Jose Andres Thanks MLB for 'Inviting an Immigrant to Throw First Pitch' After Donald Trump Gets Booed at World Series

Jose Andres thanked the Washington Nationals for giving him the chance to represent the immigrant community after he was chosen to throw the ceremonial first pitch in Game 5 of the World Series.

Donning the same kind of tinted sunglasses normally sported by Nationals pitcher Anibal Sanchez, Andres was looked emotional as he took to the mound, thumping his chest and pointing towards the crowd.

He was treated to a rousing reception at Nationals Park as he threw the first pitch on Sunday night before the Washington Nationals took on the Houston Astros.

The 50-year-old restaurateur, who owns restaurants in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Las Vegas, South Beach, Florida, Orlando, New York City, and Frisco, Texas, is the founder of World Central Kitchen, a non-profit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters.

The organisation rushed to help victims of Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in 2018, and of Hurricane Dorian, which hit the Bahamas in September.

Born in Spain, Andres is a naturalized U.S. citizen and said his appearance on the mound recognized the work of millions of first responders.

"Thank you @Nationals @MLB @astros For inviting an immigrant!" he tweeted. "To throw first pitch! In a game full of immigrants! Inviting me representing millions of first responders doing amazing work helping everyone! Specially @WCKitchen today we pass 1.5 million meals in Bahamas alone."

While Andres' ceremonial pitch was greeted with cheers, President Donald Trump's appearance in Game 5 received an altogether different response.

A New York Yankees fan, Trump sat with five wounded veterans and he attended his first major league game since becoming president in January 2017.

He also became the first sitting president to attend a Fall Classic game since George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium before Game 3 of the 2001 series between the Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Loud boos and chants of "Lock him up" met Trump when he was shown on the stadium's giant screen during the third inning.

The boos subsided once the video screen showed U.S. service members waving to the crowd, but resumed just before the beginning of the fourth inning.

Later in the game, fans behind home plate were spotted holding placards calling for Trump to be impeached.

The president's appearance added a layer of intrigue to the Nationals' choice of having Andres throwing the ceremonial first pitch.

The restaurateur is an outspoken critic of Trump and decided to shelf plans to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., in response to Trump's comments over Mexican immigrants in 2015.

Trump Old Post Office, which acts as the hotel landlord, subsequently sued Andres' companies for breach of contract and claimed damages in the excess of $10 million.

Andres' companies filed a counter-claim, before the case was settled by the superior court in D.C. in 2017.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he had discussed with Trump the possibility to have him throw first pitch, but the president declined citing logistical issues.

"His view was that in order to make the fan experience as positive as possible, he would arrive at Game 5 sometime after the game began so it wouldn't interfere with fans getting into the stadium," Manfred told the Associated Press.

"Quite frankly, we were very grateful for that. We thought it was a great decision on the president's part."

The Astros won a third consecutive game on the road to take a 3-2 lead in the series and can clinch a second World Series title in three seasons with a win on Tuesday night.