Hendrickson Is Latest Multi-Sport Marlin
January 18, 2008
Upon the signing of 6′9″ former NBA’er Mark Hendrickson on Wednesday, I immediately thought of the other two-sport superstars that have come throught the Florida Marlins organization in the past 16 years:
John Lynch: Most people know him as the hard-hitting, multi-time Pro Bowl safety, who currently roams the defensive backfield for the Denver Broncos. Few know him as the man who threw the first pitch in Florida Marlins organization history. Lynch was taken in the 2nd round of the 1992 amateur draft. He played two professional seasons, posting a 1-3 career record with a 2.36 ERA with Erie and Kane County. He was selected in the 3rd round of the NFL draft in 1993 by the Tampa Bay Bucanneers. I don’t think anyone will question his decision to leave his baseball career behind.
Kelley Washington: Washington, a shortstop in his former life, was drafted in the 10th round in 1997 by the Marlins. He played four seasons before hanging up his cleats in 2000. His pinnacle was reaching High-A ball for Brevard County. In over 1,000 minor-league at-bats, he hit just .213 at the plate. In 2003, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals as a wide receiver in the third round. He is currently a key special-teamer for the New England Patriots.
Josh Booty: Booty was the only baseballer-turned-NFL player to reach the Major League level. A much hyped first-round pick in 1994, Booty failed to live up expectations and notched just 26 major-league at-bats in parts of three seasons with the Fish. In five minor-league seasons, he hit just .198, making him one of the biggest busts in Marlins history. Because he played in four games in 1997, he did receive a World Series ring. Booty was drafted in the 6th round of the 2001 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns after playing his last baseball season in 1998. A career backup, he is currently a free-agent.
Dale Torborg: Although he never played for the Marlins, Torborg was in uniform as the team’s strength and conditioning coach in 2002 and 2003 under his father, manager Jeff Torborg. Torborg even had a run-in with pitcher Antonio Alfonseca when El Pulpo refused to weigh in before Torborg, causing Alfonseca to hide from him. Why the fear? Aside from standing 6′7″, Torborg’s other athletic career was as a pro wrestler for WCW, where he portrayed The KISS Demon, a wrestler dressed like the famous band. Torborg spent parts of four years on the pro wrestling circuit before turning to baseball.
Mark Hendrickson: Hendrickson was a second round draft pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996. His NBA career lasted until 2000, finishing his career averaging 3.3 points per game, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He began his pro baseball career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, playing during basketball’s off-season. He reached the majors in 2002, and hasn’t looked back since.
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