Video: Steelers' Russell Wilson Takes Batting Practice Ahead of Pirates 1st Pitch
April 19, 2024
The Pittsburgh Pirates have an unexpected new addition to their roster.
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson took batting practice at PNC Park before throwing the first pitch against the Boston Red Sox Friday afternoon.
Wilson then broke out a football and connected on a pass to Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen.
Hannah Mears @mearshannah_Let me know if you had this on your bingo card!!<br><br>Russell Wilson's first Pittsburgh completion … is to … Andrew McCutchen! 🏈<a href="https://twitter.com/SNPittsburgh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SNPittsburgh</a> <a href="https://t.co/lz2AdKVSc9">pic.twitter.com/lz2AdKVSc9</a>
The Friday trip to PNC Park continues Wilson's ongoing tour of Pittsburgh sports. The new Steelers quarterback also attended a Penguins game last weekend.
This isn't the first time Wilson has stepped up to the plate in an MLB stadium.
After being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007, Wilson played as a dual-sport athlete at NC State.
He was drafted into the MLB again in 2010 by the Colorado Rockies, then spent two seasons playing minor league baseball in the Rockies organization in 2010 and 2011.
Although Wilson joined the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, his MLB rights were claimed by the Texas Rangers and later passed on to the New York Yankees.
He returned to the box to take a spring at-bat as a pinch-hitter for the Yankees in 2018.
Wilson may not be sticking around, but the Pirates could use some bullpen assistance coming out of a three-game sweep by the New York Mets.
After surging to the top of the NL Central with a season-opening 9-2 record, the Pirates have lost six of their last eight games heading into Friday in large part because of their closers' struggles. The Bucs suffered blown leads in all three of their losses to the Mets.
The Steelers will hope for a more consistent start to their upcoming season now that the team has bolstered its quarterback room.
Wilson may be two seasons removed from his last Pro Bowl campaign, but he boasts an affordable price tag and Super Bowl experience. The addition of the former Denver Broncos signal-caller, as well as Chicago Bears starter Justin Fields, has given the Steelers reason to hope this team is headed toward its first playoff run since 2017.