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Texas Governor Backs Out of Throwing First Pitch at Rangers' Opener, Citing MLB's All-Star Game Decision

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would not throw out the first pitch at Monday's Rangers home opener in response to Major League Baseball's decision to move the All-Star Game from Atlanta due to Georgia's controversial new voting legislation.

According to The Dallas Morning News, Abbott was expected to appear alongside frontline workers from the state's pandemic response on Monday at Globe Life Field, which will be open to its full capacity of 40,300. The governor, whose disapproval ratings jumped after he removed COVID-19 restrictions and the state endured a utility crisis due to winter storms in February that left more than 100 dead, said in the letter that he would no longer participate in any MLB event.