When I started the bucket list the one thing written down that felt the most unachievable was to throw out a first pitch.
I knew it was going to take a lot of asking and a lot of help. I reached out to people all across Major Leauge Baseball starting in 1012. Some teams replied wishing me luck, one sent a letter, another sent a gift, some said they would try, and others said no. When spring training started this season I decided to give it one last try so I started sailing again and I got a reply the Miami Marlins. Who within an hour of me reaching out said they were so touched by journey that yes, we are going to make this happen.
From there it was how do I do this? Being granted an opportunity is one thing actually being able to do it successfully is another. So, I found a guy on Instagram that I didn’t know but knew had experience as a pro pitcher. He ended up being my coach. Once a week for 6 weeks Karina would drive me to meet with Coach Nick and we’d just throw. I went from not having any mechanics to understanding what I needed to do in the moment.
6 weeks of preparing myself for a huge moment and when it came that’s exactly what it was.
I arrived at the stadium with my family. My aunt, my uncle, my grandfather who was celebrating I’m his 87th birthday that day and his girlfriend. I met up with my friends Paul, Sam, and Ben who flew in from South Dakota and Atlanta and they took us four to a back area where we met up with a reporter that would be following us for the pitch. The Marlins presented me a jersey, with my name and the number 24 on it before ushering me and Paul onto the field. Walking out of the tunnel onto the field was breath taking to say that the stadium felt massive is an understatement. We stood on the side for awhile and just talked with people from the Marlins. I shared my story with them, and I was told the second my story was shared people in the organization they wanted to make it happen.
So here we go it’s happening. Paul and I stood on the side of the field and the announcement of the first pitch was made. Paul guided me out there and I stood on the mound and just took it in for a second before stepping into my throw. “F**k did it get there” I remember saying as Paul met me at the mound before a photo with Marlin’s mascot. He ensured me it did, I had no clue. I was warned beforehand that the depth of it all was overwhelming and for me not being able to see well to begin with made it even harder.
We get to our seats Sam had my phone and took so many photos and videos for Karina to see it as she wasn’t there. I watched it and knew what I felt on the mound was right. The throw was off a little, I had definitely threw better over the last few weeks. I had more in me that that, but the moment and the lights got to me. Though to do what I once thought would never happen in front of my family, and my friends is a moment I’ll never forget.
I got to do my thing, but I also got to watch them all do theirs. My family got to sit front row and celebrate my grandfather’s birthday as his grandson took the mound at an MLB game, Paul got to be on the field, and Sam captured it for everyone else to witness.
It took over a year to get there but it happened afterwards the reporter Cameron who coincidentally was also from Atlanta just like Paul, Sam, Ben, and I asked me after “what’s next?”. I told her I’m not sure, but I know it will be hard to top this.
Sports hold a big part of my life baseball specifically its the game that I first loved and will always be the most special to me. I couldn’t have done this without help, without Karina, without Nick, without Paul , without Sam and without the Marlins.
Throwing a first pitch is officially checked off the list!
Thank you to the Marlins for capturing it all on video!
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