in congestive heart failure and airlifted to SJMC for emergent surgery. 

He joked, “Cal should be getting an autograph from the outstanding care team. They are the very best and everyday heroes.”

When he walked into the hospital room he teased Raleigh, “It might be your fault I’m in here.”

Faulkner and his family watched the historic Mariners season and are fans of Raleigh.

“It was encouraging to me,” he said. “He was such a nice, down-to-earth guy. It gave me something to look forward to, and now I get to tell that story to my family. It’s such a positive aspect to a difficult situation. I know they are worried about me, but there are good things happening. It will carry over to our family, and I can share pictures with them.”

Raleigh’s visit did more than lift spirits in the hospital, he helped give hope to patients and staff. He brightened the hospital halls – his footsteps igniting joy and cheers wherever he went.