The Washington Nationals honored hometown star Katie Ledecky last month when they invited her to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in a game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Before tossing a strike to Nationals reliever Shawn Kelley, Ledecky took off each of the five medals she won at the Olympics in Rio and handed them one-by-one to 2015 National League MVP Bryce Harper.
That was the last of the Ledecky-Harper connection until the Nationals clinched the NL East last week, and Harper was spotted immediately afterwards in the clubhouse wearing a USA Ledecky cap.
How did he get ahold of it? Ledecky explained Wednesday to the Associated Press‘ Stephen Whyno.
“He was so kind. In the first pitch I gave him the medals, and he was such a good sport about it. I sent him a thank-you note and put a cap in. I told him that maybe it could help him contain his hair as he was rounding third base, but he had other ideas. I’m very honored that he decided to wear it for the celebration.”
VIDEO: Katie Ledecky on how Bryce Harper got her swim cap, which he wore to celebrate #Nats‘ NL East title. pic.twitter.com/p9RXYBn2PH
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) September 28, 2016
Ledecky spoke from Washington, D.C., before she was named the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Female Athlete of the Games Tuesday night. She will join other members of the Olympic and Paralympic teams in a visit to the White House later today.
Mackenzie Maddock
Cool!