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<\/p>\nFormer Lions OC Ben Johnson threw ceremonial opening pitch at Cubs game.<\/p>\n
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Bears head coach Ben Johnson throws out a ceremonial first pitch at Chicago Cubs game \/ David Banks-Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson recently had an opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field, prior to a Chicago Cubs game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.<\/p>\n Johnson showcased relative accuracy, as the pitch made it over the plate with a heavy amount of sinking action.<\/p>\n Lions fans joked online the Chicago Bears new head coach was actually a better pitcher than Detroit Tigers reliever Kenta Maeda, who has had a rough start to the 2025 baseball season.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been struggling mightily since the last two years,\u201d Maeda recently told reporters, via the Detroit News. \u201cI\u2019ve never struggled this bad in my entire baseball career. It\u2019s no secret that at times I\u2019ve felt very negative about pitching. But I can\u2019t let that eat me up. I can\u2019t give in. I have to find a way to come out of it and stay strong, stay positive.\u201d<\/p>\n Maeda was recently pulled from the ninth inning after struggling to get outs with the Tigers leading comfortably against the Kansas City Royals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be able to get through that ninth inning,\u201d manager A.J. Hinch said. \u201cKenta can do it. It just looks like things are off with him and he\u2019s not executing at all. When you\u2019re doing that, no matter what type of game you\u2019re pitching in or how often you pitch, it\u2019s a bad feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Detroit is on the verge of sweeping the Royals at Comerica Park, but face an important series upcoming against the San Diego Padres.<\/p>\n Hinch noted, \u201cWhen he gets in trouble is when he doesn\u2019t get first-pitch strikes and he chases bad counts and it seems to pile up on him. The strike zone is usually the answer for everything. …”<\/p>\n Ben Johnson might be a better arm than Kenta Maedapic.twitter.com\/ZiD67mLjcX<\/a><\/p>\n — Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) April 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n