2023 NBA Draft

Victor Wembanyama throws out ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium

Expected to be a top pick in Thursday's Draft, Victor Wembanyama threw his pitch wide left toward the first-base side.

From NBA.com News Services

Victory Wembanyama’s ceremonial first pitch veered well wide of the plate to the first-base side.

Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-plus French player expected to be taken by San Antonio with the first pick in the NBA draft on Thursday, threw out a wild ceremonial first pitch before the New York Yankees played the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

He wore a pinstriped jersey with “New York” across the chest rather than the traditional interlocking “NY,” and he had Joe DiMaggio’s No. 5 on the back. Standing on the rubber, he fired the ball in the dirt, well wide of the plate to the first-base side.

The 19-year-old spent this past season with Metropolitans 92 in the French league. The NBA lists his height as 7-foot-4. He has said 7-3 and some internet sites show 7-foot-5.

In the hours before he took to the mound, he posted on Twitter: “Bout to throw my first pitch, wish me good luck.”

The NBA draft is Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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