Picture of the Week: Flea Takes Batting Practice With the Cincinnati Reds

What’s cooler than throwing out the first pitch at a Major League Baseball game? Try taking batting practice with the home team before the game. That’s exactly what Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea did with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, one night before the Peppers rocked the nearby US Bank Arena as their summer tour continues to roll across North America.

Apparently Flea is friends with Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo, so he and his bandmates got the invite to stop by before Tuesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Flea even donned a full Reds uniform for the occasion.

“I’m speaking with [Reds manager] Dusty [Baker] about getting in the lineup tonight,” Flea joked to a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter after his turn in the cage. ”I’m looking forward to it.”

The bassist revealed that it was the first time he took batting practice in a major league stadium. “It was awesome, man. It was so fun,” he said of his turn. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime great experience.”

Bandmates Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer also donned Reds red and visited the ballpark Tuesday (Anthony Kiedis was nowhere to be seen), although it looks like Flea was the only one to hop in the cage. You would think that the Los Angeles-based musicians would be bigger Dodger's fans, but at least the Red/Reds color scheme makes sense.