Russell Wilson’s sports journey isn’t defined solely by touchdowns and quarterback sneaks. Though he now leads the New York Giants into a new NFL season, Wilson’s heart has never been far from the baseball diamond-particularly the one in the Bronx.
Long before he became a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, he was a minor league infielder with a baseball dream and a Yankees future.
Originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2010, Wilson played two seasons in the minors before turning his full attention to football. But baseball never left him. In 2018, the Texas Rangers traded his rights to the Yankees, allowing Wilson to live out a childhood dream by joining the team for spring training.
He took batting practice, hit alongside Aaron Judge, and even stepped into a Grapefruit League game-striking out, but walking away with memories he still cherishes.
In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Wilson reminded fans of that time. “I actually am a New York Yankee,” he said with a grin. “They own my rights. So you never know-if they need to turn a mean double play, I’ve got it.” That line may have been tongue-in-cheek, but the connection runs deeper than a TV soundbite.
A Bronx bond that hasn’t faded
Even while preparing to lead the Giants this fall, Wilson quietly reinforced that bond with the Yankees in May 2025. Just before a Subway Series finale between the Yankees and Mets, he made a surprise visit to Yankee Stadium-not just as a fan, but as someone who still wears pinstripes in spirit.
While there, Wilson spoke highly of Aaron Judge, whom he once shared a clubhouse locker with. “I truly admire the great year he’s having,” Wilson said. Judge returned the love, gifting Wilson’s son, Future, his batting gloves during pregame warm-ups.
Wilson posted the moment online, calling it the “best birthday gift” for his son’s 11th birthday.
His presence at the game wasn’t just nostalgic-it was symbolic. As he now suits up for the Giants at MetLife Stadium, Wilson’s nameplate still hangs in Steinbrenner Field, home of Yankees spring training. That dual connection to New York-both on the gridiron and on the diamond-makes him a rare two-sport New York athlete.
Wilson will begin his first regular-season game as the Giants’ quarterback on September 7, 2025, against the Washington Commanders. But regardless of the outcome, one thing’s clear: in the city that never sleeps, Wilson’s loyalty to the Yankees hasn’t rested either.
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