Victor Wembanyama throws out ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium ahead of NBA draft

French NBA draft prospect Victor Wembanyama juggles baseballs before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a game between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. (Reuters)

• The 19-year-old spent this past season with Metropolitans 92 in the French league
• The NBA draft is Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn

NEW YORK: Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-plus French player expected to be taken by San Antonio with the first pick in the NBA draft this week, threw out a wild ceremonial first pitch before the New York Yankees played the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

He wore a pinstriped jersey with “New York” across the chest rather than the traditional interlocking “NY,” and he had Joe DiMaggio’s No. 5 on the back. Standing on the rubber, he fired the ball in the dirt, well wide of the plate to the first-base side.

The 19-year-old spent this past season with Metropolitans 92 in the French league. The NBA lists his height as 7-4. He has said 7-3 and some Internet sites show 7-5.

The NBA draft is Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.