COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer is still expected to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium on Friday night before the New York Yankees’ 7:05 p.m. start against the Baltimore Orioles. Meyer had an outpatient appendectomy on Wednesday afternoon. He is in New York, his wife, Shelley, said on Friday afternoon, taking part in some other Ohio State outreach activities. The first pitch is still planned, but Shelley Meyer said her husband is still sore after the surgery, so she joked that it might be a gametime decision as to whether he can actually make the pitch or not. It’s not like Ohio State football has been lacking for first-pitch opportunities. The Buckeyes, as a team, were invited to a Cincinnati Reds game on April 8, where Meyer, assistant Kerry Coombs and players Joe Burger and Adolphus Washington threw out the first pitch. That continued Meyer’s connection to baseball, after the former minor league baseball player threw out first pitches for the Indians and Reds in 2012. Then Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, a St. Louis native, threw out the first pitch at the Cardinals game on Tuesday. And that prompted Ohio State quarterback and Cleveland native Cardale Jones to wrangle a first-pitch invite from the Indians. So Meyer is up again, following Penn State coach James Franklin’s recent first pitch at a Yankees game. If Meyer can’t throw it, the Buckeyes have, and will have, other baseball chances. More than honored to throw the first pitch out tonight at the Cardinals game against the Cubs — EzekielElliott#?1?5? (@EzekielElliott) May 5, 2015 I guess I have to crop top the Cards jersey tonight when I throw the first pitch right ? — EzekielElliott#?1?5? (@EzekielElliott) May 5, 2015 Check out @EzekielElliott throwing out the first pitch at the Cardinals game #GoCards #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/EDWa5iEcan — Trey Carpenter (@TreyCarpenter3) May 5, 2015 Perfect follow through lol https://t.co/llOonIapV3 — EzekielElliott#?1?5? (@EzekielElliott) May 6, 2015 he threw a strike pic.twitter.com/dlYu1r21Ws — Dawn (@itz_mizdee) May 5, 2015 I just want to thank the @Cardinals organization for the opportunity to throw the first pitch for the… https://t.co/vNlgmNZGoj — EzekielElliott#?1?5? (@EzekielElliott) May 6, 2015 I’m just saying @Indians @EzekielElliott thinks his hometown loves him more than my hometown loves me because he throw out the first pitch — Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) May 7, 2015 .@CJ12_ Let’s make it happen! Follow and DM us your contact info. — Cleveland Indians (@Indians) May 7, 2015 I’m letting yall know now, @Indians this will not be your typical first pitch throw, it’s going to be my “try out” throw ???? — Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) May 7, 2015 *Tells Cardale Jones he can throw 1st pitch* *Checks mentions* *Sees 1000000 people asking for own 1st pitch” pic.twitter.com/9EWjHjLIBw — Cleveland Indians (@Indians) May 7, 2015
Continue Reading: What’s with Ohio State football and first pitches at baseball games?
