World Cup hero throws out first pitch at Yankee Stadium and sets the bar high for all other athletes

Spanish soccer player Ferran Torres got the nod to throw out the first pitch ahead of Tuesday’s New York Yankees game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium.

It’s a big honor to throw out the first pitch anywhere, but it carries a little more gravitas when you’re asked to take the mound at the House Across the Street from The House That Ruth Built (if you believe in Babe Ruth).

But for a player who has thrived on the biggest stage, the World Cup, that’s no problem.

SPAIN BEATS ARGENTINA TO WIN 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP BEHIND FERRAN TORRES’ EXTRA-TIME GOAL

Torres scored the game-winning goal against Argentina and made some post-tournament waves when he was seen wearing a “Make Spain Great Again? hat.

He decided to leave that lid at home in favor of a Yankees hat on Monday night when he took the mound, and I’m not going to lie, it was impressive.

Uh-oh… all other athletes tasked with throwing out first pitches are officially put on notice.

Torres is obviously one heck of an athlete, but he’s the kind of athlete who has spent his whole career not using his hands unless he’s chucking a ball over his head with two hands.

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That was one of the cleaner, crisper-looking pitching motions I’ve seen from a first-pitch thrower — and I’ve seen many, it’s a passion of mine — which means other athletes are running out of excuses.

Torres just made it much harder to bounce a ball in front of the plate and outside, then chalked it up to not having thrown a pitch since Little League (which, until now, has been the excuse in my back pocket should I ever bungle a first pitch).

But hey, hats off to Ferran Torres for throwing down such a solid first pitch.

It was no John Daly throwing a heater in flip-flops, but it is certainly up there.