JJ McCarthy (Photo via @DexsTweets/X)
Minnesota Vikings first-round pick JJ McCarthy’s arm did not look all that great on Tuesday.

The quarterback threw the first pitch before the Minnesota Twins played the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field and made a mess of it as the ball zinged way left of the catcher and into the backstop, prompting a collective groan from the crowd.

Check it out below:

Yeah, not great…

Fortunately for Minnesota, McCarthy will be suiting up for the state’s football team, not its baseball team.

JJ McCarthy Is Competing With Sam Darnold For The Starting Role With The Vikings

The former Michigan star was selected as the 10th overall pick by the Vikings this year, having helped the Wolverines win a national title in January.

With Kirk Cousins leaving in free agency – probably regrettably so, given the Atlanta Falcons shocked him with their own pick – things could be interesting for the Vikings in 2024.

 

Former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to be the team’s starter next season, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has said he wants the players to battle it out, though he’s basically named him as his No. 1.

“We haven’t had to put out a depth chart or anything like that,” he told reporters last week, “but yeah, I would say Sam would be the guy I would look to based upon the spring he’s had, and really where he’s at in his career and his quarterback journey, and what he’s been able to do coming in and [hitting] the ground running and taking advantage of a competitive situation.”

While JJ McCarthy’s first pitch has nothing to do with his football career, it could be bad enough to make O’Connell’s mind up for him.