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St. John's Star Dylan Darling Throws Out First Pitch at Mets Game
Darling adds memorable moment to standout first season with Red Storm
Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:35am
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Dylan Darling's ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field was a memorable moment capping off his standout debut season with the St. John's Red Storm.NYC TodayDylan Darling, the standout point guard for the St. John's Red Storm, added another highlight to his impressive first year with the team by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Mets game. Darling, who hit the game-winning shot to upset Kansas in the NCAA Tournament, bounced the pitch to former Stony Brook catcher and current St. John's athletic director Ed Kull, but still enjoyed the experience of taking the mound at Citi Field.
Why it matters
Darling's first-pitch moment came as part of a celebration of St. John's successful season, which saw the team win the Big East regular season and tournament titles before making a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Mets game is a unique honor that recognizes Darling's breakout year and the Red Storm's accomplishments.
The details
Darling, who did not play much baseball growing up, admitted he was unsure of what he was doing on the mound, but still enjoyed the experience. He bounced the pitch to Kull, who was behind the plate, but Darling said it was 'a lot of fun' to be part of the pregame festivities. Darling and his St. John's teammates were honored by the Mets for the team's success this past season.
- Darling threw out the first pitch on April 8, 2026 before a Mets-Diamondbacks game at Citi Field.
- St. John's won the Big East regular season and tournament titles earlier in the 2025-26 season.
The players
Dylan Darling
A standout point guard in his first season at St. John's, Darling hit the game-winning shot to upset Kansas in the NCAA Tournament and led the Red Storm to the Sweet 16.
Ed Kull
The current athletic director at St. John's, Kull was a catcher at Stony Brook in the past and caught Darling's ceremonial first pitch.
What they’re saying
“'I bounced it, I blew it. It was cool. A lot of fun. I honestly don't know what I was doing. I can't believe I just bounced it.'”
— Dylan Darling, St. John's Guard
What’s next
Darling has one year of eligibility remaining and is considering returning to St. John's for another season. The team's head coach, Rick Pitino, has discussed Darling being a team captain next year.
The takeaway
Darling's first-pitch moment at Citi Field was a fun way to celebrate his standout debut season at St. John's, which saw the team win conference titles and make a deep NCAA Tournament run. The experience highlighted Darling's growing stardom and the Red Storm's successful campaign.
