COLUMBIA, S.C. — From the diamond emerges a star.
13-year-old Sawyer McCarthy captured the hearts of millions after a video of him singing The Star-Spangled Banner at the Columbia Fireflies game at Segra Park on April 28 went viral.
The video has millions of views and thousands of shares and reactions including from the MiLB.
And his voice is being heard around the world. Sawyer says people from across the country are singing his praise after watching the viral video.
"When I was little, I would try to sing and I didn't do too good. But when I got older and older, I started doing much better," says Sawyer.
Sawyer is a self-taught singer and is proving disability does not mean inability. That's because Sawyer is blind.
"I knew this was going to be hard because mommy has never had a blind child before," says Brianna McCarthy, Sawyer's mother. "But I also knew that you were just different. You were set apart. You had a gift. And I didn't know of course, when you were a baby what that gift was, but the older you get, it's so plain to see."
Sawyer is one of six siblings and always had a love for music.
"God used Sawyer to open my spiritually blind eyes. So, sure my eyes physically could see, but my heart couldn't see," says Brianna. "And through this, as by the world standard a broken baby, it changed my life. It saved me."
We asked Sawyer what he loves about singing. "It makes people happy. I guess. I just want people to be happy and make people smile."
"Ever since he was a kid, he's brought so much joy to people. Because he's so happy. He's never let his blindness be a negative trait," says Patrick McCarthy, Sawyer's Dad.
And for Sawyer, it's more than sheet music because he resonates with every note.
"He just has this knack for hearing things. And not just hearing things. We can listen to an entire song. But for Sawyer, he listens to the bass, the drums, and the voice," says Brianna.
Faith also guides his way. Sawyer says his favorite song is "Worthy Of It All" by CeCe Winans.
"I love the voice and I love what it talks about. All the angels and all the others bow before the throne," says Sawyer.
With family by his side, Sawyer returned to the ballfield where the world was introduced to Sawyer McCarthy.
"These are my gifts. This is what I want to do with my life. I can't let anyone take that away," says Sawyer.
But it wouldn't be a grand slam without thanking his fans.
"I want them to know that I can sing really well. And that I just love it," says Sawyer. "Thank you. I just want to tell them all. Thank you. Thanks for that. I really like the comments. I really love the comment where he said my voice is a gift from God."
You can watch Sawyer sing at the Columbia Fireflies game on July 3. This time he will be singing "God Bless America".
The family also says there are plans in the works to have Sawyer sing at an upcoming Clemson game.