Boy with rare disease gets surprise at Pirates game

PITTSBURGH — A local boy who can’t play baseball because of a rare and painful illness enjoyed a surprise from Major League Baseball umpires before the Pittsburgh Pirates played the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday.

Austin Rath, 11, of Robinson Township, is battling Hirschsprung’s Disease, a rare colon condition that is present from birth.

Doctors advised against playing Little League Baseball this year because of his illness.

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Two days before Rath’s 12th birthday, the Casey Cares Foundation teamed up with UMPS CARE Charities to host Rath and his family at PNC Park before Sunday’s game.

Rath and his family were given a VIP tour of PNC Park before the game by the umpire crew for that day's contest.

Not only did Rath and his family get to enjoy the game from the stands, but organizers wanted to give him another surprise.

UMPS CARE, the official non-profit of the Major League Baseball Umpires, surprised Rath by letting him go onto the field and meet the umpires for that game prior to first pitch.

Cox Media Group