Inside The Panthers

Pitt S Damar Hamlin Throws First Pitch At Pirates Game

The former Pitt Panthers star returned home.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt S Damar Hamlin Throws First Pitch At Pirates Game
Pitt S Damar Hamlin Throws First Pitch At Pirates Game /
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PITTSBURGH  Over the past year, former Pitt Panthers safety Damar Hamlin has transformed from a local star into a national icon as he went through an inspirational recovery from a terrifying bout of cardiac arrest suffered during the Bill-Bengals game on Monday Night Football in January.

But the former Pitt star Hamlin, who is now fully recovered and even practicing with the Buffalo Bills during this past month’s OTAs, is staying in touch with his roots. With the team on a break before training camp, Hamlin returned home t throw out the first pitch at PNC Park prior to the Pirates-Padres game this week. 

He swapped jerseys with fellow Pittsburgh native and Pirates reliever David Bednar prior to delivering a strike in front of a crowd of 16,500. It's his first public appearance in Pittsburgh since last month when he took control of playcalling for the Pitt defense during the football spring game in April. 

The Pirates won 9-4 behind home runs from Nick Gonzalez, Jack Suwinksi and a grand slam from Carlos Santana. 

Hamlin is set for another big year with the Bills. He stepped into a starting role last season after injuries thinned out the secondary and he thrived, playing solid football for the Super Bowl contenders up until his injury. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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