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Las Vegas girl’s dream to throw out first pitch goes viral

Las Vegas' Bryce Harper and fellow Las Vegan Hailey Dawson (and her brother, Zach) head onto the field where she threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the June 11 game between the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers in Washington, D.C. (Yong Dawson)
Las Vegas' Bryce Harper signs the baseball for fellow Las Vegan Hailey Dawson after she threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the June 11 game between the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers in Washington, D.C. (Yong Dawson)
Hailey Dawson stings Halloween rings on her "special hand" while waiting for adjustments to be made to her new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson puts a trick or treat pumpkin on her head while waiting to be fitted with her new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson uses her new prosthetic hand to take a photo with UNLV Photo Services photographer Aaron Mayes' camera Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UNLV Photo Services photographer Aaron Mayes takes a photo of Greg Dawson and Hailey Dawson after Hailey was fitted with her new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson uses her new prosthetic hand to roll a ball across the floor Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson examines her new prosthetic hand, which was made by a team of UNLV engineers, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson uses her new prosthetic hand to throw a ball to UNLV mechanical engineering student Zachary Cook Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mechanical engineering student Zachary Cook makes adjustments to Hailey Dawson's new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Occupational therapist Cynthia Lau hands a bean bag to Hailey Dawson to test her new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson uses her new prosthetic hand to play with a See 'N Say toy Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson carries a trick or treat pumpkin with her new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson grips a rubber ball with her new prosthetic hand, which was made by a team of UNLV engineers, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mechanical engineering student Zachary Cook helps Hailey Dawson try on her new prosthetic hand, which was made by a team of UNLV engineers, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hailey Dawson waits to try on her new prosthetic hand which was made by a team of UNLV engineers, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
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By Betsy Helfand Las Vegas Review-Journal
September 8, 2017 - 11:31 pm
 

Hailey Dawson’s big league dreams might soon come true.

The 7-year-old from Las Vegas and her dream to throw out a first pitch at every major league stadium went viral this week after Bleacher Report posted a short clip about her goal.

Dawson was born with Poland Syndrome, a rare disease the caused her to be without three fingers on her right hand. She now has a 3-D printed hand that was constructed at UNLV.

When the video of Dawson went viral Thursday morning, MLB teams responded quickly, inviting her out to the park.

“We are on board! Send her our way!” the Brewers tweeted.

“Can you make it up to Minnesota, Hailey?” the Twins asked.

The Tigers, Mets, Pirates, Mariners, Padres, Athletics, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Marlins, Indians, Astros, Phillies, Royals, Braves, Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Red Sox and Reds responded to that post, as did minor league teams and even a college (Florida Gators) team.

Dawson threw out her first first pitch at a UNLV game. She also threw out one at a 51s game last season and has reached two major league parks: Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2015 and this season at Nationals Park, where she threw her pitch to fellow Las Vegan Bryce Harper.

Follow her journey on Twitter and Instagram @haileys_hand.

Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.

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