Chase Utley Now Teammates with Devin Smeltzer, Cancer Survivor He Met in 2006

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley reunited during spring training with Devin Smeltzer, a cancer survivor Utley met while with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006, when Smeltzer was 10 years old.

Smeltzer is now a pitcher in the Dodgers organization. On Friday, SportsNet LA showcased a team meeting in which manager Dave Roberts showed a picture of the two's first meeting. Smeltzer was then invited to stand in front of the team, before Roberts asked "How cool is that?":

Los Angeles selected the 22-year-old New Jersey native in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft.

He spent the 2017 season split between the Great Lakes Loons and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at the Single-A level, compiling a 4.17 ERA with 159 strikeouts in 142.1 innings across 26 games (25 starts).

Utley re-signed on a two-year contract with the Dodgers in February, making it possible Smeltzer could reach the major leagues to make them teammates before the 39-year-old star retires.