Getting a US national team call-up as a college student, signing a watershed Homegrown Player contract, setting an MLS rookie record for game-winning goals: These soccer achievements are all well and good.
But Jordan Morris marked another ritual of celebrity on Wednesday afternoon, as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Seattle Mariners baseball game.
Following in the footsteps of current and former Sounders stars Kasey Keller, Fredy Montero, Eddie Johnson, DeAndre Yedlin, Clint Dempsey and Ozzie Alonso, Morris handled the pressure-packed gig with aplomb, warming up beforehand and hitting the target at Safeco Field.
Noting that Jordan had played both baseball and soccer up until age 14 or so, his father didn't sound particularly impressed by the pitch when speaking to SoundersFC.com afterwards. But his friend and teammate Cristian Roldan was full of praise.
“He was a little bit nervous, he didn't want to mess up and I think that's why he didn't throw a heater,” said Roldan. “But he got it over the plate – it looked like a strike to me and I'm proud of him.”
