Tracy McGrady is serious about his interest in playing professional baseball, and the Atlantic League’s Sugar Land Skeeters have taken note.
Tracy McGrady confirms interest in pitching for independent league team
Looks like Tracy McGrady is actually serious about giving baseball a try.
Bob Levey
In a press release issued Tuesday, the Skeeters confirmed that McGrady has contacted them about pursuing a pitching career with the ball club:
Tracy McGrady is one of the most elite athletes of this era and we appreciate his interest in pursuing a life-long dream with the Sugar Land Skeeters and the Atlantic League. While the Atlantic League is considered the highest level of baseball outside of Major League Baseball, McGrady has demonstrated skill, determination, and diligence during his training program at Constellation Field. We look forward to monitoring his progress.
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It appears that McGrady’s interest is quite genuine, as Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reiterated on Twitter.
According to Brown, McGrady told him, “This is not a gimmick. It’s something I want to do.” For their part, the Skeeters appear interested, even if they aren’t quite willing to offer McGrady a contract just yet.
News about McGrady’s supposed interest in playing baseball leaked over the weekend when NBA broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy stated on national television, “I think he’s going to play independent league baseball as a pitcher this year.”
Van Gundy added, “I’m being serious. I’ve heard from sources in Houston -- seriously -- that he’s throwing over 90 miles per hour.”
McGrady's interest in baseball only grew more intriguing when news broke that Roger Clemens is reportedly throwing and working out with McGrady a few times a week.
It remains to be seen if McGrady will ever actually play for the Skeeters, or how far his baseball career might take him. But for now, the former two-time NBA scoring champion appears serious about playing baseball.
At least on the surface, this doesn’t appear to be a publicity stunt for either McGrady or the Skeeters.
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