By Reginald Dunwoody.
In a move that can only be described as shocking, Michael Phelps announced via his Myspace page that he has signed a contract to play minor league baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.
Phelps will report to the Diamondbacks Single-A affiliate, the Visalia Rawhide in California, at the conclusion of spring training.
When reached for comment, Phelps responded:
“I was looking for a new challenge, and the Diamondbacks asked if this was something I would be interested in. I see what Tim Tebow is doing with the (New York) Mets organization, and it really inspired me to give this a shot.”
Tebow, the former NFL quarterback, recently joined the Mets organization.
Phelps added:
“I grew up idolizing guys like (Baltimore Orioles players) Cal Ripkin and Matt Nokes, so the fact I can follow in their footsteps is a dream come true. Also, the Diamondbacks have a pool in center field, so when I make the Big Show, I’ll be able to warm down after the game.”
The Diamondbacks for their part have struggled recently to be competitive and have taken an “outside-the-box” approach to statistical analytics and talent acquisition.
“Michael lives pretty close to our Spring Training facility in Arizona,” Diamondbacks President & CEO Derrick Hall said. “We would just see him hanging out around the facility, looking bored, and I thought, why not? Just looking at Michael’s golf swing, you can tell he’ll be a natural with a bat.
“How many baseball players have 23 gold medals? He’s got more hardware than our entire clubhouse combined,” Hall added.
No word yet on what position the Diamondbacks expect Phelps to play.
“This is certainly not what I was expecting to do this April!” Phelps said.
“I just hope I don’t make a fool of myself.”
Editors Note: Please note date of article as material for future reference.
April Fool!
Gawd I hate Aprils fools day. It would be one thing to actually write a convincing article. Try not to let the interns write anymore.
Most shocking would be if he really had a MySpace account.
I only expect this type of nonsense from Ryan Lochte
Got me! ??♂️
Darn it – got me ! :-O
Nice try.
Nice try
April Fool’s Day?)
Got me. April Fools
APRIL FOOL’S NEWS?
Made me go on a fake news verification hunt.
Mackenzie Holden had me until myspace
Ashley
Shut up
Joe Hale
I like that Visalia Rawhide was in this! ?
Had me for a second…
Must be April fools joke
Stupid
Katie Tomkinson share with Chase
Nicholas Nonnenmacher
Shannon Wylie Michaelson
me too, but i’m gonna be playing with mumified aztec’s arm and clrital ball
Is Myspace still a thing? Lol
I don’t like the idea that he is doing this
I think it’s a good move for him
April fools
Carly Haller the man does everything ???
This has to be an April Fools joke! He is def not a land animal.
???
Athletes are pretty much land or water sports peeps
April fool
Jacob Sater what?
It’s April fools day lol
Ohhhhhh!!! For some reason I wouldn’t be surprised if he really did that!
Rob Richter
Rachel
I’m not that gullible smh NICE TRY better luck next time
I was going to say what’d be shocking is that Michale Phelps is a cyborg, but then I thought I’d probably be “oh that makes sense”.
Nevada Tinsman
I thought this was interesting. ?
I love swimming! I love baseball! I love what Phelps does in a pool, but I do not even like the visual of him on a baseball field at this point. However, if that was his sport of choice during high school, he probably could have been a beast at pitching with those arms and wing span or hit more than a few out of the park!
…”he hopes not to make a FOOL of himself” is a give away.
Melanie Holt Thompson & Cashel Mack
??????
Isn’t Katie Ledecky quitting swimming to play wide receiver on the Cardinal football team. Oops, I mean Simone Manuel. Ledecky is going to be goalie this spring on Stanford water polo squad.
Swimmers can’t catch a ball
You are very mistaken by that my friend in order to acheive what he has you first have to be very athletic and part of a swimmersdry land workouts is throwing and catching of balls
April´s joke
Elizabeth Gilfillan Koranda
April Fools
Oh my gosh!! I was like if he was going to be this close to me. I’m getting him to come visit my swim team!
He may knock himself out if he loosens his shoulders, while holding a bat, the way he did before races.
Is MP pullin an MJ?!?!?
Good one. Who even has a MySpace account anymore?
Another 1st of April prank