Russell Wilson Threw Out a First Pitch Strike at Mariners-Yankees Game [Video]

When baseball teams trot out local celebrities to throw out the first pitch, it often leads to disaster. Take former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson’s comically inept toss earlier this year at a Detroit Tigers game. Current Seattle Seahawks signal caller Russell Wilson isn’t going to end up on any of these blooper reels any time soon. Wilson tossed, well gunned in, the first pitch at Friday night’s Yankees/Mariners game.

It was clocked at 98 mph on the Safeco Field scoreboard. Whether or not that was an accurate reading is up for debate. The Mariners broadcast on ROOT Sports later said it was more in the 70 mph range.

This should come as no surprise since Wilson was a second baseman and closer at N.C. State before he transferred to play football exclusively at Wisconsin. He was also a fourth round MLB draft pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2010, prior to being selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. According to a post on the Seahawks official website, Friday night’s pitch was the first thrown by Wilson since his junior year at N.C. State.

The Mariners won the game 4-1 with Jeremy Bonderman earning his first MLB victory since the 2010 season.