MIAMI -- Major League Baseball has announced the 2019 Honorary Bat Girls for each MLB Club in support of the annual “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer” initiative, which is traditionally commemorated each Mother’s Day. The Honorary Bat Girl for the Miami Marlins is Dr. Reshma Mahtani. Dr. Mahtani, who will be honored pregame and throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Tuesday, May 14, will receive a personalized pink Miami Marlins jersey and a personalized pink Louisville slugger bat.

Dr. Mahtani is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System. She has devoted her career to the treatment of breast cancer patients, and has served as principal investigator on multiple clinical trials. Dr. Mahtani also serves as Director of Community Outreach and Co-Director of the Women’s Center in Deerfield Beach.

For the first time since the Honorary Bat Girl program’s inception in 2009, MLB has partnered with CrowdRise to host a fundraising contest for each of the Honorary Bat Girls to raise money to benefit Stand up to Cancer (SU2C) and Susan G. Komen. The winner of the contest will receive a trip to the 2019 World Series. MLB will donate all funds from the contest to SU2C and Komen.

As has been tradition since 2006, players will continue to swing pink bats and sport pink wristbands through the “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer” initiative, which is intended to raise awareness and, through donations and auction proceeds, funds to fight breast cancer. In recognition of this effort on Mother’s Day, players also will wear specially designed New Era caps, while Club uniforms will feature the MLB breast cancer awareness logo, adorned with the symbolic pink ribbon, on the left chest. MLB players will continue to have the opportunity to use pink bats during Mother’s Day games. MLB will donate 100% of its royalties from sales of licensed apparel with the MLB pink ribbon logo to Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen.