Travis Kelce spikes first pitch before Guardians home opener

On Apr 8, 2023

CLEVELAND — Let’s just say Travis Kelce might have been a little too hyped about throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians’ home opener Friday at Progressive Field.

The Kansas City Chiefs star tight end and Cleveland Heights High School graduate essentially spiked the ball well short of home plate while Guardians ace Shane Bieber served as the catcher.

Bieber tried to backhand the ball, but it zoomed past the Cy Young Award winner and team mascot Slider, who had been standing behind the pitcher.

Fortunately, no one was hurt by Kelce’s fastball. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection who recently won his second Super Bowl with the Chiefs immediately approached Bieber and hugged him as if he were making sure the two-time All Star were unscathed.

“I’m glad he didn’t tackle him,” Guardians manager Terry Francona quipped after Cleveland lost 5-3 to the Seattle Mariners.

Asked if he had any trepidation about Kelce throwing to Bieber, Francona quipped, “There would be the next time.”

Shortly before throwing the wild pitch, Kelce put his excitement into context.

“I’ve always wanted to get on the diamond during the game, so this will definitely be the closest I’ll ever get to that for sure,” Kelce said. “So we can say it’s a dream come true.”

Kelce, 33, said the moment ranked “up there” among his exciting experiences from the past few months.

On Feb. 12, the Chiefs prevailed in Super Bowl LVII, triumphing 38-35 over the Philadelphia Eagles, whose starting center is Jason Kelce, Travis’ older brother. Then Travis Kelce hosted “Saturday Night Live” in early March.

Kelce’s mother, Donna, stood next to the pitcher’s mound when he fired the ball at the ground. She was in the spotlight throughout Super Bowl festivities and attended the taping of “SNL.”

“We’ve been riding this thing together as well as my dad [Ed] and my brother,” Kelce said. “So it’s just been an absolute blast to be able to share one more hurrah before this thing probably slows down.”

Moments before the first pitch, Kelce unbuttoned his Guardians jersey to reveal a shirt that reads, “I’m from Cleveland.” He grew up a rabid sports fan and attended some Cleveland baseball games during the franchise’s successful stretches in the 1990s.

“I just had so many countless memories of screaming out my back door during those playoff runs and all the big-time home run moments,” Kelce said.