Given second chance, Chiefs’ Travis Kelce throws strike with first pitch at Royals game
There are times when we all need a second chance, and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce got his Monday at Kauffman Stadium.
Kelce threw out a ceremonial first pitch at a Cleveland Guardians game in April, and unfortunately it resembled more of a football spike than an actual pitch.
The ball hit the grass in front of the batter’s box and shot past Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber, who was tasked with catching the pitch. Instead, Bieber scrambled out of the way of the pitch.
“Yeah, I knew it was going to happen,” Bieber said later, per MLB. “He was like, ‘Yeah, don’t worry about it. I’ve only had a couple shoulder surgeries.’ And so as we were running out there, he was like, ‘I’m going to throw this as hard as I can.’
“I said, ‘OK, hum it in here.’ Our mascot, Slider, was right behind me. I was like, ‘I’ve got a good feeling this ball is going to be spiked, so I’m going to do my best to try and scoop it, but if I don’t you’ve got to body it up for me.’ Slider was like, ‘I got you,’ and sure enough we both bailed at the same time.”
That video went viral, and Kelce has been asked about it numerous times. On Monday, he was given an opportunity to throw a ceremonial first pitch before the Royals game against the Reds at Kauffman Stadium.
Kelce didn’t disappoint on Monday as he threw a strike to Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
It wasn’t just the Kelce Show on Monday, as coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and others took the field before the game.
The Lombardi Trophy was at the K, and Tech N9ne’s “Chiefs Kingdom” was played, followed soon by the Beastie Boy’s “Fight For Your Right (To Party).”
Before Monday’s game, Royals pitcher Brad Keller was asked for any tips he would have for Kelce.
“I feel like the one (piece of) advice everyone gives is just don’t bounce it,” Keller said. “So, lob it, do something, just don’t bounce it, because it is intimidating and all eyes are on you. And I think from people that don’t do it very often and go out there at 60 feet, it kind of seems a lot further than they expected. So yeah, lob it, somehow just don’t bounce it.”
This story was originally published June 12, 2023 at 7:03 PM.
