After many were surprised by breakout actor and life-long White Sox fan Belmont Cameli throwing out the first pitch at the team’s home playoff game at Rate Field Wednesday, all bets were off for who may toss the first pitch in Game 4.
Thursday’s ceremonial pitcher was another Chicago-bred face known for a sports-inspired TV show: South Sider Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard on the hit Apple TV show “Ted Lasso.”
Originally from Hyde Park, Thursday wasn’t Hunt’s first time taking the mound at a Sox game.
He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch in Sept. 2023 before a game between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Another South Sider who stepped onto the field before the game was Bridgeport Catholic Academy 6th grader Donny Vilimas, who was gifted free tickets to the game and given the opportunity to say “Play Ball!” at the game after an interview where he professed his love for the team to NBC Chicago went viral.
If the Sox take home a win against the Guardians on Thursday, they’ll take on the Tampa Bay Rays for a spot in the World Series.
Changes were made to the White Sox lineup hearing into Game 4 after they set an MLB record with 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning postseason game the day prior, breaking a record that had been set in 2020 by the New York Yankees.
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