Brewers announce ex-players returning for NLDS first pitches

The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that four notable former players will throw out the ceremonial first pitches during the National League Division Series (NLDS), starting on Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th, at American Family Field. The inaugural pitches will take place before the Brewers face off against the San Diego Padres at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

First up on Saturday's lineup is Carlos Gómez, a two-time All-Star outfielder who played for the Brewers from 2007 to 2015. Gómez earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) votes and clinched a Gold Glove in center field during his tenure with the team. Throughout his six seasons with the Brewers, he posted an impressive on-base plus slugging (OPS) statistic of .777, showcasing his offensive prowess.

Although Gómez departed the team in 2015, his impact remains significant; the Brewers traded him for a collection of players, including starting pitchers Josh Hader and Adrian Houser.

Rejoining the proceedings on Sunday is Teddy Higuera, widely considered one of the franchise's greatest pitchers. Higuera played for Milwaukee for nine seasons, compiling an impressive 94-64 record and a 3.61 earned run average. In 1986, he was named an All-Star, and a year later, he narrowly missed out on the American League Cy Young Award.

Higuera's talent was evident throughout his career; he led all American League pitchers in the 1988 season with a 0.999 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) and earned Cy Young votes in 1987, the same year he set a franchise record by pitching 32 consecutive scoreless innings.

The first pitch of the NLDS's second game, on Sunday, October 4th, will feature Nyjer Morgan, another iconic Brewers figure. Morgan's energy and charisma made him a beloved character in franchise history. His single in the 10th inning of Game 5 during the 2011 NLDS helped propel Gómez to victory with the winning run. Morgan's stellar performance that season was reflected in his .304 batting average and .778 OPS. His popularity soared in 2023 when the Brewers faced the Arizona Diamondbacks once again in the wild-card round.

Finally, Eric Thames, a powerful force in the Brewer's lineup from 2017 to 2019, will also throw out the first pitch of Game 2. Thames' three-season stint with the Brewers was marked by 72 home runs and 161 runs batted in, along with an .848 OPS. Notably, he hit a home run in the 2019 wild-card game, adding to his impressive legacy with the team.