The Milwaukee Brewers are rolling out the red carpet for some serious franchise legends, tapping four former fan favorites to throw out ceremonial first pitches for their National League Division Series games this Saturday and Sunday at American Family Field. This isn’t just a nod to history, it’s a full-on embrace of the guys who electrified the Emerald City’s counterpart.
Gómez and Higuera Kick Off the Playoff Party
Get ready, Milwaukee, because Saturday’s game, a 7:30 p.m. showdown against San Diego, is bringing back some absolute firepower. Two-time All-Star outfielder Carlos Gómez is stepping back onto the mound. This guy was pure energy! He snagged MVP votes and a Gold Glove in center field back in 2013. Across his six seasons with the Brewers, Gómez posted a .777 OPS, but it was his high-energy style that made him a fan favorite. Even his exit made waves, as the Brewers traded him in 2015 for a haul that included Josh Hader and Adrian Houser. Gómez was even out there last year, captaining a team in the 25th season Alumni Home Run Derby.
Joining Gómez is none other than the legendary lefty, Teddy Higuera. Arguably the best pitcher in franchise history, Higuera spent all nine of his big-league seasons in Milwaukee, racking up a career 94-64 record with a stellar 3.61 ERA. He was an All-Star in 1986 and finished as the runner-up for the American League Cy Young that same year, just one season after being runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year. The dude was nails! Higuera led qualified AL pitchers with an insane 0.999 WHIP in 1988 and even picked up Cy Young votes in 1987, a year he set a franchise record with 32 consecutive scoreless innings as part of “Team Streak.” While Jacob Misiorowski is on the rise, Higuera’s place in history is undeniable.
The Walk-Off King and Power Bat Take Sunday’s Mound
Sunday’s 3 p.m. game is set to feature two more unforgettable characters. First up, it’s Nyjer Morgan, whose electric personality and clutch hitting cemented him in Brewers lore. You know the moment: his single in Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS scored Gómez with the walk-off run in the 10th inning. Absolute chills! Morgan’s 2011 season was phenomenal, with a .304 batting average and a .778 OPS. His “Tony Plush” alter-ego and those wild postgame interviews made him the toast of the town. This isn’t Morgan’s first rodeo back, either; he also threw out a ceremonial first pitch in 2023 when the Brewers played the Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild-card round.
Sharing the mound on Sunday is Eric Thames, the power-hitting, outside-the-box signing from Korea. Thames made his mark in three seasons with Milwaukee from 2017-19, absolutely mashing 72 homers and driving in 161 runs, all while rocking an .848 OPS. He even blasted a home run in the 2019 wild-card game for the Brewers.
Get ready to see these legends back on the bump, setting the tone for what the Brewers hope is a deep run in the National League Division Series, starting Saturday, October 3rd at 7:30 p.m. against San Diego and continuing Sunday, October 4th at 3 p.m.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply