One year later, the Yankees still employ the best quarterback in New York. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will again join the Yankees in Spring Training this year, his agent told Jon Morosi. The Yankees haven’t announced a schedule or confirmed anything yet. That’ll happen soon enough.
Last spring the Yankees acquired Wilson’s baseball rights from the Rangers so they could bring him to camp and have him spend time with their young players. Even though he plays a different sport, Wilson is an elite athlete with knowledge to share, and he’s long been regarded as a high-character guy. He has a lot to offer.
Wilson played some baseball in college at North Carolina State. The Rockies drafted him in the fourth round in 2010 and he played two years in their farm system, hitting .229/.366/.342 (105 wRC+) with five homers in 93 Single-A games from 2010-11. He gave up baseball after the Seahawks drafted him in the third round in 2012.
The Rockies retained Wilson’s baseball rights after he started his football career. The Rangers selected him in the minor league phase of the 2013 Rule 5 Draft and brought him to camp one year as a motivational speaker. The Yankees got him for future considerations last spring and here we are.
Wilson, a second baseman back in the day, spent five days with the Yankees last spring, during which he worked out with the team and hung out in the dugout during games. After clearing it with the Seahawks, the Yankees gave Wilson an at-bat in a Grapefruit League game. Remember this?
(If you’re wondering about the roster mechanics, Wilson spent last year on the minor league restricted list. He didn’t take up a roster spot or anything like that.)