Everyone has a story. What's yours?
 Linda Thomas
twitter: @TheNewsChick
About Linda
Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

If you have a news tip or story idea, I'd love to hear from you...

To leave a voice message for Linda about any of her stories call toll free 1-855-251-2363

Follow Me on Pinterest


RussellWilson.jpg
Russell Wilson played minor league baseball in 2010 and 2011. Lucky for the Seahawks, he thought he'd be a better football player. (Tony Farlow/AP Photo)

How good was the Seahawk QB Russell Wilson at baseball?

January 9, 2013 @ 5:58 pm (Updated: 8:40 am - 1/10/13 )

Baseball managers, pro scouts, and an ex-teammate say Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson could have been a decent baseball player too because of his speed, athleticism, and strong work ethic.

As Wilson prepares for the NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, ESPN reporter Dan Friedell has looked into how Wilson might be doing had he continued playing baseball.

Wilson played football and baseball for North Carolina State University before transferring to Wisconsin.

He also played minor league baseball for the Tri-City Dust Devils in 2010 and the Asheville Tourists in 2011 as a second baseman.

Jay Matthews, scouting supervisor, Colorado Rockies says the first thing he noticed was Wilson's athleticism.

"The thing he exemplifies is what you see every Sunday. His leadership skills and his ability to be a quick learner. We saw that from a baseball-development standpoint," Matthews told ESPN. "We felt like, if we could develop the offensive side of it, we'd have a big league guy."

John Manuel, editor-in-chief, Baseball America says Wilson didn't do anything that was noteworthy for him at the time, but he was a "pretty impressive person."

Others say "he struggled" with baseball and there were times when it "wasn't a lot of fun for Russell."

That's fine for Seahawks fans who have watched him become an outstanding quarterback since he signed a four-year, $2.99 million contract with Hawks in May of last year.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (13)


  • Add A Comment

  • ron prevost wrote...
    interesting - I didn't know about his baseball, but not surprised.
    January 9, 2013 7:34 pm
    Of course the football contracts, much guaranteed, is what's keeping a lot of talented young men out of baseball right now.

    Though $2.99M over 4 years isn't 'that much, the year Wilson's been having likely means early reworking and a huge increase soon. ... Contrast to baseball, unless he were some kind of a phenom, he could expect to spend several years in the minors - typically for little money and traveling game to game mostly by bus - until making it to MLB (if ever) starting at figures well under $1M per year.

    Sure, the average career in the NFL is much shorter due ti injuries and the constant hunger for new talent, but - all in all - the quick and generous money beats a longer career in baseball any day.

    .

    Bottom line - Russel Wilson may have had a major league baseball career had he gone that way - but why would he ???

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    Umm, Ronald
    January 9, 2013 9:06 pm

    Avg MLB Salary:2012 $3,213,479 Guaranteed rather you play, get cut, retire.

    Avg NFL Salary:2012 $1.9 million most is non-guaranteed, if Russell blows out his knee's in the playoff, they can cut him without having to honor his contract.

    You might want to rethink that Ronald.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    MINOR LEAGUES, Sports -
    January 9, 2013 11:59 pm
    Might be one heck of a long time just getting to the majors. .. And that's AVERAGE salary, not MLB minimum.

    I'd love for baseball to be more attractive to the best athletes, but.......

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Sporty is right Ron.
    January 10, 2013 6:09 am
    In baseball you have a career. In football you have a limp.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    The two best athletes on the planet couldn't play baseball.
    January 10, 2013 6:10 am
    That would be Micheal Jordan and Bo Jackson. It's hard to hang in the batters box when you have four hundredths of a second to decide if the ball coming at your head is a 95 MPH fastball or old uncle Charlie.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • doublej wrote...
    Bo?
    January 10, 2013 6:24 am
    Bo Jackson couldn't play baseball? That's laughable, at best.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Bo was a part time platoon player
    January 10, 2013 6:44 am
    who only batted against left handed pitching. That's why he returned to football.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • silverbambi wrote...
    baseball vs football
    January 10, 2013 6:59 am
    Baseball uniforms look better than football uniforms. But still glad he's our QB.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • awbitf wrote...
    Quote of the article
    January 10, 2013 7:55 am
    Others say "he struggled" with baseball and there were times when it "wasn't a lot of fun for Russell."

    There are millions of people that baseball isn't a lot of fun for anymore... just look at the Mariner's attendance plunge.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    For $ 3 M
    January 10, 2013 8:16 am
    You can buy four months of Chone Figgens' services. For chure!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    I wonder...
    January 10, 2013 9:06 am
    ...was RW better than Chone Figgins?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    Chone
    January 10, 2013 9:17 am
    Was better at complaining.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Would be cool
    January 10, 2013 1:32 pm
    To see him in an M's uniform at the Safe if only for an exhibition game some day to sign autographs.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }