Kansas City, Missouri: An American of Palestinian origin has made history by becoming the first individual with autism to sign a professional contract with a Major League Baseball (MLB) club, having penned a deal with 2015 World Series champions Kansas City Royals.
Raised in San Marino, California, the outfielder has spent the last two seasons with the Empire Pro Baseball League.
This is not the first time El-Abour has been involved with the Royals organization — last April he helped the club host Autism Night at the Kauffman Stadium, even throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
While not an elite prospect, or expected to get out of the minors for the ongoing 2018 season, his prospects are good — especially considering his condition. His mother, Nadia Khalil, told Yahoo Sports: “That is when I started to see the workings of the autistic mind,” said Khalil. “I started to see how numbers had a lot to do with how he thinks. Those of us without autism think in concepts, he thinks in numbers. The greater the number of times he did anything, the better he was at it. Just like us.
“However, the way the numbers worked in his mind went way further than anything I could have yet imagined. He knew he had to practice. He knew he loved it. He told me that when he grew up and played baseball, he would buy me a house wherever he plays, so that I could watch his games live.
“He did not know yet how different he was. He did not know yet how autism was going to speak for him before he could speak for himself.”
In 2016, El-Abour was named the Empire League’s Rookie of the Year after batting .323 in 122 plate appearances and in 2017, he won a championship with the Plattsburgh Red Birds.
American-Palestinian becomes first MLB professional with autism
American-Palestinian becomes first MLB professional with autism
- Autism is a condition that affects 3.5 million Americans in a variety of ways
- El-Abour becomes first with condition to sign in Major League history
Hojlund the hero as Napoli snatch late win at Genoa
- Denmark forward Hojlund scored a brace, taking his record for the season to eight league goals
- Victory ensured that Antonio Conte’s injury-hit team remain in third
ROME: Rasmus Hojlund’s penalty deep into added-on time snatched a 3-2 victory at Genoa on Saturday and kept champions Napoli hanging on in the Serie A title race.
Denmark forward Hojlund scored a brace, taking his record for the season to eight league goals in 20 matches, while fellow former Manchester United player Scott McTominay also found the net at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in northwestern Italy.
Victory ensured that Antonio Conte’s injury-hit team remain in third and their second win in a row closed the gap to leaders Inter Milan, who play away to Sassuolo on Sunday, to six points.
Genoa had taken a third-minute lead when Ukrainian Ruslan Malinovskyi scored from the spot.
Two goals in less than two minutes turned the game on its head as Hojlund grabbed his first before Scotland midfielder McTominay put the Neapolitans in front midway through he first half.
Napoli seemed to be imploding in the second half when first Genoa’s Lorenzo Colombo pounced on a defensive error to equalize, and then center-back Juan Jesus was given his marching orders after picking up a second booking.
But a foul by Ivory Coast international Maxwel Cornet gave Hojlund the chance to be the hero from the penalty spot, taking his season’s tally to 12 goals in 30 matches in all competitions.
The was more bad news for Conte, though, as McTominay was forced off injured at half-time.
The former Italy, Chelsea, Inter and Juventus boss was already without key players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Frank Anguissa and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Second-placed AC Milan host Como on Sunday when fourth-placed Juventus entertain Lazio.
