NEW YORK — Chris Singleton took a huge swing and watched the ball sail high into the first row of seats in left at Yankee Stadium, drawing loud whoops and fist bumps from a bunch of big leaguers around the batting cage.

“Yes!” shouted All-Star outfielder Brett Gardner.

“Hey, that’s what I’m talking about!” chimed in World Series champion Stephen Drew.

Singleton merely smiled Monday as Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and others cheered him on as the New York Yankees began their annual HOPE Week. That said plenty for this 20-year-old outfielder from Charleston Southern, enjoying one of the best days of his life.

“I play with them in video games. It was cool to meet them in person,” he said later.

Exactly two months earlier, it was the worst day anyone could imagine.

On June 17, his mother was among nine people killed at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton was a part-time minister at the church, and was a high school speech pathologist and coach of the girls’ track team.

Dylann Roof has been indicted for murder in the shootings. Singleton made headlines a few days later by saying he could forgive Roof because “love is stronger than hate.”

“Obviously, an amazing young man who’s had to deal with a lot of sadness,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Singleton shagged balls in the outfield, joined the home-plate exchange of lineup cards and was flanked by 16-year-old sister Camryn and 12-year-old brother Caleb as they threw out ceremonial first balls.