Adam Greenberg spent his entire life hoping to play in the major leagues. When he finally got there, entering a July game for the Chicago Cubs as a pinch hitter seven years ago, it lasted only one pitch before it was over.
Greenberg was hit in the head by a 92 mph fastball and struggled for the next few years to stay in baseball.
Following a campaign by filmmaker Matt Liston to get the Cubs or another team to give Greenberg an at-bat, the Marlins finally decided to give him the chance. The team whose pitcher hit him in the first place is now the one bringing him back to the majors.
"I'm extremely proud to extend this opportunity to Adam," Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said in a statement. "He has earned this chance as his love and passion for the game never diminished, despite his career tragically being cut short."
The Marlins announced their intention to sign Greenberg and play him Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show.
"I'm ready," Greenberg said while on the show.
According to ESPN.com, the Marlins received approval from commissioner Bud Selig to give Greenberg a plate appearance next week against the Mets.
The 31-year-old left-handed batter found out about the news on Sunday, while he was playing for Team Israel in qualifying for the World Baseball Classic.
"More than anything," Greenberg said, "the Marlins deserve the attention for this. They didn't do it for publicity. They said they didn't follow my story and that after Matt brought it to their attention, they sent their scouts to see me," Greenberg added. "I was at their spring training facility (in Jupiter, Fla., where Team Israel also trained) for almost two weeks. They said they believe in hard work, perseverance and that anything is possible. I believe that genuinely."
Greenberg came into a game for the Cubs as a pinch hitter to face the Marlins' Valerio De Los Santos with one out in the ninth inning. The first and only pitch he faced came directly at his head, striking him on the back of the helmet, knocking it off his head. He immediately went down to the ground and grabbed his head in intense pain.
He struggled for years after the incident, dealing with concussion symptoms and dizziness. In 2006 he was released by the Cubs and later played for other minor league teams, but never had another chance to get to the majors.
"I look forward to seeing Adam step up to the plate and realizing his comeback dream," Loria said.
Greenberg played for a range of teams over the years, including the independent Bridgeport Bluefish. Amazingly enough, last year he faced De Los Santos in a game against the Long Island Ducks, drawing a walk and scoring a run. Greenberg went one for seven with a walk in four games against De Los Santo and singled in his first at bat against him on April 29.
Greenberg is one of only two players in baseball history to be hit by a pitch in his first-and-only major-league appearance and never take the field, the other being Fred van Dusen with Philadelphia in 1955.
For many months, the filmmaker Matt Liston used online fundraising and petition signatures at the website change.org to help get a team to pick up Greenberg. It was called the "One At Bat" campaign, which included a video of Greenberg and complied over 25,000 signatures.No teams previoulsy showed interest, but the Marlins swooped in with their season basically done and offered the chance for him to realize his dream.
Greenberg has already agreed to donate his one-day salary to the Marlins Foundation, who will donate the money to the Sports Legacy Institute, an organization that advances the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups.
Marlins outfielder Justin Ruggiano was a teammate of Greenberg's while playing in the minors.
"Woke up (this) morning to find out Adam Greenberg and I will be teammates again this year! Dude can play," Ruggiano wrote on Twitter early Thursday. "Looking forward to Oct. 2."
Technically, Greenberg's first taste of the majors only counted as a plate appearance and not an official at-bat. When he plays for the Marlins, it will be his first.
"I'll be ready for it," Greenberg said.
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