LITHIA, Fla. — When you watch 15-year-old Zavi Gonzalez throw a ground ball or double, you’ll have no idea that this Lithian teenager only has one leg.

“I was diagnosed with Fibular Hemimelia when I was born,” Gonzalez said. “I had my first amputation when I was eight months old and my first prosthesis when I was 12 months old.”

He likes to say it’s not an injury; It’s a different kind of talent and he continues to prove it on the diamond by excelling in baseball.

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“It’s like a happy place for me; It’s a place I always go when I’m feeling down. I always want to play baseball,” Gonzalez said. “I move like everyone else and play like everyone else, I just have one leg that looks different, that’s all I see.”

Gonzalez said he couldn’t do it with talent and dedication alone. He is proud to display the box of prosthetic legs he has been collecting for years, courtesy of Shriners Children’s.

“I wouldn’t be here without them, like I’d be in a wheelchair right now and they give me all my prosthetics for free, Shriners is a great thing, I love them, they’re like a second family,” Gonzalez said. .

The nonprofit is also grateful for his willingness to share his story. Last month, he was selected to represent Tampa Bay at the Shriners Children’s Open, an official PGA Tour event in Las Vegas.

“I was the standard bearer. I kept score the entire time. I was going from hole to hole and even got a chance to meet Ricky Fowler, which was awesome,” Gonzalez said.

She hopes to be a voice in society for all children living with prosthetic limbs. He strives to be the best, whether it’s a one-hitter or a home run.

“I hope to be an inspiration to people who are going through the same things as me outside of baseball; if they want to be a basketball player or volleyball player or anything sports-related, just don’t do it.” “Don’t doubt yourself.”

As for Gonzalez’s future goals, look out for him playing as a center back in a stadium near you.

“The first player in MLB to use prosthetics, I’ll be there.”