USA Hockey Stars Throw First Pitch at Yankees Home Opener

Olympic gold medalists Jack Hughes and Aerin Frankel kick off Yankees vs. Athletics game

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:14pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the blurred motion of two pitchers throwing ceremonial first pitches on a baseball diamond, with the green field and white baselines broken into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes.Two Olympic hockey champions bring their athletic energy to the baseball diamond as they kick off the Yankees' home opener with ceremonial first pitches.NYC Today

Before the New York Yankees' home opener against the Oakland Athletics, USA Olympic gold medal hockey stars Jack Hughes and Aerin Frankel were invited to throw out ceremonial first pitches at Yankee Stadium.

Why it matters

The Yankees' home opener is a highly anticipated annual event in New York City, and having Olympic heroes from another sport participate in the pre-game festivities helps generate excitement and interest around the start of the baseball season.

The details

Hughes and Frankel, who both won gold medals with the US national hockey teams at the 2026 Winter Olympics, were selected to take the mound and throw out the first pitches ahead of the Yankees-Athletics game. The two athletes were greeted with cheers from the crowd as they made their way to the pitcher's mound.

  • The Yankees' home opener took place on April 8, 2026.

The players

Jack Hughes

A US Olympic gold medalist in hockey who was invited to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at the Yankees' home opener.

Aerin Frankel

A US Olympic gold medalist in hockey who was invited to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at the Yankees' home opener.

New York Yankees

The home team playing in the game against the Oakland Athletics.

Oakland Athletics

The visiting team playing against the New York Yankees.

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What they’re saying

“It was an honor to be asked to throw out the first pitch at the Yankees' home opener. As a lifelong baseball fan, this was a really special moment for me.”

— Jack Hughes, US Olympic Gold Medalist, Hockey

“The energy and excitement of the Yankees fans is unmatched. I'm glad Aerin and I could be a small part of kicking off the new season in the Bronx.”

— Jack Hughes, US Olympic Gold Medalist, Hockey

The takeaway

The ceremonial first pitch by the two Olympic hockey stars helped generate enthusiasm and buzz around the Yankees' home opener, demonstrating the broad appeal of sports and the ability of elite athletes to captivate fans across different disciplines.