In case you thought Netflix was content just dominating your TV screen, reconsider.
The streaming giant made its MLB broadcast debut on Opening Night of the 2026 season — and kicked things off with a promotional stunt that sent the web into an absolute spiral.
Before the Latest York Yankees and San Francisco Giants faced off at Oracle Park in San Francisco, the ceremonial first pitch wasn’t delivered by a sports legend, an area hero, or perhaps a human being.
It was delivered by Thing — the enduring disembodied hand from Netflix’s hit series Wednesday.
Yes, a hand threw out the primary pitch of the 2026 MLB season. Welcome to the streaming era of baseball.
How Netflix Pulled Off the First Pitch
The execution of the stunt is what makes the viral clips so rewatchable.
A video shared by Jomboy Media showed Thing mounted on a skateboard because it made its way onto the sector — a visible that’s equal parts absurd and pleasant.
The caption from Jomboy Media perfectly captured the moment’s surreal energy: “Imagine telling Babe Ruth that is who can be throwing out the primary pitch to open the 2026 MLB season.”
But that wasn’t the one clip making the rounds. One other video shared by Netflix showed Thing skating on top of the dugout before throwing a bag of popcorn to a fan — and yes, the fan caught it.
Between the skateboard entrance, the dugout stroll, and the popcorn toss, the entire sequence played out like a mini Wednesday episode dropped right into the center of a baseball broadcast.
The Web Had Thoughts About Thing’s First Pitch
Predictably, the moment divided the web. The response online was overwhelmingly negative, with many fans questioning Netflix’s decision to mix its entertainment IP with America’s pastime.
“Because we will doesn’t mean we must always,” one fan wrote.
Wednesday was the talk of the town when it premiered on Netflix — but not the entire discourse was positive. The series reintroduced fans to a new edition of Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) in November 2022. During season 1, the titular character attempted to master her psychic powers at Nevermore Academy while coping with […]
Others took a more measured stance. “I don’t like it. I don’t hate it. I just want to look at baseball. I can compartmentalize the entire off-field moves/gimmicks, and revel in the sport,” one other fan commented.
“No less than wait until Halloween time in October to do that,” a 3rd fan added — a good point about seasonal branding, if nothing else.
After which got here the jokes. “Looking forward to the fifth inning after they go downstairs to a Bridgerton actress lustily leering at Aaron Judge,” an X user quipped, riffing on Netflix’s deep roster of original programming.
Netflix Promoting the Third Season of ‘Wednesday’
Here’s the thing (pun very much intended): the stunt wasn’t only a random gimmick. It was a calculated move to spark buzz for the upcoming season of Wednesday.
The streaming platform announced the brand new season in a press release on Feb. 26, 2026. While a release date has yet to be announced, we do know that the brand new season “has begun production near Dublin.”
Co-creator and co-showrunner Miles Millar offered a tease within the press release.
“We wish to proceed digging deeper into our characters while expanding the world of Nevermore and Wednesday,” he said. “We shall be seeing more Addams relations and learning more family secrets in Season 3!”
More Addams relations and Dublin as a filming location? That alone is sufficient to keep fans counting down the times.
Netflix’s Larger Play for MLB’s Opening Night
The Thing stunt suits right into a much larger picture. The recent Netflix deal features a three-year package for Opening Night, the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game.
Meaning Netflix isn’t just dipping a toe into live sports — it’s constructing an entire strategy around branding these broadcasts in its own unmistakable style.
Netflix’s Wednesday introduced viewers to a new edition of Wednesday Addams — and her story is barely getting began. The series, which premiered in November 2022, explores the enduring character (Jenna Ortega) as she attempts to master her psychic powers at Nevermore Academy while coping with a killing spree by the hands of a mysterious […]
Using Thing to bridge the gap between Wednesday fandom and live baseball is strictly the form of cross-platform considering that streaming services are leaning into.
Whether you liked the stunt or hated it, you’re talking about it — and also you’re probably watching those clips yet one more time.