VICTOR Wembanyama, the seven-foot-plus French player expected to be taken by San Antonio with the first pick in the NBA draft this week, threw a wild ceremonial first pitch before the New York Yankees played the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning, June 21, 2023, PH time).
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 7-4. He has said 7-3 and some internet sites show 7-5.
The NBA draft is Thursday (Friday, June 23, PH time) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. (AP)