Russell Wilson is coming to play for New York.
But itâs not the first time.
Wilson agreed to a one-year contract with the Giants on Tuesday, but seven years ago this month, the former signal-caller got his chance in pinstripes with the Yankees â once pinch-hitting for Aaron Judge and facing Max Fried.
To rewind, the 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback had once been an intriguing baseball prospect, twice getting drafted by big league clubs (Orioles in 2007, Rockies in 2010) and signing with the Rockies in the latter instance after he played baseball at NC State.
He followed a similar path to his father, Harrison Wilson III, who played the same two sports at Dartmouth.
Wilson played two years in the Rockiesâ minor league system as a second baseman and reached full-season Single-A in 2011, but then focused on football after he transferred to Wisconsin.
He was taken by the Rangers in the Triple-A phase of the 2013 Rule 5 draft, and Wilson eventually participated in spring training with Texas the next two years while he was leading the Seahawks â and winning a Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium of all places in 2014.
Three years later, the Rangers traded him to the Yankees for future considerations, and on March 2, 2018, Wilson got his chance to play in a Grapefruit League game with the big league club.
âÂÂWeâÂÂve admired RussellâÂÂs career from afar for quite some time,â Yankees GM Brian Cashman said then, âÂÂThis is a unique opportunity for us to learn from an extraordinary athlete who has reached the pinnacle of his profession.âÂÂâÂÂ
In the bottom of the fifth, Wilson came up in Judgeâs place to face Fried, who was then a top prospect with the Braves.
Wilson fell into an 0-2 hole before striking out swinging on a 93 mph fastball.
âThe best thing for me is, I had no fear. I went up there with confidence,â Wilson told reporters after his at-bat. âI was ready. Iâll always remember that. Iâll always remember when they announced my name and they call you up there, you get to go up to the plate and the crowdâs going crazy, the Yankees fans. I used to go crazy for Derek Jeter when he walked up to the plate.
âTo have that feeling and that experience, Iâll never, ever forget that.â