New York Jets honor Long Beach boy who tragically died at Little League game

The New York Jets are one of the latest to honor the life of young Lazar LaPenna, a 10-year-old Long Beach boy who died on a Little League baseball field.

For the upcoming rookie mini-camp, Jets head coach said Robert Saleh no one will be assigned No. 9, the number that little Lazar wore.

Here’s what he said:

Coach Saleh says Lazar LaPenna's Little League jersey number 9 won't be issued this weekend as we remember him and his family. pic.twitter.com/bUIuyarIFG

— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 6, 2022

Lazar tragically died after suffering an epileptic seizure after getting a base hit last Friday.

Since then, the local community and beyond have paid tribute to him by standing bats outside their front doors and encouraging others to do so in social media posts tagged #batsoutforLazar. The New York Mets participated in this:

Mets pay tribute to 10-year-old Long Beach boy, following his death on Little League field

Lazar’s father Gregg posted a tribute to his son in the True Mets fans Facebook group on Sunday. The heartfelt post also described the exuberance and pure happiness Lazar had shown after getting a hit and just prior to suffering a seizure.

“I’m holding the scorebook as he looks at me with the biggest smile,” Gregg LaPenna said in the heartbreaking post. “I look down at the book to mark his single. That’s when my, my family’s life change… Lazar collapsed with excitement and went into a seizure.”

Top: Jets general manager Joe Douglas (L) and head coach Robert Saleh (R) wearing Lazar LaPenna hoodies at practice today. (Credit: New York Jets/Twitter)