“‘PLEASE, SON… KEEP FIGHTING.’” A father’s emotional plea is touching hearts across the country after a routine day at the baseball field turned into every family’s worst nightmare, leaving 12-year-old Xavier Taylor facing a battle no child should ever have to endure. What began as a day filled with excitement, teammates, and dreams of the game he loves has become a story of hope, resilience, and a family refusing to give up despite the uncertainty surrounding each new update. As thousands rally around Xavier and his loved ones, parents everywhere say they are holding onto one powerful image—a father standing beside his son, refusing to stop believing that brighter days and baseball fields still lie ahead.

The New Jersey preteen was struck in the neck by a baseball during pregame warm-ups with Maple Shade Youth Baseball on May 26.

After Xavier was struck, he collapsed on the field. He was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J., NBC News reports.

His father, Greg Taylor, told the outlet on Sunday, May 31, that Xavier is still in “very critical condition” and on a ventilator. “We’re pushing day by day to hope that the activity comes back,” Greg said.

Greg shared that his youngest son brought a pair of shoes to the hospital the first day Xavier arrived, telling his parents, “ ‘These are for Xavier when he comes home, because he’s walking out of here,’ ” Greg said.

Xavier’s baseball league, the Maple Shade Youth Baseball Association, has been raising awareness about Xavier’s condition, sharing the local community’s supportive messages on Facebook. The league also promoted “Bats Out for X,” asking the community to put bats on their porches in Xavier’s honor on Sunday, May 31.

“Our primary goal now is to ensure we are there for them in prayer and faith, helping them every way we can,” the outlet told NBC News. “We deeply appreciate the support shown by the community and those around the country; please keep all prayers coming.”

Days before, a vigil was held for Xavier at the field where he was injured. There, his father shared how much he loves baseball, “He will play this game again.”