A spirited seven-year-old girl has a remarkable goal: to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at every Major League Baseball stadium in the U.S. Thanks to social media, her aspiration is on the verge of becoming a reality.
Meet Sophie Martinez, a little baseball enthusiast from Nevada who has a prosthetic hand designed to help her pursue her passion. Sophie was born with a condition called Poland Syndrome, which inhibited the development of muscles on one side of her body, resulting in three missing fingers on her right hand. However, this hasn’t hindered her enthusiasm for sports or her active lifestyle.
When students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, learned about Sophie’s situation, they sprung into action. They utilized a 3D printer to create a custom prosthetic hand for her, which is controlled by fishing line. Unlike traditional robotic prosthetics that can be prohibitively expensive and require constant adjustments, this innovative solution was provided to Sophie’s family for a fraction of the cost.
With her new hand, Sophie can fully engage in activities that most kids enjoy, especially baseball. She even taught herself how to grip and throw a ball. Now, she dreams of using that hand to launch the first pitch at every MLB stadium across the nation.
A video posted by Sports Hub on social media highlighted Sophie’s inspiring journey, stating, “7-year-old Sophie Martinez aims to throw out the first pitch at every MLB ballpark with her 3D-printed hand.” The heartwarming story quickly caught the attention of various MLB teams, leading to a flood of invitations for Sophie to throw the first pitch at their games. Not only major league teams, but also minor league and collegiate teams have joined the movement, opening their fields for Sophie’s big moment.
According to her Twitter account, Sophie’s Hand, she has already made her debut at the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals games. With so many teams eager to welcome her, it’s clear that Sophie, along with her family, has an exciting and busy journey ahead.
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In summary, Sophie Martinez’s determination to throw the first pitch at every MLB stadium serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. With the support of her community and the advancements in technology, her dream is becoming a reality.