Michael Porter Jr. frequently needs to act swiftly on the court because he plays for the NBA World Champion Denver Nuggets. Porter had an unfortunate encounter with a baseball fan this past weekend in Taiwan according to his instincts, as he did so before tossing out the opening pitch at a CPBL (Chinese Professional Baseball League) game.
Watch Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets handle an awkward situation at a CPBL game
A ceremonial first pitch was one of Porter’s four days in Taiwan, which was part of a four-day trip. Porter was on the mound making some remarks while donning the uniform of the CPBL’s CTBC Brothers when a fan unexpectedly went up to him and gave him a hug. Watch Porter’s response to the fan both when he first sees him and when he runs around the field attempting to elude security.
Unlike the moment recently when Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. was inadvertently tackled by fans when the Braves were visiting the Colorado Rockies in Denver, there was seemingly little chance of any harm coming to Porter. You can sense his ease by giving a quick hug back to the fan and making some comments to him. You can also see Porter laughing as the situation unfolded around him.
If Porter’s trip to Taiwan was part of an effort to spread goodwill, the trip was off to a good success even before he arrived at the stadium to throw a first pitch. Fans reportedly arrived at the airport in the early morning hours well ahead of Porter’s arrival to try to catch a glimpse of him. Some of them considered themselves baseball fans, showing that Porter can make an impact around the world on the field or the court.