FAYETTEVILLE — John Calipari, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ new basketball coach, threw the ceremonial first pitch for the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Florida at Baum-Walker Stadium.
After playing catch with freshman pitcher Tate McGuire in front of Arkansas’ dugout, the right-handed Calipari got on the mound — not in front of it — and threw a strike to McGuire at home plate.
Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn said he spoke with Calipari for a few minutes between games.
“He didn’t want to take away from our team or our game, and he asked if I was good with it,” Van Horn said of Calipari asking out throwing the first pitch. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’m good with it. I’m glad you’re here.’
“ ‘Go out there and build your brand a little bit and get people fired up about basketball. They’re fired up about baseball.’ ”
John Calipari’s first pitch pic.twitter.com/KDru8qbcmR
— Matt Jones (@MattJonesADG) April 27, 2024
Calipari was announced as Arkansas’ coach on April 10 after leading Kentucky’s program for 15 seasons, highlighted by winning the 2012 national championship.
“He seems excited to be here,” Van Horn said. “So I’m excited he’s here.”
Country music artist Tracy Lawrence threw the first pitch before Saturday’s opener. Lawrence, who grew up in Foreman in Southwest Arkansas, performed Saturday night at the Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers.