We heard that the Japanese celebrity chef would be throwing out the first pitch in last night’s Phillies game and instantly thought that it sounded odd. Sure, Masaharu Morimoto is somewhat of a local celebrity in the Philadelphia restaurant scene, and certainly world reknown, but does that make him deserved of a first pitch in a Major League Game?
As it turns out, he was a minor league player in Japan before injuring his shoulder, and as a result, he is picking up the sushi knives today instead. But you wouldn’t have guessed that watching him throw last night.
What’s even more ironic, perhaps, is that this isn’t the first time that Morimoto has thrown the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game. Back in 2007, the Iron Chef threw out the first pitch in a Seattle Mariners game.
I guess anyone would get a little rusty in five years, but you’d think his athleticism would stay remotely in tact with all of those Iron Chef competitions. It really looks like they hump it out there in Kitchen Stadium. But, then again, we all know what some good editing can do.
Needless to say, Morimoto will not quit his day job and head back to the diamond any time soon. If not for his shoulder, then at least for his ego.
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