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Giants RB Saquon Barkley throws first pitch at Yankees game

By Alex Butler
Saquon Barkley celebrates with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen as the second overall pick by the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft on April 26 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. File Photo by Sergio Flores/UPI
Saquon Barkley celebrates with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen as the second overall pick by the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft on April 26 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. File Photo by Sergio Flores/UPI | License Photo

May 30 (UPI) -- Break out the Statcast, Saquon Barkley threw a great first pitch at the New York Yankees game.

The New York Giants rookie took the mound for the ceremonial toss on Tuesday, before the Yankees beat the Houston Astros 6-5 at Yankee Stadium in New York.

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Barkley, 21, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft on April 26 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. He drew a comparison to Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders in his NFL.com draft profile.

Barkley ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and did 29 reps on the bench press. The 6-foot, 233-pound Penn State product finished as the second-fastest running back in the 40-yard dash and tied for the most bench press reps.

The Giants' Instagram has the throw.

Hometown kid returns to the Bronx! @yankees ⚾️

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A post shared by New York Giants (@nygiants) on

On Tuesday, Barkley sported a Yankees jersey and shorts for the toss, showing off his muscular legs that are likely set to handle a lion's share of the Giants' carries this season out of the backfield. He lobbed in the pitch with his right hand, tossing it softly into the catchers mitt for Gary Sanchez.

Barkley also made some time to hang out with Yankee slugger Aaron Judge. He jokingly tried to recruit him to the Giants.

"Aaron Judge is huge," Barkley told reporters. "I've seen him on TV, but when I saw him in person, I was like, 'You could play tight end or d-end, like easy, if you wanted to.' I tried to pitch him to come to the Giants and join the squad, but I think he's doing OK in baseball."

Barkley said his dad is a New York Mets fan.

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Giants coach Pat Shurmer spoke to the media about Barkley Tuesday at OTAs.

"He hasn't disappointed us one bit," Shurmer told reporters. "We have high expectations for all of our rookies, especially Saquon. He has been out there running the ball well and is catching it well. He did a nice job today in pass protection. He is doing all the things now that we need to see him do to trust him out on the field next fall. He has done a good job."

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