Russell Wilson to join Yankees' camp Monday
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said on his Instagram account Thursday that he will join the New York Yankees at their spring training camp for a week in Tampa, Fla., beginning Monday.
"Hey New York City, I'm here, I got the Yankees hat on," Wilson said in a video post while standing on a street corner in New York. "I'm heading to spring training on Monday. I can't wait to see you guys Feb. 26. We're going to have some fun for that week."
Wilson was acquired by the Yankees from the Texas Rangers in exchange for future considerations in a Feb. 7 trade. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback was a fourth-round pick by the Colorado Rockies and played minor league baseball for the franchise in 2010-11 before focusing on his football career.
"Hey, Aaron Judge, I know you want to throw some passes, so let's play some ball," Wilson said Thursday. "We'll see, we'll have a little home run derby, too. (Giancarlo) Stanton, I'm coming for you, too. We'll have some fun, baby. Hey, and let's go win a World Series, why not? Peace!"
The Yankees assigned Wilson to Double-A Trenton's roster after acquiring him. The Rangers acquired his rights in the 2013 Rule 5 draft.
"We've admired Russell's career from afar for quite some time," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement following the trade. "This is a unique opportunity for us to learn from an extraordinary athlete who has reached the pinnacle of his profession.
"After talking to a number of our players, there is a genuine excitement in having Russell join us for a short time in camp. We are all looking forward to gaining insight into how he leads teammates toward a common goal, prepares on a daily basis for the rigors of his sport, and navigates the successes and failures of a season."
Wilson has no plans to try his hand at being a two-sport athlete similar to Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders, according to ESPN. Instead, he'll participate in pregame workouts with the club and watch games from the Yankees' dugout.
Wilson, 29, is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season in the NFL. He led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in 2014.
Wilson hit .229 with five home runs, 19 stolen bases and 26 RBIs in two seasons as a Rockies minor leaguer. He is listed as a second baseman by MLB.com.
--Field Level Media
