Sandra Gonzalez joined Ysmalia Graterol in an exclusive club of MLB moms to take the mound and fire in an impressive first pitch on Tuesday afternoon.
Graterol (the mother of Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol) hurled in a perfect first pitch to her son ahead of a September contest between Los Angeles and the Detroit Tigers.
Gonzalez (the mother of Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena) took the bump at Tropicana Field prior to Game 1 of Tampa Bay's American League wild-card playoff series against the Texas Rangers and found the plate as well.
Both Graterol and Gonzalez earned the first pitch opportunity on the heels of emotional reunions with their sons.
The relief pitcher and his mom reunited in mid-September after not seeing each other for seven years, and days later, Ysmalia watched the fifth-year pro pitch on a big-league diamond for the first time. Graterol fired a 1-2-3 eighth inning on the special night.
Gonzalez is watching Arozarena play in an MLB game for the first time on Tuesday after receiving her visa last week and flying in from Mexico. The mother of the 2021 Rookie of the Year and 2023 All-Star got to show off the arm in front of reporters during a pregame catch with her son as well.
First, Brusdar Graterol's mom throws a perfect first pitch. Now, Randy Arozarena's mom does the same.
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) October 3, 2023
The lesson is simple:
Need pitching? Sign the moms. https://t.co/kab0lzuvj3
BASEBALL
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 3, 2023
IS
THE
BEST https://t.co/7mcr65qoz1
.@RandyArozarena's mom is getting to watch her son play in the Majors for the first time today.
— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2023
She threw out the first pitch pregame. pic.twitter.com/zozZeiPxZr
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