Connor McDavid throws first pitch at Blue Jays game

TORONTO — In preparation for throwing out the first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays game on Friday, Connor McDavid decided to warm up his arm the day before.

“I threw so many pitches yesterday that my shoulder was a little sore today,” McDavid joked to a group of reporters ahead of game two of a four-game series between the Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.

Along with throwing out the ceremonial pitch, the Edmonton Oilers forward was in attendance to promote the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, where McDavid will play for team North America in the eight-team tournament in September. While he was at the dome on behalf of hockey, McDavid, who grew up in the Toronto suburb of Newmarket, has been a Blue Jays fan since he was a kid and enjoyed seeing the Blue Jays in the post-season last year.

Along with teammates, he attended Game 3 of the ALDS between the Blue Jays and Texas Rangers last October and this season he’s been following the team, although it was difficult when he was in Europe for the World Championships last month, he said. While he’s been a long-time fan, he never took up the game himself, save for one year of tee-ball.

“Definitely not a baseball player so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes,” he said of throwing the first pitch.

(McDavid, who took to the mound in his North American jersey, was a little outside but otherwise fine, for what it’s worth)

Ahead of the game, the Blue Jays held a moment of silence for NHL legend Gordie Howe, who died Friday morning at the age of 88. McDavid said he never got a chance to meet Mr. Hockey, but admired him growing up.

“You know it’s obviously so sad to hear that news,” he said. “He definitely owns a piece of every hockey player’s heart. What he was able to do for the game and you know all of his accomplishments. (He's) definitely someone that I idolized growing up.”

With the World Cup less than 100 days away, McDavid said he’s already begun preparing for the two-week event and will continue training this off-season.

“Obviously it’s a little bit of a shorter summer this year so just trying to prepare as well as I can for that,” he said.