Zuby Ejiofor isn’t going to quit his day job anytime soon but ditching a basketball for a baseball was a nice change of pace for the St. John’s basketball captain.
Ejiofor threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the New York Mets game on Wednesday afternoon as the organization honored the Johnnies for its Big East regular season and tournament championships.
Many had their doubts if he could deliver a quality pitch with no prior baseball experience, and he came through – like he has done so many times for the Red Storm on the court this season.
“I threw a perfect strike in the eyes of so many,” he laughed. “I’ll stick to basketball…to go out there and do as good as I did, I feel pretty accomplished.”
Zuby Ejiofor throws a strike #SJUBB pic.twitter.com/RhYL3GIsoe
— Kevin Connelly (@KevinConnelly24) April 9, 2025
The Big East’s Most Improved Player had no knowledge of the sport of baseball growing up. He didn’t play it, watch it, or attend games. Rick Pitino, who threw out the first pitch at Citi Field after he was hired by St. John’s, gave his standout one piece of advice and it was not to bounce the pitch.
Ejiofor said that his teammates, who surrounded the home plate area as he threw the pitch, didn’t have much confidence in him and were waiting for a wild pitch to make fun of him.
“They were ready to clown me,” he said.
His family didn’t have high hopes for him, either, but he plans to give the baseball to them.
“I know for a fact they were tuned in, and they were, like I said, everybody was against me.”
Ejiofor said that multiple people – starting with assistant coach Bob Walsh – sent him the infamous 50 Cent ceremonial first pitch in 2014 at the Mets game when his pitch landed closer to the first base dugout than home plate.
“I felt like I did a pretty good job today.”
Zuby Ejiofor has already been back in the gym getting ready for the 2025-26 season which St. John’s will enter with major expectations on its shoulders after the success of this year.
The entire current roster was at Citi Field with the exception of Deivon Smith, Aaron Scott, RJ Luis, and Brady Dunlap.