When Jake Locker announced his surprising retirement from football on Tuesday, many instantly wondered whether he would pursue a career in professional baseball. Locker was a standout baseball player in high school and was twice drafted by the Angels (once 40th overall), who hold his rights through August.
The Angels have said they have no interest in Locker as a player, which is just as well because it appears Locker is not interested in playing baseball anyway.
Locker’s father, Scott, spoke with The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta about his son’s future. Scott says his son has simple plans for the time being: To spend time with his family and continue remodeling his home.
Baseball does not appear to be in Jake’s plans.
“I don’t think that’s something he will entertain, because that would mean even more time away from his family,’’ Scott Locker told Condotta.
In addition to spending time with his family and renovating his home, Locker also will spend time with a gym for which he is a co-owner.
Though Jake said his heart was not in football, leading him to retire, his dad is not ruling out a comeback at some point.
“That is probably not something that he would even know how to answer now. He’s just basing things off the way he’s felt for the last little while and how he feels now and how he’s wanting to move forward for the time being.’’
Who knows? Maybe Jake will be like Urban Meyer, who took time off to be with his family and returned to football in time. I certainly wouldn’t count it out.
