High school pitcher with rare chromosome disorder throws out first pitch for Rays

Approximately one in 200 high school baseball players will eventually be drafted by a Major League team. The chances that you're born with DiGeorge syndrome are estimated to be one in 4,000. That's to say: There's a greater likelihood of getting drafted to compete for a job in the big leagues than being born with the chromosome disorder.

Enter: Colt Daninos.

Colt is a 16-year-old, left-handed pitcher born with the rare condition. According to Baseball Prospectus, it's forced him to undergo surgery 14 times, required his spine to be fused together, and affects his short-term memory.

Unrelated to DiGeorge syndrome, doctors located a "gigantic" aneurysm on Colt's brain after he fell playing kickball this past November. As a result, Colt suffered seizures, and neurosurgeons recommended him for a risky procedure to remove the aneurysm.

Only just before the procedure in January, the doctors discovered the aneurysm had vanished. (Turns out spontaneous thrombosis is very rare, too. )

Days later, Colt was back on the field preparing for his spring season. He pitches for St. Petersburg Catholic High School's JV squad on a special waiver because Morning Star School, which caters to students with learning challenges and related difficulties, does not offer baseball.

The Rays welcomed Colt before Thursday's game against the Athletics, where he met players during batting practice, got tips from pitching coach Jim Hickey and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Colt was amped up. He brought the heat for tonight's first pitch. ���� pic.twitter.com/wsUP0bGWoS

- Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 21, 2015

Whether or not he makes it back to the big league mound, he's already beaten the odds.