Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson will be at Friday's game between the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Before the game, he will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and also get to take some batting practice with the team.

As discussed on the Lions' official site, Johnson actually was a baseball player before he was a football player. He played some center field and pitcher growing up before turning his focus to football.

"I used to pitch, I can get it across the plate," he said. "My best pitches were slider and cut fastball – cut fastball was my best." [...]

"I love hitting home runs," he said.

It's a good thing Johnson wasn't at Thursday's game. The Tigers lost, and Green Bay Packers and former Western Michigan wide receiver Greg Jennings threw out the first pitch. Hopefully things go better on Friday for the Tigers, and hopefully Justin Verlander puts on a show for his fellow Detroit video game cover athlete. (Verlander was on the cover of MLB 2K12.)

Reminder: You can follow Pride of Detroit on Twitter and like us on Facebook.