Seattle Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson will have a way to occupy himself during the offseason after a stinging loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Wilson will return to spring training with the Texas Rangers for the second consecutive season. The two-time Pro Bowler was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 draft by the Colorado Rockies, but was snagged by the Texas Rangers in the Rule 5 Draft in 2013. However, upon being drafted in 2010, he decided to pursue football and transferred to Wisconsin.
The 26-year-old suited up last year during the Rangers' spring training in Surprise, Arizona. Back in 2010 and 2011, Wilson played in 93 games with the Rockies' farm system between Short-Season A Tri-City and Class-A Asheville. He slashed .229/.366/.342 with 58 runs scored, five home runs, 26 RBIs and 19 stolen bases as a second baseman.
"I've always had the dream of playing two sports," Wilson said last season before his first spring training game, via AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. "If somehow it was a miracle that it could work out, I'd consider it. At the same time, my focus is winning the championship with the Seattle Seahawks, and I hope to be playing for a long time."
Wilson was a big hit at Rangers' camp too. Ron Washington, the team's manager at the time, was impressed with Wilson's work ethic and said if the youngster continued to pursue baseball "he could probably be as good as he is a football player." Shortstop Elvis Andrus said the quarterback was "just another guy here in camp," based on how Wilson was able to so quickly immerse himself in the environment and get comfortable with his teammates.
"It was just an honor to be in the locker room with those guys," Wilson said last year. "I look up to them. I watch baseball all the time when I can, when I'm not in the film room. I have a lot of respect for these guys, and for them to allow me into the locker room and just have fun with me, it was a great experience."
Wilson was nearly victorious in his second straight Super Bowl appearance on Sunday, but fell short when he was intercepted at the Patriots one-yard line with 25 seconds to go as the Seahawks trailed by four. He finished 12-for-21 with 247 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the 28-24 loss to New England.
The Rangers have yet to confirm Wilson will be attending camp.
