In a sense, it’s easy to understand why we often see some abysmal attempts at the ceremonial first pitch. You’re asking non-baseball players to throw a ball in front of a lot of people with no warmup. It’s tough.
But this wasn’t the first time DJ Steve Aoki had been in that situation, but it was the first time he absolutely airmailed a throw into the top netting at Fenway Park.
Well, we now know why the terrible throw happened the way it did. Aoki got some questionable pregame advice from Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes, and he took that advice to heart.
It all makes sense now pic.twitter.com/rdzIu40sKM
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 17, 2022
The Red Sox shared a video on TikTok of Aoki and Barnes chatting it up before the first pitch. Aoki had mentioned to Barnes that he failed to even make it to home plate on his previous first pitch attempts. That was when Barnes told Aoki, “Aim higher, let it eat … throw it as hard as you can.”
Aoki did just that …
Steve Aoki, First Pitch (with Tail) pic.twitter.com/snqPxvJJbc
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 17, 2022
At first, it seemed like an intentional attempt to go viral with a bad throw because, uh, who launches a first pitch like that? But after seeing that video, it all makes so much sense. He took Barnes’ advice a bit too literally.
MLB fans thought it was great too.
