“After a run around for months with the pediatrician’s office, I knew what was going on was something bigger. Always trust your mom gut. Our sweet Rookie was showing signs of heart failure that were being missed,” Alexa DeLeon shared on social media a couple of months ago. While Reddick was preparing for race 2 in the Round of 12, their five-month-old son, Rookie, was in the cardiovascular ICU at Levine Children’s Hospital.

After multiple tests, it was revealed that Rookie had a tumor that was choking his renal vein & renal artery. The growth had caused his heart to enlarge, leaving surgery as the only option. Now, as Rookie continues to recover from the life-saving procedure, Tyler Reddick has opened up about the ordeal, his son’s resilience, and the long road to healing.

Tyler Reddick shares update on Rookie’s health post-surgery

Tyler Reddick recently opened up about the difficult health battle his infant son, Rookie, has faced. “They found a tumor in and around his right kidney, which was causing heart failure, high blood pressure, all sorts of complications,” Reddick said. Rookie’s blood flow was being blocked due to the mass on his right kidney. It was making it tougher for the heart to pump and circulate the blood, eventually enlarging it.

It all began just weeks after Rookie’s birth, when he started showing subtle signs of distress. Despite several visits to the pediatrician, the underlying issue went unnoticed. Trusting her “mom gut,” Alexa decided to take Rookie to Levine’s. Luckily, the doctors were able to identify the issue at hand quickly.

This led to Rookie being kept in intensive care and advised to undergo surgery to remove the tumor and ultimately his kidney, which was carried out a couple of weeks ago. “Poor little guy had to have surgery to have the tumor and ended up having his kidney removed.” Despite the severity, Tyler praised Rookie’s resilience and his wife, Alexa’s, strength. “He’s [Rookie] handled it like a champ. My wife’s handled it like a super mom, honestly,” Reddick revealed.

However, while the worst appears behind them, Tyler Reddick cautioned. “I think we still have a couple other things to see through in regards to stomach and some other things that might be a separate issue that he’s still dealing with. We’re still not 100% in the clear.” Importantly, Rookie has made impressive progress after the surgery.

He’s home now and recovering quickly. His speedy recovery and spirited nature have brought relief and hope to the family amid ongoing challenges. Through this emotional journey, Tyler and Alexa expressed gratitude for family, friends, and the support of the NASCAR community. Their focus remains on Rookie’s continued healing and return to health, drawing strength from each small victory.

We, too, wish Rookie a speedy recovery!

How Rookie’s health affected Tyler Reddick

Tyler Reddick’s 2025 NASCAR season was deeply affected by the health challenges faced by his infant son, Rookie. “My focus was not on racing at all, but I feel like we were still able to go out and perform well,” Reddick admitted. Racing took a backseat while he prioritized family, saying, “I was able to, in a very condensed way, look back at my notes. Only a couple of times through the process, I was able to do some preparation.”

Tyler Reddick was at the Kansas playoff race when his wife, Alexa, revealed Rookie’s health condition to the public via an Instagram post. He managed to finish seventh in the race. However, with the combined results of New Hampshire, Kansas, and Charlotte, Reddick was eliminated from the title hunt after the Round of 12.

He reflected on how the ordeal shifted his priorities drastically: “Before we went to the hospital, we were aware of these things. Pretty much from the time you went into the hospital, my priorities just changed and I was OK with that.” Tyler Reddick was even prepared to miss races, if necessary. However, he managed to compete in all 36 races this season.

Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, was supportive and involved in getting Reddick’s son the best possible medical care. “We’ve tried to do everything we could as a company to tap into all the resources that we possibly can, to get him second, third opinions, all the things, get him in contact with specialists,” Hamlin said.

In the end, Tyler Reddick managed to finish ninth in the season standings with seven top fives and 14 top-10s, a testament to his resilience. His son’s condition weighed heavily on him, but he still showed competitive drive. Now, with the surgery done and Rookie recovering, Reddick can finally breathe a little easier.

As the family regains a sense of normalcy, Tyler Reddick looks ahead to 2026. Not just with renewed focus on racing, but with a deeper appreciation for the moments that matter most.