<\/p>\n
Royals manager Matt Quatraro pulled double-duty Thursday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In addition to managing the game against the Cardinals, Quatraro was a catcher for the ceremonial first pitch from England national soccer team manager Thomas Tuchel.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI just hope I catch it,\u201d Quatraro said before the game. \u201cI\u2019m trying to figure if I should be fully geared up or just go uniform. Should I use a glove? Should I use Sluggerrr\u2019s glove?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Quatraro fretted needlessly as he caught Tuchel\u2019s pitch. The ceremonial throw was part of a visit by some of the Team England players to Kauffman Stadium.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Standing behind Tuchel were English players Dan Burn, Djed Spence, Jason Steele (a training goalkeeper not on the roster) and star striker Harry Kane.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Perhaps it was self-preservation, but Kane was impressed by the throw.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cHe got a strike, so fair play to him,\u201d said Kane, who has thrown out a first pitch at Yankees and Cubs games. “It\u2019s not easy. It\u2019s actually … that was the first time I\u2019ve been up mound in 12 years, so you forget how far away it actually is.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, watching the professionals do it, and they\u2019re launching that ball at 90, 100 miles per hour, it\u2019s pretty impressive. So the boss has done pretty well. I\u2019ll give him that. He was a little nervous before.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kane admitted he wouldn\u2019t have been at Kauffman Stadium had England not beaten Croatia 4-2 a day earlier in Texas.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Team England trained with Sporting Kansas City earlier on Thursday and Kane was thrilled to get some downtime to catch a baseball game.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really appreciate it,\u201d Kane said. \u201cI can say for us to come here and get the treatment that we have already is obviously great. And I\u2019m not sure where we\u2019re sitting, but I\u2019m sure the seats will be great, as well. So, yeah, all we can say is thank you to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Quatraro decided against the catcher\u2019s gear, but he quipped about not wanting used equipment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d need my own, had something with my own name on it,\u201d Quatraro joked. “You know, build my brand.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n