Seven-year-old with robotic hand to throw out first pitch at baseball’s World Series

Even at seven years old, Hailey Dawson is on her way to reaching a life goal. Dawson has a robotic hand, but that hasn’t stopped her from being a must-have person to throw out a first pitch at a major league ballpark.

On October 28, she’ll throw out the first pitch for game four of the World Series, Major League Baseball confirmed to USA Today Sports on Wednesday.

Dawson, a huge baseball fan who was born with a birth defect called Poland Syndrome, has made it her mission to throw out the first pitch at every MLB ballpark.

“Hailey’s inspirational story captured our attention and our teams have overwhelmingly embraced her goal to throw a first pitch at every MLB ballpark,“ said Tony Petitti, MLB chief operating officer. ”We are very happy that Hailey will begin her quest by throwing the ceremonial first pitch at game four of the World Series. We’re all looking forward to meeting her and the Dawson family at the Fall Classic.”

People who suffer from Poland Syndrome have underdeveloped chest muscles and it causes webbing in their hands. The University of Nevada Las Vegas engineering department made her robotic hand and has been upgrading ever since. She is on the eighth version.

Dawson, a Las Vegas native, threw out the first pitch at a UNLV game in 2014 and the crowd reaction stoked her interest in doing it again.

“She’s kind of a ham,” Dawson’s mother, Yong Dawson, told All The Moms blog. “I initiated this. I thought it would be a good opportunity and encourage her grip. She could be silly and gain confidence.”

Five months later, she threw out a pitch for the Baltimore Orioles and the goal of going to all the ballparks was on.

She has thrown out the first pitch for the New York Mets, the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Oakland A’s, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers.