Bears’ Rome Odunze throws the first pitch at the Chicago White Sox-Orioles game with Caleb Williams hyping him up

Wearing White Sox jerseys, the Bears players walked on to the turf to throw the first pitch of the game.

Bears’ Rome Odunze throws the first pitch at the Chicago White Sox-Orioles game with Caleb Williams hyping him up

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze throws the first pitch before Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles game (Image via IMAGO)

Chicago Bears contingent comprised of Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and a few others, arrived at Guaranteed Rate Field to watch the Chicago White Sox kickoff the first of four games against the Baltimore Orioles. The rookies appeared to be in a cheerful mood attending a baseball game right after their OTAs across town.

The crew was given the chance to throw the first pitch of the game. Only one could have the honor and gave Odunze the responsibility. Williams handed him the ball and gave space for the throw.

Odunze lined up as the White Sox’s Nicky Lopez prepared himself as the catcher. After a slight twist of the hips, he released the ball with all the forearm strength he had. Unlike 49ers Deebo Samuel, Odunze’s pitch reached Lopez.

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It was a successful pitch at an 80% empty stadium. Perhaps there would have been some loud cheers if there had been a massive crowd. Perhaps the White Sox’ abysmal 15-36 record this season kept most of the bandwagon at their home.

To rub salt in the wounds, Orioles won the game 8-6. However, the main question is why Rome Odunze wore flip-flops to a baseball game.

Is Rome Odunze injured?

Previously, the Bears revealed that Odunze suffered hamstring tightness, that kept him from participating in the OTAs. On Thursday, head coach Matt Eberflus gave a new update which sounded like it wasn’t too serious.

Did some walk-throughs today. We’re hopeful that he’ll be starting to ramp back in there next week during the OTAs that we have next week.
Matt Eberflus said per Ryan Taylor of NBC Sports Chicago
WATCH: Bears' Rome Odunze throws the first pitch at White Sox-Orioles game with Caleb Williams hyping him up
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (Image via IMAGO)

The former Washington receiver had a decent run in at the rookie minicamp earlier this month. Even though he is currently focusing on rehab, Taylor added that he regularly attends offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s classes.

The Bears selected Odunze as the 9th overall pick in the draft. Quarterback Caleb Williams, who was the first pick, attended the minicamp and found out how good the 21-year-old is.

Threw a couple of times now. Been able to you know, throw the ball to Rome. You obviously see why he had what, 1,500-plus, and a bunch of catches… Working with him, it’s been great. It’s been awesome.
Caleb Williams said

During his final season with the Huskies, Odunze recorded 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns.

What’s Behind Chicago White Sox Run of Bad Form

The Chicago White Sox have had a challenging 2024 season, currently holding a record of 18 wins and 52 losses, placing them last in the AL Central division. This poor performance can be attributed to several key factors.

Inconsistent pitching has been a major issue, exacerbated by the departures of key players like Lance Lynn and Dylan Cease. The team’s offense has also struggled, with several key players underperforming. Furthermore, the firing of GM Rick Hahn and EVP Ken Williams in August 2023 has caused significant instability within the organization. 

Strategic and roster management issues have played a significant role. The team’s rebuilding phase has left gaps in the lineup, and offseason moves have not sufficiently strengthened the squad to compete effectively​.

These combined factors have led to one of the worst starts in franchise history, creating a significant challenge for the team to turn their season around​

Combined with a historically poor start, the White Sox are experiencing one of their worst seasons in franchise history, affecting even the In-Play betting feature perceptions popular in sports betting​.

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