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Sometimes, a person needs to try their hand at different things before they can decide on their career. Good thing for NFL fans that Russell Wilson found his passion for football. The 34-year-old is regarded as one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks of all time. But once upon a time, Wilson had a short stint in MLB as a second baseman for the Colorado Rockies. Not only that, but he was also a part of the Yankees organization in 2018 and pinch-hit for Aaron Judge at a game. However, things did not go well.

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Wilson was a two-sport player in high school and has a family that was often involved in sports. With a natural athlete’s talent, the Broncos’ quarterback continued with both baseball and football in college. While he may have tried his hand at pro baseball, football is the sport that stuck. But that moment with Aaron Judge will forever be remembered in history books as iconic.

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Russell Wilson once pinch-hit for Aaron Judge and struck out

It was clear that the QB had more talent in football than baseball, but the Broncos star wanted to give the latter a try for his father. The day after the Rockies signed him, Wilson’s dad passed away due to complications from diabetes. Wilson had promised his father that he would one day wear the pinstripes, and that moment finally came in 2018 during spring training.

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After the Rockies, came the Rangers, and then finally the Yankees. On March 2, 2018, Wilson stood in the batter’s box in place of Aaron Judge. The pitcher was Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves, and lo-and-behold, Wilson struck out. It was a disappointing end for many, but perhaps the most for Wilson. Nevertheless, he fulfilled his promise to his dad.

What other professional sportsmen have tried their hand at baseball?

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NBA legend Michael Jordan is famous for his stint in minor league baseball, but clearly, that didn’t last long. The basketball superstar was drafted by the Chicago White Sox and was another instance of a player fulfilling the wish of their late father.

READ MORE -??I?ll Probably Watch Baseball?: NFL World Drags Russell Wilson & Denver Broncos Through the Mud for Their Fourth Primetime Appearance in 6 Weeks

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Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady was picked by the Montreal Expos in the 1995 draft. NFL would have looked a lot different today if Brady had chosen the path of baseball.

WATCH THIS STORY – From Michael Jordan to Tom Brady – Top Athletes Who Tried Their Hand at Professional Baseball

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Not only that, but the face of MLB would have certainly been different if these players had chosen otherwise!

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Written by

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Arunima Bhanot

1,536 Articles

My tryst with sports was accidental, but what followed was nothing short of a pursuit of excellence. Having penned over 1,500 articles, I've written about and edited pieces on the key figures ES regularly features across sports like MLB, Tennis, and WNBA. Some of my favorite athletes include Shohei Ohtani, Derek Jeter, Roger Federer, Coco Gauff, A'ja Wilson, and Caitlin Clark.

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Edited by

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Tony Thomas

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