Seahawks rookie Jarran Reed dipped into his baseball past to throw out the first pitch at the Mariners game Friday.
While Jarran Reed played baseball for 10 years growing up, he always had an inkling his sporting future rested in a different sport.
“I knew I was going to grow out of it sooner or later,’’ said the 6-3, 311-pound Reed, who was a second-round pick of the Seahawks in April after helping lead Alabama to the national title last season.
But Reed, who ditched the diamond for football entering high school, got to relive a little of his baseball past on Friday when he threw out the first pitch at the Mariners’ game.
Reed — who said he played “everything but pitcher” during his youth baseball career while growing up in Goldsboro, N.C. — threw what appeared to be a strike.
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He was accompanied to the game by fellow rookies Nick Vannett and Tanner McEvoy and said was looking forward to getting his first real in-person look at Seattle sports fans.
“I see them around, but for them to actually see who I really am and for me to see them too, as well, I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” he said.
The Seahawks moved up to get Reed with the 49th overall pick, only the third time in the John Schneider/Pete Carroll era Seattle had traded up to draft a player, envisioning him as a replacement for the departed Brandon Mebane at nose tackle.
While no draft pick can be declared a success yet, early returns are encouraging for Reed, who generally worked with the first unit at tackle alongside Ahtyba Rubin during the just-complete OTAs (Organized Team Activities).
Reed said his role has been as expected, playing mostly nose and three-technique “and even some defensive end in certain situations. …
“It was great to come in and have the veteran guys there and get to work with those guys and learn from them and get some of their wisdom, get the real tempo of practice. It was real good.’’