New Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis was invited to throw a first pitch at the Miami Marlins’ May 1 game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The result likely left Dolphins fans feeling trepidation about how the 26-year-old quarterback would perform in his first season with the team.
Willis’ first pitch attempt started well. The Liberty product demonstrated good form while standing on the mound at LoanDepot Park, showing a convincing wind-up and leg kick that left many expecting a strike.
Instead, Willis released the ball too early, causing his first pitch to come in high and well outside. It sailed all the way to the backstop, giving the catcher no shot at making the play.
Willis’ first pitch was hardly the worst MLB fans have ever seen. Celebrities like 50 Cent, Stephen A. Smith and Mariah Carey have all endured significant difficulties delivering the ball to the plate, which has forever etched them into MLB lore.
Nonetheless, Willis’ failure to deliver an accurate pitch was a surprise. Accuracy is a hallmark of the 26-year-old’s skill set, as he completed 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions across limited action with the Green Bay Packers the last two seasons.
That played a big part in Miami deciding to sign Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract in free agency despite the 2022 third-round pick having just six career starts under his belt.
Still, Dolphins fans shouldn’t be too worried about Willis’ first pitch. He’s far from the only quarterback to have logged a less-than-stellar toss at an MLB game.
In fact, Fernando Mendoza lobbed a shot put-like first pitch at a Marlins game on April 21, just before the Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Once Willis and Mendoza get footballs in their hands, they should throw significantly better as they look to make an instant impact for their new franchises.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Malik Willis throws wild first pitch: Concern for Dolphins fans?
Read the full article here