Brandon Finnegan
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brandon Finnegan pitches in the seventh inning in Game 2 of the 2014 ALCS playoff against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Reuters/H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals’ Cinderella run to the American League Championship Series must have relief pitcher Brandon Finnegan in a charitable mood. The 21-year-old MLB hurler awarded a pair of playoff tickets on Tuesday to “broke” Royals fan Nicholas Knapple – and offered to pay for dinner, too.

Hours before the Royals began their series against the Baltimore Orioles on Oct. 10, Knapple asked Finnegan for tickets so he could take his girlfriend to see the team’s first playoff appearance in nearly three decades. Soon after, the 2014 first-round draft pick responded, asking if Knapple would be free on Tuesday.

By Tuesday afternoon, Finnegan had secured tickets to Game 3 of the ALCS for Knapple. When the Royals fan offered to take Finnegan to dinner for his generosity, the pitcher accepted but said he would pay for the meal. Finnegan’s Twitter exchange with the Royals fan can be viewed below.

Finnegan entered the 2014 MLB postseason having thrown just seven professional innings, but was a regular contributor in Kansas City’s bullpen on its road to the ALCS. He’s made five postseason appearances, one of which ended in his first professional win.

The Royals hold a 2-0 lead over the Orioles in the ALCS. Game 3 of the series will take place at 8:00 p.m. ET at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

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