Cardinals Top Pick Jeremiyah Love Throws First Pitch at Chase Field

Rookie star visits Diamondbacks before Hall of Fame Game prep.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 161 min read

A perfect strike from @JeremiyahLove 🔥 https://t.co/NZPUd56Kdo Via @AZCardinals on X

What happened: Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love threw the ceremonial first pitch Monday before the Diamondbacks faced the Los Angeles Angels. The No. 3 overall selection out of Notre Dame was joined by the Cardinals' 2026 rookie class as part of a team-building outing during the NFL offseason.

Why it matters: Love is expected to anchor a restructured Cardinals offense under new head coach Mike LaFleur. After a 3-14 campaign in 2025 and the release of Kyler Murray, the unanimous All-American represents a critical piece of the franchise's total reset and backfield youth movement.

By the numbers: Love arrives in Arizona as the 2025 Doak Walker Award winner, having set a Notre Dame record with 21 touchdowns in his final collegiate season. He signed a four-year, $53 million fully guaranteed contract in May, becoming the highest-drafted running back since 2018.

What to watch: The Cardinals begin training camp on July 22 at State Farm Stadium. They are scheduled to open the preseason against the Panthers in the Hall of Fame Game on August 6.

Sources

@AZCardinals 2026-06-16T03:51:05.546161+00:00

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