Michael Cadena of Riverside prior to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers lat Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles. Cadena who has special needs, had his Dodgers hat stolen from his head in a Riverside store in April. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Michael Cadena of Riverside received a signed jersey by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger prior to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers lat Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles. Cadena who has special needs, had his Dodgers hat stolen from his head in a Riverside store in April. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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Michael Cadena of Riverside received a signed jersey by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger prior to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers lat Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles. Cadena who has special needs, had his Dodgers hat stolen from his head in a Riverside store in April. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Michael Cadena of Riverside prior to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers lat Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles. Cadena who has special needs, had his Dodgers hat stolen from his head in a Riverside store in April. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Michael Cadena of Riverside received a signed jersey by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger prior to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers lat Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles. Cadena who has special needs, had his Dodgers hat stolen from his head in a Riverside store in April. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)



Michael Cadena of Riverside throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers lat Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles. Cadena who has special needs, had his Dodgers hat stolen from his head in a Riverside store in April. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Michael Cadena strode near the top of the pitchers’ mound at Dodger Stadium, took a few steps toward home plate and threw a pitch that bounced once before being caught by Dodgers All-Star Cody Bellinger.

The ceremonial first pitch Tuesday, May 29, before the Dodgers played the Philadelphia Phillies put a nice bow on an ugly incident in which Cadena, a 27-year-old Riverside man with special needs, was bullied and had his Dodgers hat stolen at a Riverside store last month.

Michael Cadena is here as part of the Dodger Blue Wishes program. He’ll be tossin’ tonight’s first pitch to his favorite player, @Cody_Bellinger! Follow his journey on our Instagram or Snapchat. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/g0lOE8LLty — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 30, 2018

“He made out like a champ,” his father, Joe Cadena, said in a phone call Tuesday evening from the seats the Dodgers provided the family. “He’s on cloud 9 right now. He’s beyond words.”

Michael Cadena’s trip to Dodger Stadium came about after he was pushed and robbed of his Dodgers hat at a Riverside Target store.

His mother, Sylvia Cadena, posted about the incident on Facebook, hoping the thief would be caught. Instead, people stepped forward, donating hats, tickets and memorabilia.

Michael Cadena, a special needs man who was bullied and had his #Dodgers hat stolen, throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the game against the #Phillies pic.twitter.com/KwXUMj4owh — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 30, 2018

The Dodgers heard of his plight and invited Michael Cadena to the game, where he not only threw out a ceremonial first pitch, he also received autographed hats, balls and a jersey. He also met players, including Bellinger, his favorite Dodger; Matt Kemp; and Riverside native Austin Barnes.

Cadena was born with Apert syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by the premature fusion of certain bones that prevents the skull from growing normally and affects the shape of the head and face.

He has undergone multiple surgeries and is developmentally delayed, but he is very independent — even riding a bus and his scooter to work at Savers, a thrift store on Tyler Street in Riverside. And wherever he goes, he wears a Dodgers hat or shirt — sometimes both.

Cadena had never thrown a baseball until about a month ago when his father started playing catch with him in their La Sierra backyard to get ready for the first pitch.

Joe Cadena said he was a bit surprised when Michael took the field.

“I had told him to go from a distance of about 40 feet, but for whatever reason, he went to the top of the mound,” Joe Cadena said. “He did OK.

“I told him, ‘You go wide and you’re walking home,’” Cadena joked. “I’m proud of him. He did well.”

Joe Cadena said people who had seen Michael’s story sought them out at the stadium and brought him more hats and gifts.

And a group of five families with children with Apert syndrome came as well, securing seats near the Cadena’s.