05/22/26 08:13:00
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05/22 20:11 CDT Rocket returns: Roger Clemens throws out 1st pitch to son Kody
at Fenway
Rocket returns: Roger Clemens throws out 1st pitch to son Kody at Fenway
By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) --- Roger Clemens let loose a fastball from the mound at Fenway
Park again.
Only this time with his son kneeling behind home plate.
The Red Sox's career leader with 2,590 strikeouts fired his latest offering
just slightly off the right side of the plate to 30-year-old Twins utility
player Kody Clemens in a ceremonial first pitch before Minnesota's matchup with
the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
With family members, including his grandchildren in the stands to witness it,
that was just fine by the 63-year-old grandfather.
"A little two-seamer. Didn't slip, didn't tear anything," Clemens said. "Home
plate seems to get farther and farther away every year. I don't know what
that's about. But it's kind of like the Ted Williams seat. I think we know no
one's going to hit one there and it keeps going up one row every year."
Fans were also given a special edition Roger Clemens bobblehead to commemorate
his latest return to Fenway.
It was the latest father-son moment for the elder Clemens. He exchanged pregame
lineup cards with Kody in 2025 before a spring training game between the New
York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. Roger was working with New York, and
Kody was playing for Philadelphia.
Roger also played alongside his oldest son, Koby, in the minors in 2006 when a
43-year-old Roger was making a rehab start while with the Houston Astros in
what proved to be his penultimate major league season.
Roger said whenever he gets together with Kody on the field, his family often
reminds him of the baseball exploits he'll never have over his son.
"They're always messing with me now because they said he's done two things in
professional ball that I never will: strike out (Shohei) Ohtani and hit a home
run here at Fenway," Clemens said.
There is another thing the elder Clemens doesn't yet have: a retired major
league jersey. The University of Texas made their former star the first player
to receive that honor in 1993.
While he's not officially on Boston's row of honor, since Clemens left
following the 1996 season no other full-time Red Sox player has worn the No. 21.
He said he's open to the idea of seeing it retired by the Red Sox, the
franchise for which he played the bulk of his career.
"I don't have any control over that, but I had 13 wonderful years here. I love
that number," Clemens said. "I thought it was really cool when I came out at
Texas that they had it hanging in my locker. So, it's been a great number for
me. I went to 22 a little bit, and a lot of family members had that number,
too. So both solid numbers."
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