Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward walked to the mound at AutoZone Park, preparing to throw out the first pitch of the Memphis Redbirds game on Sept. 20. He didn’t set high expectations for himself. His main goal was to not let the ball bounce to the plate.

With the crowd clapping along, Coward stood on top of the mound and uncorked a pitch that landed about chest-high across home plate.

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Coward approved.

“My first pitch was good,” he said. “I aimed for the plate. I just didn’t want it to bounce. I wanted it to get there. I think it got there with a little bit of velocity.”

Coward and fellow rookie Javon Small were at the Redbirds game against the St. Paul Saints for Grizzlies Day. The duo signed autographs and engaged with the crowd.

Cedric Coward injury update

As evident by the first pitch, Coward’s shoulder appears to be just fine. He confirmed as much, stating that he has been “100% cleared” for full basketball activity since August.

“I feel good,” he said. “The workouts we’re doing now, I feel great in them.”

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Coward suffered a partially torn rotator cuff during the 2024-25 season. The injury required surgery and ended his season after six games.

When he was drafted 11th overall in June by the Grizzlies, Coward stated that he felt fine. However, the team announced that he wasn’t 100% cleared for full basketball activity just yet. As a result, Coward didn’t play during summer league.

The Grizzlies rookie is now “super excited” for preseason. Memphis will begin preseason action on Oct. 6 against the Detroit Pistons and training camp practices before that. Coward isn’t expected to have any restrictions.

“That’s the best thing ever,” Coward said. “I haven’t played live competition since November. . . . For me, I do it every day now that I can. I don’t have to hold anything back. I don’t got people telling me to take a break and stuff. It’s like letting the wolves out. That’s what it is.”

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Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Cedric Coward injury update: Grizzlies rookie cleared to practice after shoulder surgery