Two St. John’s basketball players delivered a notable ceremonial first pitch ahead of the New York Mets game against the Miami Marlins on Thursday night. Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey, both members of the university’s team, took part in the event at Citi Field, impressing those in attendance with their performance despite limited baseball experience.

Jackson, who had not thrown a baseball in some time, successfully threw a strike to Prey, who was catching for the first time. Jackson, a Bronx native and self-proclaimed New York Yankees fan, expressed a desire to perform competently rather than create a viral spectacle. Wearing a Mets jersey with the number 11, he said the moment was thrilling and noted that the rain delay prior to the game allowed them time to warm up, which contributed to the effectiveness of his pitch.

“It was fun. I have adrenaline built up right now,” Jackson said after the event, acknowledging that he was motivated to avoid an embarrassing throw and instead deliver a solid performance, referencing a past incident involving celebrity entertainer 50 Cent, who had struggled with a first pitch at a Mets game.

Prey, who stands 6 feet 11 inches tall, conveyed excitement about participating. Having never worn a baseball glove before, he described the opportunity as “awesome” and looked forward to the experience from the moment it was proposed.

Jackson is the third player from St. John’s to throw out a first pitch at a Mets game, joining teammates Zuby Ejiofor and Dylan Darling who previously took part in the ceremonial tradition. The event took place before the scheduled start of the game as part of the broader community engagement efforts often seen at Major League Baseball venues.