Fernando Mendoza’s pitching technique has caused a stir online after the projected No 1 NFL Draft pick put his throwing arm to the test at a Miami Marlins game.
The quarterback, who is expected to be taken first overall in Thursday’s Draft, was at LoanDepot Park for the Marlins’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.
Before the game he was tasked with carrying out the ceremonial first pitch, an honor which is often reserved for high-profile figures in attendance, and he did so without missing the target.
Yet while his throwing ability rarely comes into question on the football field, fans were torn on Mendoza’s technique as a baseball pitcher.
One user wrote on X: ‘Never seen a more football pass baseball throw, hey don’t mess with the day job’.
Another went as far as to say: ‘Raiders should pass on him. What an embarrassment not being able to throw a baseball’.
Fernando Mendoza’s ceremonial first pitch for the Miami Marlins has divided opinion online
However, a number of users leapt to Mendoza’s defense, instead pointing to the fact that his true talent lies in another sport.
One argued: ‘Almost all QB’s throw a baseball like they throw a football. What do you expect? The guys that played a lot of baseball throw it ok. The guys that didn’t, don’t…
‘He doesn’t look like he’s struggling. He looks like he’s throwing a baseball like a football,’ said another.
‘Is it possible that he was, yknow, not trying very hard,’ a third put sarcastically.
While one joked: ‘Yeah agree, one would have thought with no warm-up he would [have] hummed a 95 mph fastball for a strike!’
Mendoza will not be in Pittsburgh on Thursday when the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select him with the top pick.
Instead, the 22-year-old will watch the big night unfold from his home in Miami surrounded by friends and family.
He has now revealed that the decision was fueled by his consideration of his loved ones, specifically his mother, Elsa.
The former Indiana quarterback is expected to be the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft
‘Pittsburgh is a great opportunity and it’s a great venue, and I’m really excited to see most of the guys walk across the stage on Thursday night,’ Mendoza said on the Rich Eisen Show.
‘It’d be a dream for a lot of guys, however, my mom really wanted to do it at home, and so did my parents. It was a lot easier for us, especially with the family situation, and I would have to hop on a plane the next morning anyways. For that travel, it would be a lot easier to stay at home.’
Elsa was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis around 18 years ago. Her battle took a ‘downhill’ turn when she was diagnosed with Covid-19.
However, while the Mendoza family will not be celebrating in Pittsburgh, the quarterback insisted that they will still be throwing a party down in South Florida.
He touchingly admitted that he wanted to be surrounded by those who had supported him throughout his journey.
‘I wanted to stay and make the memory with everybody who poured into my football journey,’ Mendoza said.
‘Mentors, coaches, family, friends – to be able to share that moment with all of them, is going to be the best memory that I can make, rather than limiting it to 10 or 12 people in Pittsburgh.’
