The Rocket touched down at Polar Park on Friday.
Forty years after authoring a 20-strikeout masterpiece, Roger Clemens reunited with his batterymate, fellow Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman, to throw out the first pitch for Worcester’s contest vs. Syracuse on Triple-A Opening Day.
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Prior to the offering, which was a perfect strike, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was given a microphone to greet the WooSox fans; Clemens used the opportunity to also honor his former teammate.
“This man made me look so good 13 years in Boston, I’m just going to tell you that right now,” Clemens said of Gedman. “When you see that 20-strikeout game, I had a lot of wonderful catchers, but nobody with better hands than Rich Gedman.
“Geds, I just want you to know, I love ya and thanks for kickstarting my career with those 20 strikeouts, baby.”
Gedman, a Worcester native, serves as the hitting instructor for the WooSox. Over his 13-year big league career, he was named to the All-Star team twice. Behind the dish, he caught two of Clemens’ All-Star seasons, including his MVP year in 1986.
That year, the duo combined for three nine-inning shutouts. Clemens led the league with a 24-4 record, 2.48 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. His 238 strikeouts were the third-most in the Majors.
Having a Red Sox legend in attendance proved to be a good omen for Worcester’s starter Jake Bennett. The 6-foot-6 left-hander -- Boston's No. 7 prospect -- opened his 2026 season by fanning five over three frames. Syracuse starter Jonah Tong (MLB No. 48), Minor League Baseball’s strikeout leader in 2025, also channeled his inner Rocket with four punchouts over four scoreless frames. Syracuse took home the 3-1 victory.