Cooper Murray is his name, and he’s touring the Majors, throwing ceremonial first pitches. Here’s why.
11-year-old Cooper Murray loves baseball and dreams of making a name for himself in MLB. Cooper, who resides in Utah, has Down Syndrome. While playing in the Majors is unlikely, being selected to throw out the first pitch at an MLB game is not.
MLB is spreading awareness about Down Syndrome, and Cooper will get a chance to throw out the first pitch in not only one park but many. That includes the most venerable places in the game–Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago–and several other league venues, too.
The road to those opportunities makes Cooper’s story unique. Born in China and abandoned by his parents, Cooper was found on a street corner when he was six months old. After spending his early years in an orphanage, he was adopted at the age of six by Brad Murray, founder and president of RODS Heroes, a nonprofit that encourages adopting children born in difficult circumstances.
Cooper learned to love baseball, coached by his dad, to throw with both hands. A natural athlete, Cooper is showing his baseball talents at MLB parks around the country.
