Texans defensive end J.J. Watt will throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the Houston Astros' Major League Baseball regular-season opener on March 31.
The Astros announced the news on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon. Watt will throw out the first pitch at 6:57 p.m. at Minute Maid Park before the Astros take on the Texas Rangers for the first time as American League rivals. The game begins at 7:05 p.m.
Watt, the 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is currently in the Middle East visiting U.S. military bases on an NFL-USO Tour. He showed his support for the Astros in early January by wearing a Craig Biggio jersey at a press conference in support of Biggio's candidacy for the baseball Hall of Fame. Last offseason, Watt was the co-Grand Marshal of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo parade with wide receiver Andre Johnson and the Houston Art Car Parade with linebacker Connor Barwin.
