Yahoo Finance A's invite fan with coronavirus to throw out first pitch on opening day
We don’t know when Major League Baseball’s opening day is going to be, but whenever it is, the Oakland Athletics seem to have figured out who will throw out their first pitch.
On Monday, an A’s fan named Justin who says he has coronavirus tweeted a picture of himself in the hospital with an A’s beanie. On Tuesday, team president Dave Kaval retweeted the pic with an offer to have Justin throw out at the first pitch on opening day.
Get well soon! The whole @Athletics nation is sending you positive thoughts. How is your arm? Would be honored to have you throw out the first pitch opening day! https://t.co/rpmC3v9mgz
— Dave Kaval (@DaveKaval) March 17, 2020
This has set off a bit of internet fame for Justin, who said he had about 50 followers before the initial tweet and now has more than 7,000. He said during a live Periscope session Tuesday:
“I got plucked out of obscurity on Twitter. I’m internet famous now and it feels surreal,” he said. “This posting has brought a lot of people together who normally wouldn’t talk with each together. There’s all kinds of different political stripes on this posting. Try to remember we’re all in this together.”
[ Coronavirus: How the sports world is responding to the pandemic ]
Before that, he spoke out about how at a time where some people still aren’t taking coronavirus seriously, that people should take note of his story.
This is no flu. The flu is it’s own thing. This feels SO much different than a flu. I just have lung pain and a headache. Others have it different depending on how well their body fights it, health, smoking, age.
— Justin (@jwdaddy80) March 17, 2020
Holy moly! I posted this because I wanted people to take seriously what’s being done but I didn’t expect such a warm response. Thank you everyone!
— Justin (@jwdaddy80) March 17, 2020
Whenever baseball is ready for opening day — mid-May is the absolute earliest it could happen — here’s hoping Justin is feeling better and ready to throw that first pitch.
More from Yahoo Sports:
