Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican whip who was shot at a congressional baseball practice in June, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday night’s Washington Nationals playoff opener, a source confirmed to CNN.
The Nationals will host the Chicago Cubs for Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Scalise, an avid baseball fan, was critically injured when a gunman, identified as James T. Hodgkinson, opened fire on the GOP baseball team as it was practicing for a charity game in June. Hodgkinson was killed in a gunfire exchange with police.
Scalise sustained a single gunshot wound to his left hip and suffered “significant damage” to his blood vessels, bones and some internal organs, his doctor said at the time.
Four people, including Scalise, were shot and two others were injured.
He returned to the Capitol in September for the first time since being seriously wounded and said his prayers had been answered during his recovery process.
“I am definitely a living example that miracles really do happen,” Scalise said with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy at his side. Scalise thanked God and his wife as well as the Capitol Police officers and doctors who saved his life.