Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, along with ex-Seattle Mariner Dave Valle, gets set to throw out the first pitch before the M’s game on Sunday. (Twitter screen grab via @Mariners)

Satya Nadella is a big fan of cricket. But on Sunday he wound up for a different sport as the Microsoft CEO threw out the virtual first first pitch for the Seattle Mariners before the team’s game against the San Diego Padres.

Former Mariners catcher Dave Valle joined Nadella for the socially distanced toss — who needs six feet when you can go with 60 feet, 6 inches?

After Nadella threw his first pitch, Valle said, “Not bad. I think you can do a little bit better.” So Nadella brought in a little muscle from the bullpen in the form of Master Chief and others from the Microsoft video game franchise “Halo.”

Nadella’s baseball skills seem to have transferred well from what he picked up on the cricket pitch growing up in India. He previously told GeekWire that it was his dream as a boy to play the popular sport professionally.

“The sport had a very rich heritage at my school and I went on to play school and junior cricket as a bowler (right arm off spin),” Nadella said. “At a certain point, I realized that I had reached my limit and luckily discovered my next passion in engineering and technology!”

Nadella’s love of sports also includes soccer. He’s part of the Seattle Sounders FC ownership group.