Michael Phelps to Play Minor League Baseball; Signs with Arizona Diamondbacks

Photo Courtesy: Charlie Neibergall / AP & USA Today

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.

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Swimdude

7 years ago

April Fool!

Scott Richardson

7 years ago

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.

Christopher Albert

7 years ago

Most shocking would be if he really had a MySpace account.

Chris Feinthel

7 years ago

I only expect this type of nonsense from Ryan Lochte

Jessica Jones Koupal

7 years ago

Got me! ??‍♂️

Karen Roberts

7 years ago

Darn it – got me ! :-O

Bonnie Jean Brown

7 years ago

Nice try.

Kathryn Meinhardt

7 years ago

Nice try

Dmytro Chaban

7 years ago

April Fool’s Day?)

Brian Keller

7 years ago

Got me. April Fools

Orlando De La Torre

7 years ago

APRIL FOOL’S NEWS?

Jeff Salomon

7 years ago

Made me go on a fake news verification hunt.

Philip Vranić

7 years ago

Mackenzie Holden had me until myspace

Debi Olivier

7 years ago

Ashley

Ashley Nicole Olivier

7 years ago

Reply to Debi Olivier

Shut up

Nina Adkins Hale

7 years ago

Joe Hale

J.d. Garza

7 years ago

I like that Visalia Rawhide was in this! ?
Had me for a second…

Sue Shirley-Hageman

7 years ago

Must be April fools joke

Patty Haines

7 years ago

Stupid

Kim Hacker Tomkinson

7 years ago

Katie Tomkinson share with Chase

Josiah Tarrant

7 years ago

Nicholas Nonnenmacher

Thomas A. Wylie

7 years ago

Shannon Wylie Michaelson

Jaroslaw Stachowicz

7 years ago

me too, but i’m gonna be playing with mumified aztec’s arm and clrital ball

José Antonio

7 years ago

Is Myspace still a thing? Lol

Jenny Callen

7 years ago

I don’t like the idea that he is doing this

Scott Selnick

7 years ago

I think it’s a good move for him

Jera Collinge

7 years ago

April fools

Sammi Brach

7 years ago

Carly Haller the man does everything ???

Kim Kessler

7 years ago

This has to be an April Fools joke! He is def not a land animal.

Amber A Hargrove

7 years ago

Reply to Kim Kessler

???

Julie Weaver Comer

7 years ago

Athletes are pretty much land or water sports peeps

John J Easton

7 years ago

April fool

Cindy Sater

7 years ago

Jacob Sater what?

Jacob Sater

7 years ago

Reply to Cindy Sater

It’s April fools day lol

Cindy Sater

7 years ago

Reply to Cindy Sater

Ohhhhhh!!! For some reason I wouldn’t be surprised if he really did that!

Michelle Cass Richter

7 years ago

Rob Richter

Sarah Carr

7 years ago

Rachel

Rachel Zhao

7 years ago

Reply to Sarah Carr

I’m not that gullible smh NICE TRY better luck next time

Asuka Forest

7 years ago

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”.

Courtney Cambria

7 years ago

Nevada Tinsman

Tara Mack

7 years ago

I thought this was interesting. ?

Corina Simms

7 years ago

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!

Dave Hoover

7 years ago

…”he hopes not to make a FOOL of himself” is a give away.

Gina Coulouris Cardy

7 years ago

Melanie Holt Thompson & Cashel Mack

Melanie Holt Thompson

7 years ago

Reply to Gina Coulouris Cardy

??????

Bill Bell

7 years ago

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.

Kim Nonato

7 years ago

Swimmers can’t catch a ball

Brett Davies

7 years ago

Reply to Kim Nonato

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