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ESPN -- LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Texas Rangers made a surprise pick in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
Today at Walt Disney World, the Rangers decided they wanted some of the Seattle Seahawks' magic on their team and selected quarterback, and former second baseman, Russell Wilson, taking him from the Colorado Rockies system. It cost them $12,000 to do so, and he goes on the club's restricted list because he's in the NFL.
The Rangers know Wilson is settling in to a successful career as the signal-caller for a Super Bowl contender, but they like Wilson's character and athletic ability. Even if baseball isn't in Wilson's future, the Rangers want him around.
General manager Jon Daniels called Wilson and told him the club wasn't trying to distract him from his current job.
"We talk to our scouts about the makeup we want of our players and the work ethic it takes to win, and Russell Wilson has been an example of that," Daniels said. "He has off-the-charts character and focus.
"We want to be respectful of where he's at right now. I got a chance to talk to him, and he was excited. We wanted to welcome him to the organization and told him, 'Don't be insulted if you don't hear from us again until you're done playing because we don't want to get in the way of what you've got going on.'"
Daniels said Wilson told him he wants to come to spring training and work out and that the invite is open-ended. If Wilson wants to do more than that, he certainly can.
The Rangers scouted Wilson in high school and college and considered him to be an athletic second baseman. Preller described him as a player with "good hands, [is a] solid runner and a guy that we thought before the draft that could bounce around to different positions."
Wilson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 draft by Colorado -- he was taken in the 41st round by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007 out of high school but opted to go to NC State -- and signed with the Rockies. Once he received nearly $3 million from the Seahawks, he had to return part of his $200,000 signing bonus.
Wilson hit .229 with five homers and 19 stolen bases, striking out 118 times, in Class A in parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
The Rangers' scouting department believes strongly in acquiring good athletes and isn't hesitant to draft some who play other sports. Texas acquired the rights to Ricky Williams from Montreal after the Expos had taken him in the Rule 5 draft in 1998, even though the Texas running back and Heisman Trophy winner was likely headed for a career in the NFL.
The team has also selected wide receiver Riley Cooper and most recently quarterback Jameis Winston, the heavy Heisman favorite who will lead top-ranked Florida State against No. 2 Auburn in the Vizio BCS National Championship on Jan. 6.
Today at Walt Disney World, the Rangers decided they wanted some of the Seattle Seahawks' magic on their team and selected quarterback, and former second baseman, Russell Wilson, taking him from the Colorado Rockies system. It cost them $12,000 to do so, and he goes on the club's restricted list because he's in the NFL.
The Rangers know Wilson is settling in to a successful career as the signal-caller for a Super Bowl contender, but they like Wilson's character and athletic ability. Even if baseball isn't in Wilson's future, the Rangers want him around.
General manager Jon Daniels called Wilson and told him the club wasn't trying to distract him from his current job.
"We talk to our scouts about the makeup we want of our players and the work ethic it takes to win, and Russell Wilson has been an example of that," Daniels said. "He has off-the-charts character and focus.
"We want to be respectful of where he's at right now. I got a chance to talk to him, and he was excited. We wanted to welcome him to the organization and told him, 'Don't be insulted if you don't hear from us again until you're done playing because we don't want to get in the way of what you've got going on.'"
Daniels said Wilson told him he wants to come to spring training and work out and that the invite is open-ended. If Wilson wants to do more than that, he certainly can.
The Rangers scouted Wilson in high school and college and considered him to be an athletic second baseman. Preller described him as a player with "good hands, [is a] solid runner and a guy that we thought before the draft that could bounce around to different positions."
Wilson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 draft by Colorado -- he was taken in the 41st round by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007 out of high school but opted to go to NC State -- and signed with the Rockies. Once he received nearly $3 million from the Seahawks, he had to return part of his $200,000 signing bonus.
Wilson hit .229 with five homers and 19 stolen bases, striking out 118 times, in Class A in parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
The Rangers' scouting department believes strongly in acquiring good athletes and isn't hesitant to draft some who play other sports. Texas acquired the rights to Ricky Williams from Montreal after the Expos had taken him in the Rule 5 draft in 1998, even though the Texas running back and Heisman Trophy winner was likely headed for a career in the NFL.
The team has also selected wide receiver Riley Cooper and most recently quarterback Jameis Winston, the heavy Heisman favorite who will lead top-ranked Florida State against No. 2 Auburn in the Vizio BCS National Championship on Jan. 6.
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