Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Tuesday’s baseball game between the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers, reports Fox 26 Houston sports director Mark Berman.
A native Houstonian, the 26-year-old House averaged 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game during the 2018-19 season, his first with the Rockets. House’s athleticism, defensive versatility, and soft touch from long range (41.6% on three-pointers) quickly made him a fixture in head coach Mike D’Antoni’s rotation.
The 6-foot-7 swingman re-signed with the Rockets on a three-year, $11.1-million deal on the first night of free agency, and The Athletic‘s Kelly Iko has reported that Houston’s starting small forward spot is a “real possibility” for House in this coming season.
Earlier this week, House joined James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and many other Rockets in offseason team workouts at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Training camp begins for the team in late September, with preseason play starting Sept. 30.
House played high school basketball at Hightower in nearby Missouri City, Texas, and in college at the University of Houston and Texas A&M University. Based on the affinity he has for the area, House told Fox 26’s Berman that throwing out the first pitch for an Astros game at Minute Maid Park was a special opportunity.
“This is really special,” House said of throwing the first pitch on Tuesday, Aug. 20. “Hopefully I don’t mess up and embarrass any Houstonians. Hopefully I can get it across the plate. It is a once-in-a-lifetime type of moment.”
As of Friday, the Astros — who won the 2017 World Series — were 78-44 and leading the American League’s West Division by 8.5 games. That puts them in strong position to make another title push once Major League Baseball’s postseason begins in October 2019.
