Long Beach's Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez honored by Yankees, throws first pitch at Stadium

Nothing intimidates Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez.

Life assured that for the three-time high school state wrestling champion from Long Beach High School after he suffered an unimaginable tragedy that left him clinging to life at the age of 6.

More on that later.

The 18-year-old jogged out to the pitcher’s mound at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night to throw the ceremonial first pitch before the Yankees-Chicago White Sox game.

Nervous? Not Dunia. Fazed by the big crowd? Not Dunia.

With a smooth throwing motion and his typical Sibomana-Rodriguez poise, he rose to the occasion and fired an impressive fastball to the delight of the crowd and 75 friends and family in attendance.

Then he performed his signature cartwheel to a back flip as he exited the diamond.

Sibomana-Rodriguez was honored by the Yankees on Day 2 of the 17th edition of HOPE Week in the Bronx. The Yankees also recognized the non-profit Smile Rescue Fund for Kids with a $20,000 donation.

Sibomana-Rodriguez, a big Yankees fan, thought his day was to be a quick morning tour of Yankee Stadium and lunch before a long family drive toward his first day of college at the University of North Carolina.

But when the elevator door opened to the Delta Sky360 Suite at 12:30 p.m., Sibomana-Rodriguez was stunned to see all his family and friends there to celebrate him during HOPE Week.

“I was so surprised, I had no idea,” Sibomana-Rodriguez said. “And then to see all my favorite players was crazy. I’m still thinking about it – is it real?”

Sibomana, wearing a Judge 99 jersey, immediately walked over to the Yankees captain and shook his hand. He turned and proceeded to greet Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice, David Bednar, Anthony Volpe, Giancarlo Stanton and assistant pitching coach Preston Claiborne before embracing his father, Miguel Rodriguez.

Jason Zillo, the Yankees VP of communications, welcomed Dunia, family and friends with a heartfelt introduction. The Yankees HOPE Week initiative (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) is an ambitious, weeklong, multi-faceted community outreach program undertaken by all players and employees in the organization. The initiative is rooted in the belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture.

“His doctors, foster families, teammates and our family were all here,” his mom, Marissa Rodriguez said. “And I can’t say enough about the class of the New York Yankees organization. This was overwhelming. The players played games on the patio of the suite with everyone. They were so personable, so friendly.”

At the age of 6, Sibomana-Rodriguez was playing just outside his village of Rutshuru in the jungle of the Virunga National Park, a vast animal preserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa, when a troop of chimpanzees attacked him and two family members. His brother and cousin were killed. Sibomana-Rodriguez survived but was left with horrific injuries to his lips, ears and face. His right ear and facial muscles were gone and the middle finger on his left hand was bitten off. The attack made it difficult for him to speak or swallow.

His story is one of courage and perseverance.

“I singled this story out for HOPE Week.” Judge said. “I really wanted to meet Dunia. This is one of my favorite weeks as we celebrate individuals that had setbacks in life and came back strong. I had the chance to read up on his story, and it can teach you a lot. I couldn’t imagine going through what he did. Also being a dad - I can’t imagine going through something that.”

Judge played the oversized Connect Four game with Sibomana-Rodriguez.

“He brings a light, a joy,” Judge said. “He showed up here with that big smile. And to see all of his family and friends here to see him off to college is love.”

Judge added, “He’s also a smart individual. He beat me in Connect Four. What really impressed me was his plan for college and what’s next. He said he’d study business and go back to his country to help his people. That’s amazing, I’ll be rooting for him.”

Yankees closer David Bednar, in his first experience with HOPE Week, said meeting Sibomana-Rodriguez was special.

“It adds some perspective in life,” he said. “He’s inspiring, just an incredible story.”

“Dunia’s story is incredibly inspirational,” Bednar said. “He has such a positive attitude. And I see all the people he’s impacted on and those that have rallied around him. It’s a special story.”

Dunia was brought to the United States in December 2015, by a New York-based, nonprofit surgical care program at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, where a team of surgeons began his care. Dr. Alexander Dagum, the executive chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Stony Brook Medicine, and Dr. Leon Klempner an associate professor of dentistry at the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine and the founder of the nonprofit organization Smile Rescue Fund for Kids, teamed to care for him.

The Smile Rescue Fund for Kids identifies children in resource-poor countries who need facial or cranial surgeries and perform these procedures at no charge. Dr. Dagum performed the initial surgery, transplanting tissue and muscle from Dunia's left forearm to re-create his lips while Dr. Klempner took the lead on the dentistry end. Dunia has endured 21 facial surgeries.

Midway through Tuesday’s event, the Yankees presented Dr. Klempner with a large donation. And then the big announcement, as Giancarlo Stanton asked Dunia to throw the first pitch.

“It was the coolest thing ever,” Dunia said. “I didn’t expect that.”

This past May, Dunia won two gold medals at the African National Freestyle Championships in Alexandria, Egypt, winning both the Under-20 crown and the senior title at 57 kilograms. The next stop is the Olympic trials for the 2028 Summer Games in L.A.

“He is blessed to have so many wonderful people in his life,” Marissa said. “And what a send-off by the Yankees.”