Matt Anderson throws out ceremonial first pitch in MLB game

American volleyball superstar Matt Anderson enjoyed an unforgettable experience in another sport on Tuesday, in Anaheim, California.

The 39-year-old opposite was honored with an invitation to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season match between the Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland Athletics, held at Angel Stadium.

The ceremonial first pitch is a longstanding tradition in baseball, in which a guest of honor is invited into the pitch to throw a ball to the home team's pitcher or catcher to mark the end of the pregame festivities and the start of the match.

On Tuesday, Anderson was announced and walked onto the pitch with his family. He then threw the ball to Angel's pitcher José Soriano right before the start of the match, which ended with the visiting Athletics winning 14-6.

Part of the United States men's national team since 2008, Anderson is one of the most accomplished players in the country. He won bronze at both the Rio 2016 and the Paris 2024 Olympics and at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship and has three Volleyball Nations League (VNL) medals (silver in 2019 and 2023 and bronze in 2018).

After spending the last club season in Japan with Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers, he's expected to be part of the American squad in the VNL 2026. The United States will start the tournament in Ottawa, where they will face Türkiye, Germany, hosts Canada and Italy from June 10-14.

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