Multi-Sport Athletes' Current Baseball Endeavors

Wilson visits Rangers Spring Training

Russell Wilson
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On Monday, Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson visited and worked out with the Texas Rangers. Wilson played baseball at NC State from 2007-2010 and was drafted by the Rockies with the 25th pick in the 4th round of the 2010 Draft. He played two summers in the Rockies farm system and then focused on football. Wilson was unimpressive in the minors. A second baseman, Wilson has a career batting average of .229 and .354 on-base percentage.

Wilson was drafted by the Rangers in the Rule 5 Draft in December, hoping he could visit and speak to the team during Spring Training and, if he ever wants to return to baseball, Russell will play pro ball for the Rangers. Wilson has fulfilled the first part of their hopes when he went to Spring Training in Arizona. He fielded ground balls at second base during infield workouts and talked to players of all status. Sadly, Wilson did not take an at-bat in the Rangers game vs. Cleveland.  Hw did stay to watch the game. This is great for the Rangers. Not only do they get great media coverage, but they also get Wilson, known as a great leader, to motivate the team. 

Winston playing well on #2 Florida State

The Florida State Seminoles are currently #2 in the Baseball America Top 25 Rankings after winning two and losing one game in Tallahassee. Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston has played in seven of the Seminoles nine games so far (not including game vs. New York Yankees). In four of those games, Winston has come on as a reliever in the final inning or two and in the other three, Winston came off the bench as a pinch hitter and played the outfield. On the mound, Winston already has a save and has given up only one hit against sixteen batters in five innings. At the plate, he has two singles in two at-bats and a walk. His fielding percentage is 1.000, and he also has an assist. 

Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady

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Former NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady is practicing in a Houston suburb, hoping to return to a game he loves. No, it's not basketball. The 6'8" 34 year old is hoping to pitch for the Atlantic League's Sugar Land Skeeters. The Skeeters are most famous for signing Roger Clemons, who pitched one game for the team in 2012. McGrady last played organized baseball in 1996, his junior year of high school. He transferred to Mount Zion Christian Academy, a school with no baseball team, after his junior year and gave-up baseball as a result.

McGrady has insisted this is no gimmick. He says he really wants to play baseball and I applaud him for it. It seems that he has always had a love of baseball and wanted to play the game professionally when he was a kid. I give him props for venturing out into a whole new world and doing his best to make it. I think he will make the team. According to reports, he has some good pitches and his tall frame will help him a lot. Also, he will be a revenue booster for the Skeeters, who are about 40 minutes outside of Houston, where McGrady played some of his best basketball.