Shaq Thompson returns to football after disastrous pro baseball debut
Look, we all can’t be Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders.
That’s probably what Washington signee Shaq Thompson is thinking as he returns to Seattle to prepare for his upcoming freshman season following a brutal 13-game stinkfest with the Red Sox’s Rookie class affiliate.
Thompson, a top-five football recruit in the nation this year, finished his summer of baseball on Florida’s Gulf Coast League Red Sox with a downright shameful 0-for-39 at the plate with 37 strikeouts (eight walks, though!). Thompson, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound outfielder, was drafted in the 18th round of June’s MLB draft by the Red Sox. Not bad considering he gave up the sport for six years until his senior year to focus on football. He’ll play safety this fall for the Huskies.
Thompson in part changed his commitment from Cal to UW because Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian was fine with letting him pursue a baseball career while playing football for the program. But, being the top safety recruit in this past recruiting cycle, it’s probably safe to say football is Thompson’s brighter future.
No matter, he already pocketed $45,000 from the Sox for playing this year and that could turn into $100,000 over the next four years if he keeps with baseball. Hey, for that much I’ll go embarrass myself in a batters box for a month each year. Totally worth it. But that kind of cash probably doesn’t even compare to the bankroll he’s getting from U-Dub. I kid!
Screenshot via YouTube user williamboykins
