Time to find out if Russell Wilson can hit a curveball.
The Seahawks quarterback will join the Texas Rangers next week in Surprise, AZ. for a Monday morning workout, then watch from the dugout when Texas plays a Cactus League game against the Indians, the club announced Wednesday.
Last December during the MLB Winter Meetings, the Rangers selected Wilson, a former second baseman at North Carolina State (2008-10) and minor leaguer (2010-11), in the Rule-5 Draft.
It wasn’t the first instance of a club coveting Wilson. The Colorado Rockies drafted the Super Bowl winner and two-time Pro Bowl selection in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB amateur draft.
In 93 games during parts of two seasons with the short-season, A Tri-City Dust Devils (2010) and A Asheville Tourists (2011), Wilson hit .229/.354/.356 with five home runs, 26 RBIs, a .710 OPS and added 19 stolen bases (He was caught stealing eight times).
He was eligible in last year’s Rule-5 draft even though he hadn’t played competitive baseball since opting for the NFL.
Reportedly, the Rangers drafted Wilson, 25, with the expectation he come to spring training and serve as a positive influence on younger players. The organization’s official announcement came about a week after Wilson tweeted a picture that might make Mariners fans cringe.
Hey @Rangers fans… See you at “Surprise” Arizona on March 3! #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/ZiaEmtL0nW
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) February 20, 2014
4 Comments
Sounds like Dangeruss wants to be the new Bo Jackson!
I don’t think M’s fans have any cringe left in them.
It would be interesting to look into why the M’s didn’t do this. Did they just not think of it? Were they more intent on drafting guys with a shot of actually playing, rather than just a motivational speaker? Did Wilson ever reach out to the M’s org and gauge their interest? I bet there’s a good story in there somewhere.
A lot fewer concussions in baseball. Great money too.