Arrieta visits sick kids in Park Ridge

Before he greets hundreds of fans at the sold out Cubs Convention this weekend, ace pitcher Jake Arrieta visited with young patients Thursday at Advocate Children's Hospital in Park Ridge.

Arrieta and his wife, Brittany, talked with patients and their families as part of the Cubs Caravan, an annual community outreach tour that has players visiting schools, hospitals and other locations across the region.

Jameson Eigel, 11, of Glenview, who was in the hospital recovering from an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday, said it was awesome meeting Arrieta. Jameson's mom, Karoline Eigel, said it helped make an awful experience "amazing."

Anthony LaPiana, 19, of Rolling Meadows said even though he's a White Sox fan, it was a great experience to sit down with a Cy Young Award winner.

"He's such a nice guy," LaPiana said.

The annual Cubs Convention begins at 1 p.m. Friday at the Sheraton Grand Chicago and runs through the weekend.