SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In 2010, Russell Wilson and Kyle Parker squared off on the football field. The next summer, they were teammates on the baseball field.
Parker was at Clemson, where he was the first Division I athlete to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 home runs in the same academic year. He also was a freshman All-American in two sports.
Wilson was at N.C. State, where he played football and baseball but later transferred to University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In that 2010 meeting, Parker’s Tigers beat Wilson’s Wolfpack, 14-13.
The following June, both were drafted by the Rockies and played one season together with the Class A Asheville Tourists in 2011.
Wilson eventually found his home in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 and while Parker continues to try to find a home with the Rockies as a nonroster invitee.
“I just always wanted to play a sport as a profession and it just seemed like the most reasonable sport I’d have opportunity at,” Parker said. “Being drafted high and looking at it that way I chose to come play baseball.”
Although following different paths, Parker said he talks to Wilson from time to time.
“Me and Russell had a good relationship,” Parker said. “We had a lot of similarities and obviously I knew who he was because we played against him all the time, whether it was in baseball or football. We had a lot of experiences you would have in the minor leagues and especially A ball.”
Parker showed promise early in his career and made his major league debut with the Rockies in 2014, playing in 18 games. Last season he hit only .179 in 46 games.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rockies designated him for assignment in January but invited the outfielder to camp this spring. But making the big club as a non-roster invitee is an uphill climb.
“I’ve been around here a while. This is my sixth year with the Rockies and this is the only team I really know, so I’m pretty comfortable here,” Parker said. “This game is way too hard to put pressure on yourself. “
His expectations haven’t changed from any previous stints at camp.
“I’ve kind of been here as a roster invitee, nonroster invitee, I kind of know what to expect,” Parker said. “It’s just spring training, getting ready for the year. You know everyone wants to play well. My expectation is just play well and satisfy myself.”
For Parker, the experience of playing at the highest level is also matched by the friendships and relationships he has formed along the way.
“Just being able to come to the field, hang out with your buddies and you know just be around a lot of people that have a lot of similar interests as you, it’s entertaining and fun,” Parker said. “It definitely beats going to a real office.”
