At 6:45 PM, Adam Oates made his first public appearance as the new Capitals head coach, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals/Rockies game.

Oates, wearing khakis and a white #77 Nats jersey, lobbed in a high-arching ball to Nationals pitcher Ross Detwiler, who was crouched down and catching at home plate.

Video is below the jump.

The Nationals made a solid choice in having Detwiler catch for Oates. Ross grew up in Wentzville, Missouri and was a huge Blues fan growing up. In fact, Oates, who centered future Hall of Famer Brett Hull in St. Louis, was traded away to the Bruins when Detwiler was 7-years-old.

“I remember growing up watching them on the local TV channel 11 in St. Louis,” Detwiler recently told MASN’s Byron Kerr. “Anytime I can go to a [Blues] game, I go to a game.”

Before the ceremony, Oates got a full tour of the Nationals clubhouse and even got a chance to meet Bryce Harper before going out to the field. When asked if he did anything special to be ready for the pitch, Oates replied that he would being going out to the mound cold.

Thankfully, everything worked out and Oates avoided having a John Wall moment.

Photos

Adam watches batting practice.

Oates meets Harper in the lockerroom.

Oates talks to Detwiler and a club official before taking the mound.

The pitch (Photos via the Washington Capitals’ Instagram account).