Former Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy was just selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings to presumably serve as the team’s next franchise quarterback. But based on recent events, it’s a good thing the team is asking him to throw a football and not a baseball.
On Tuesday evening, J.J. McCarthy was invited to throw the first pitch for the Minnesota Twins ahead of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays. But the pitch clearly did not go according to plan.
To say that McCarthy’s pitch went a little bit wild would be an understatement. In a video shared to social media, McCarthy can be seen winding up on the mound and hurling the ball toward home plate. But it certainly was not a strike. In fact, it was so far off the plate that the catcher had absolutely no chance to even catch the ball. Had a batter been standing in the box, it may have even gone behind him instead of hitting him.
JJ McCarthy’s first pitch was….. not great. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/nKi0yXTrHY
— Declan Goff (@DexsTweets) June 18, 2024
Needless to say, this absolutely horrible opening pitch went viral on social media as people offered their reactions.
Catcher was supposed to run a post. IDK what else y’all want out of the man. QB1 baby. https://t.co/33SnOjOePa
— Travis – The Vikerr Podcast (@VikerrPodcast) June 19, 2024
Sports with the guys > https://t.co/O0LoSSOQZo
— lukezim (@lukezim) June 19, 2024
*insert Everything Is Fine meme here* https://t.co/ZtIyY8u446
— Collin Kottke (@CollinKottke) June 18, 2024
Throwing motion for football and baseball are completely different.
Everybody hating on this doesn’t know that. We are surrounded by a lack of ball knowers. It’s a real problem in this Twitter world.
JJ is fine. Americas QB. https://t.co/j00W4c8Z3E
— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) June 19, 2024
Not even an elite coach like KOC can save this dude https://t.co/8MdD9YVw5x
— Peter (@peteypablo_) June 19, 2024
Pitching isn't easy! https://t.co/Z8ld0Xnx0e
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) June 19, 2024
shouldve gone the safe route and had him handoff the first pitch https://t.co/LICOirQRNP
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) June 19, 2024
The good news is that McCarthy is much better at throwing footballs than baseballs.