Gavin McKenna, the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ top pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, and AJ Dybantsa, the Washington Wizards‘ No. 1 selection in the NBA Draft, both participated in ceremonial first pitches at Major League Baseball games on Saturday. The events took place a day after McKenna was drafted and earlier in the week for Dybantsa.
McKenna, known for his on-ice skills, including puck-carrying and playmaking, threw the first pitch before the Toronto Blue Jays‘ game against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre. His throw to George Springer behind home plate went wide, requiring Springer to jump to catch the ball. Despite the effort, Springer signed the ball for McKenna.
This appearance marked McKenna’s first time at a baseball game, an experience he expressed anticipation for. The Whitehorse, Yukon native has been under significant scrutiny in the hockey world since being selected first overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft at the age of 14. He later played for Penn State in the NCAA during the 2025-26 season.
McKenna’s draft announcement on Friday by pop star Justin Bieber and his subsequent first pitch at the Blue Jays game highlight his growing celebrity status as a top draft choice for the Maple Leafs. He is the first Maple Leafs player to throw a first pitch at a Blue Jays game since Auston Matthews in 2022. Toronto draft picks have now thrown first pitches on consecutive days, with Toronto Raptors first-round pick Allen Graves having the honour on Friday.
Dybantsa’s Fenway Park appearance
AJ Dybantsa, a native of Brockton, Massachusetts, made his ceremonial first pitch appearance at Fenway Park before his hometown Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees. Dybantsa, who stands at six-foot-nine, delivered a high-arcing pitch that reached Payton Tolle behind the plate.
While both athletes are expected to be key figures for their respective franchises, their baseball pitching performances suggested they might be better suited to their primary sports. McKenna was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday.
McKenna expressed that being drafted was a special moment, acknowledging the hard work and sacrifices made by his family. He described it as a day he would remember forever. Justin Bieber, a fan of the Maple Leafs, announced McKenna’s selection. Auston Matthews, the Maple Leafs‘ captain and a No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, sent a video message to McKenna, welcoming him to the team and highlighting the franchise’s history and fanbase.
McKenna, an 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, was among the youngest players in men’s college hockey during his season at Penn State. He tied for fifth in the NCAA with 51 points, consisting of 15 goals and 36 assists, and was second with 1.46 points per game over 35 games. He was also a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which recognizes the top NCAA men’s hockey player.
Draft details and family connections
McKenna is the fifth NCAA men’s hockey player to be chosen No. 1 in the history of the NHL Draft. Other players include Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks, 2024), Owen Power (Sabres, 2021), Rick DiPietro (New York Islanders, 2000), and Joe Murphy (Detroit Red Wings, 1986). McKenna’s suit jacket for the draft featured photos of his family and brooches honouring his Canadian Indigenous heritage, a tribute to those who supported him.
After his name was called, McKenna embraced his mother, Krystal, father, Willy, and other family members, including his grandfather, Joe Mason. His grandfather expressed pride in the achievement. McKenna is the second player from Canada’s Yukon Territory to be selected in the first round of the draft, following Dylan Cozens, who was picked by the Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Toronto general manager John Chayka praised McKenna, describing him as an exceptional young man with significant talent and character. Chayka noted that interactions with McKenna and his family reinforced their belief in him as both a player and a person. McKenna joins a forward group that includes Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and John Tavares.
Before attending Penn State, McKenna played for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League for parts of three seasons, earning Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year honours in 2024-25. He was one of 175 players who transitioned from the CHL to the NCAA this season. McKenna recorded 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in seven games for bronze medal-winning Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, and 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in his final 19 games at Penn State. He was the only unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
