Former Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer will throw out the first pitch at the Cleveland Guardians’ home opener against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, Cleveland 19 News reported on Thursday. He will throw to Steve Colavito, the son of then-Indians outfielder Rocky Colavito.
Sawyer, a Pickerington, Ohio native, earns the honor just a few months after leading the Buckeyes to their first national championship in 10 years with a historic four-game run through the College Football Playoff, culminating in the team’s 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the title game.
In that run, Sawyer totaled a dominant 13 tackles (five for loss), 4 ½ sacks and seven pass deflections, and turned in one the most memorable and significant plays in recent program memory when he stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and returned the loose ball 83 yards for a touchdown late in the Buckeyes’ 28-14 win over the Longhorns in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl.
Sawyer, who is now preparing for the NFL draft from April 24-26 and likely projects to be a second-round selection, will be the second Buckeye in as many years to throw out a first pitch at a Guardians game. Former Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. did so before Cleveland’s May 18 game against the Minnesota Twins shortly after being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. also threw out the first pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ June 13 game against the Los Angeles Angels after being drafted No. 4 overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
