June 30, 2015
Matt Slocum/AP
Sixers top pick Jahlil Okafor with the Phanatic after throwing the first pitch at Tuesday's Phillies game.
Sixers' first-round pick Jahlil Okafor was on hand Tuesday night to throw out the first pitch prior to the Phillies game against the Brewers, and despite his massive hands, he managed to do pretty well.
You may have seen the photo by now, the one of Okafor holding a baseball. The seven-footer's massive hands make the ball look golfball-sized by comparison.
Imagine how nasty his splitter would be. pic.twitter.com/QMxeakDujg
— Phillies (@Phillies) June 30, 2015
These are Jahlil Okafor's hands holding a baseball (via @daleysports) pic.twitter.com/f6nHXIs3lx
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 24, 2015
I can't imagine that makes throwing the ball any easier. Still, he did a pretty good job, one that would have looked even better had the Phanatic been able to catch it. Take a look for yourself:
It was a bit high, yes, but look at all the distractions around him. The grounds crew is tending to the mound and home plate area. The weather forced his catcher to move up onto the infield lawn, meaning it may have actually been a strike at 60'6". And did I mention that his catcher isn't actually a catcher but instead a furry green alien wearing a glove that he doesn't even have enough fingers to fill.
And still, Okafor did better than most, especially when you consider the long history of athletes from other sports struggling with first-pitch duties.
As you can see, Okafor's attempt wasn't so bad by comparison.
Prior to the game, Okafor met with some of the Phillies players in the clubhouse:
.@Sixers 1st round draft pick @JahlilOkafor met some of the guys before his 1st pitch tonight. #heightdifferential pic.twitter.com/wYyog7C2qa
— Phillies (@Phillies) June 30, 2015
Maybe he got some advice from them...
