WATCH: Tom Brady throws out first pitch, comes up a little short

TORONTO – It’s a good thing Tom Brady has some career fallback options, because a job as a major league pitcher may not be in the cards.

The New England Patriots superstar quarterback was on hand for the Red Sox home opener Monday, walking onto the field at Fenway Park to a hero’s welcome.

Carrying the Lombardi trophy he won at Super Bowl XLVII in February, Brady waved to the Boston sports faithful before taking the mound to heave out the ceremonial first pitch.

But instead of channeling Red Sox greats like Roger Clemens or Cy Young, Brady threw a pitch that came up just a little short of All-Pro – as well as just a little short of actually making it to home plate.

It’s fair to wonder why Brady – a four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and two-time NFL MVP winner – couldn’t muster the arm strength to throw a baseball 60 feet.

It’s even stranger considering Brady was actually drafted as a catcher in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB draft by the Montreal Expos, so it’s fair to wonder if maybe his baseball skills have fallen off in his nearly two decades of playing pro football.

It’s also fair to wonder why he was dressed like Justin Bieber’s dad, but those are questions for men who aren’t millionaire superstar athletes married to gorgeous super models.

Perhaps it comes down to the differences between the two sports: Brady may have anticipated a blitz, and was just trying to get the ball out quickly. He might have wanted to call an audible, and hand off the ball to his running back instead. Maybe he was expecting Rob Gronkowski to run a crossing route underneath, and take the ball to home plate.

Or maybe he felt that this time, his balls just weren’t perfect.

The Patriots quarterback now joins the likes of Carley Rae Jepsen and 50 Cent on the illustrious list of celebs who’ve thrown some pretty awful first pitches.

Canada’s Jepsen threw a particularly horrendous opening strike during her turn on the mound last July, though as a singer she’s not exactly relying on a major league scout to call her, maybe.

And while rapper 50 Cent certainly cuts an imposing figure, his first pitch was a little left of home plate – as in, he almost threw to first instead, forcing the catcher to scramble to get pitch, or die trying.

Cool as always, Brady also did some batting practice with the Sox before riding off into the sunset.

And if the somewhat-less-than-stellar first pitch or the subdued laughter of Red Sox fans bothered him, he didn’t show it.

He’s on to Cincinnati.