Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews throws out first pitch at New York Yankees-Toronto Blue Jays game
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 60-goal scorer made a decent toss — slightly high and outside — to Jays pitcher Alek Manoah. Matthews himself comes from a baseball background — his father Brian was a pitcher at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, while Matthews tried his hand at catcher before hockey took over.
Matthews said after Toronto’s practice earlier in the day that his goal would be not to “embarrass” himself.
“I’d like to think that growing up and playing that I have a decent throw,” he said. “I should be able to get it there. I played one year of travel baseball, but I didn’t play much because hockey got in the way.
“I wasn’t much of a pitcher; I had a wild arm. I usually caught. I pitched a little bit, but not very well.”
Matthews’ teammates Mitch Marner and Michael Bunting attended the game as well.
“The boys are telling me to bring some heat,” Matthews said. “We got to see where I’m at with my throwing arm. It’s been a while.”
Matthews’ attempt went better than when his former USA National Team Development Program teammate and good friend Matthew Tkachuk made the ceremonial first pitch at a Miami Marlins game earlier this month that bounced outside of the plate.