By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The first to tell Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler that the club was on the brink of signing superstar outfielder Bryce Harper was not John Middleton, Matt Klentak or Andy MacPhail — it was fans in attendance at the club's February 28 split-squad game opposite the Baltimore Orioles at Spectrum Field.
"Four fans sitting behind the coaches’ seats next to the on-deck circle provided moment-by-moment updates to Phillies manager Gabe Kapler and pitching coach Chris Young," notes The Athletic's Meghan Montemurro. Kapler told reporters that these fans relayed to him "terms and who was tweeting what."
“We were like, ‘Well, who’s making the reports?’ We’ve got to make sure this person is credible. … They were holding their phones up so I could turn around and see the [tweets]," Kapler said.
Among those fans was Matt Vecere, who was among the 157 people tragically killed in Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302's crash, shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday. The flight was supposed to land in Nairobi, Kenya, where Vecere planned to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly to support air and water filters for underprivileged communities.
Gabe Kapler talking about Bryce Harper and how the #Phillies found out they got him. pic.twitter.com/WLTv4K0ax6
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) February 28, 2019
Kapler shared the tragic news Friday afternoon and asked Phillies fans to do one thing — honor Vecere by "doing something for a cause he cared about":
Many of you heard the way I learned about Bryce's signing. Fans sitting behind our dugout shared the news as they were checking their phones.
One of those fans was Matt Vecere. I know his name because two of his friends reached out to me. They told me how Matt shouted out to me "bat him third and he'll give you 90 runs." They reached out because Matt was one of the 157 people killed on board Ethiopian Airlines 302.
Matt was going to Kenya for the United Nations Environment Assembly. Matt was passionate about getting air and water filters to underprivileged communities and had a particular love for Haiti after doing work there over many years.
To honor Matt, I'm asking that you consider doing something for a cause Matt cared about. His mother described those as "the environment, civil rights, social and environmental justice, and advocating for those less fortunate."
Baseball brings people together, but Matt strove for bigger causes than what we do every day. As he loved the Phillies, I hope the community can return that love.
Vecere died just 10 days after breaking the signing to Kapler at Spectrum Field. A Stockton University alumnus in Biology and Writing, Vecere was most recently a content writer for IQAir, an air quality company, in Los Angeles, among other writing roles.
IQAir writes:
Matt was an amazing writer, an avid surfer, and a truly selfless person. He was most at home helping others, as evidenced by his dedication to the people of Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010.
We will miss his laugh, his wit, his sense of humor, but most of all, the kinship and friendship that he brought to everything he did. Our heart is with Matt’s family and friends, as well as the loved ones of all who lost their lives in this horrible tragedy.
Vecere was just like all of us — thrilled at what could be for the Phillies in 2019. Unfortunately, Vecere will never get to see Harper donning red pinstripes at Citizens Bank Park. His legacy and impact on doing good for others will never be forgotten.
