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Victor Wembanyama first pitch: Bad toss at Yankees game, hand size draw attention of NBA and MLB Twitter

Sara Tidwell

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Victor Wembanyama first pitch: Bad toss at Yankees game, hand size draw attention of NBA and MLB Twitter image

Victor Wembanyama, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft was invited to throw the first pitch at the Yankees game Tuesday night.

Let's just say it's a good thing the Frenchman didn't choose to go pro in baseball.

Wembanyama, who stands at 7-foot-2, took the mound as part of the pregame festivities in an unbuttoned New York jersey and wound up. However, at his height, it isn't exactly an easy feat to throw a ball like Gerrit Cole.

BIG BOARD: Top 60 prospects, pro player comparisons for 2023 NBA Draft

As a result, his toss went far left of the catcher, as you can see below.

If that wasn't enough, Wembanyama then fired the ball into the stands, where it came bounding off a concrete wall, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

But as the broadcasters said, celebrity first pitches are "more often awful than good."

Hopefully, that makes Wembanyama feel a little bit better for that shoddy performance.

MORE: A deep dive into what Victor Wembanyama could be at the NBA level

Even so, Twitter took Wembanyama's first pitch fail as an opportunity to poke fun at the basketball sensation. Many said it's a good thing he stuck to hoops while others joked that he could have the "nastiest change up in the league" if he wanted to hop aboard the MLB train.

Others quipped that his draft stock should go down as a result of his celebrity pitch.

The first pitch wasn't the only reason that Wembenyama went viral on Tuesday. Many fans were amused at seeing the 7-foot-2 center getting a chance to ride the subway for the first time.

And others were intrigued at just how small the baseball looked in his hand. Here's a photo of that, for size reference (and giggles):

Sara Tidwell

Sara Tidwell Photo

Sara Tidwell is an editorial intern with The Sporting News. A native to Michigan's Thumb region, she received her Bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. Previous bylines include the Detroit News, Cincinnati Enquirer, Hartford Courant and The State News.