Baseball season is here, and with it comes the ceremonial first pitch. Since the dawn of the tradition, many celebrities and athletes have had the honor of participating.
For people like rapper 50 Cent, it has not always gone so well.
Baseball’s Ceremonial First Pitch Has Become a Right of Passage… And Also the Perfect Opportunity For Hilarious Memes
On opening day, the Arizona Diamondbacks took on the Chicago Cubs. In a rather forgettable 10-6 loss, the real highlight came before the game began.
Arizona State football Defensive tackle CJ Fite, safety X Alford, quarterback Sam Leavitt, and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson threw out the first pitch.
It wasn’t a surprise that the Sun Devils were selected to kick off the new MLB season. Having won the Big 12 championship in their inaugural year, head coach Kenny Dillingham was seen flexing the trophy as he played the hype man role perfectly.
ASU’s athletic director, Graham Rossini, was also present alongside new women’s basketball coach Molly Miller. Rossini, the former VP of fan experience for the Diamondbacks, spent 13 years with the club before moving to Arizona State. He became the university AD last year.
D-Backs president and CEO Derrick Hall had this to say about the team;
“Just thought it made a lot of sense… After they went to the Peach Bowl, the success they had with the Big 12, it was a no-brainer for us to bring our local team back out here and be able to showcase them”.
Coach Dillingham piggybacked on Hall’s expressed testament to the team’s success.
“When those guys came to Arizona State, it was the lowest of the low. Nowhere in their wildest dreams did they imagine being selected to throw out the first pitch in one of the largest cities in the country for the Arizona Diamondbacks on opening day.”
This surreal moment, while unexpected, could not have been more memorable. Quarterback Sam Leavitt instantly became part of the long-storied collection of failed first pitches.
The reactions to Sam Leavitt nearly taking Garrett Hampson’s head off on the ceremonial first pitch at the @Dbacks season opener are pretty great.
One of the best college qbs in the country got a litttttle too fired up to show off the cannon. pic.twitter.com/eigZYmRhkQ
— Nick King (@NickKingSports) March 28, 2025
The quarterback joins a club featuring celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Stephen A. Smith, and even Charlie Brown.
Coach Dillingham’s priceless reaction was the cherry on top for a moment they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.
Now, the Sun Devils look to capitalize on their momentum from last season. The Leavitt-led squad that saw the quarterback throw for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions has aspirations to be even better than last year. Leavitt’s 80.0 QBR, which ranked 9th in FBS, proved that the talented redshirt sophomore is one of the best in the nation.
KEEP READING: Why ASU Boldly Rolled the Dice on Kenny Dillingham — and Won
The future is bright in Tempe, as Arizona State is determined to replicate the success of its 2024 season. The Sun Devils finished 11-3 and 7-2 in Big 12 conference play.
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