50 Cent misfires before Pirates-Mets

NEW YORK -- 50 Cent was on the mound, but not on the money.

The rap star was comically off target when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch Tuesday night before the Pittsburgh Pirates played the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Standing on the rubber 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate, 50 Cent wound up and launched a left-handed toss that sailed way wide of Mets catcher Anthony Recker. The ball bounced to the backstop and nearly nicked a cameraman standing not all that far from the Mets' on-deck circle as 50 Cent and New York pitcher Jonathon Niese both smiled.

50 Cent responded to the stir the wayward pitch caused on social media, posting on his Instagram account later: "I'm a hustler not a Damn ball player. LMAO."

Wearing a Mets jersey with No. 50 and the name Jackson on the back, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson III, held a bat as he posed for pictures with Curtis Granderson and other Mets on the field during batting practice.

50 Cent was born in nearby South Jamaica and has a postgame concert at Citi Field scheduled for June 14.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.