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Dr. Fauci to throw out first pitch at Nationals Opening Day

By Emily Adams

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, wears a face mask bearing the name of the Major League Baseball Washington Nationals before a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Capitol Hill on June 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. The committee is investigating the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, wears a face mask bearing the name of the Major League Baseball Washington Nationals before a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Capitol Hill on June 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. The committee is investigating the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images) /
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America’s favorite source of coronavirus updates will have the honor of throwing the first pitch when the Washington Nationals’ return to play.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has spent 2020 leading the federal government’s coronavirus task force, so the pressure of the pitching mound shouldn’t phase him at all. Fauci has become a beloved figure across the country with his calm, intellectual pandemic reports, so it makes perfect sense for the Washington Nationals to have him kick off the incredibly unusual 2020 season.

The MLB’s 60-game regular season schedule kicks off with the Nationals game against the New York Yankees in Nationals Park on July 23. Facui won’t be throwing out his pitch in front of the usual thousands in the stands, but you can bet that baseball fans of any team across the country will be tuned in to catch the first real baseball game since February.

A deserved honor for Dr. Anthony Fauci will come to fruition Thursday

Fauci has been a key source of guidance for the safe return of sports, but he also happens to be a Nationals “super fan” according to NBC Washington. He was photographed earlier this summer sporting a face mask decorated with the Nationals logo. There’s not a more fitting choice for the first pitch on Opening Day.

The Nationals are the reigning MLB champions, so expectations are pretty high for the team this season. They lost star third baseman Anthony Rendon in free agency, and they have several key players opting out or quarantining because of coronavirus. While hopefully those in quarantine will make an appearance eventually during the season, these first couple games might be a bit of a mess.

Fauci deserves the first pitch recognition for all he’s done over the past months, but the Nats need to pull out a win to really seal the deal. He’s fighting a global pandemic — they had better be able to put on a good show against the Yankees.

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