“I Appreciate the Confidence, But..”: Tyler Glasnow Pours Cold Water on Cowboys’ Micah Parsons’ Fanciful MLB Hitting Claim

What is the hardest thing to do in sports? When Deion Sanders was asked this question and made to pick between football, baseball, or coaching, Sanders unequivocally responded “Hitting that baseball.” Sanders continued to explain how hard it is to hit a baseball, despite what Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons thought, and said, “That baseball ain’t no joke. That’s why they fail seven out of ten times and still making $300 … $400 million a year.”

So, did the Dallas linebacker think he could hit a baseball that easily? On Chris Row Sports podcast, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tyler Glasnow responded to Micah Parsons’ bold claim. Glasnow, among the better pitchers in the league, is no stranger to how hard a hitter’s job can be. What made the moment even more comical is when Glasnow learnt that Parsons had never played baseball in his life.

When asked how many hits he would get in a 162-game MLB season with 5 bats per game, Micah Parsons over-confidently replied “I think I could get 0.200.” Sounds ridiculous? Doesn’t it? Anthony Volpe, who has had a stellar season so far, is batting at .275. For Micah Parsons to hit 0.200, never having played baseball… Unbelievable. 

This fanciful statement prompted Tyler Glasnow’s reaction, “If he had 500 at-bats, [he could get] five hits, maybe. I think once he steps in and sees like a big league, he’d be like ‘ah, never mind.’ I think it’s good to have the confidence. I appreciate the confidence, but five hits, maybe.” Unsurprisingly, the host agreed.

Baseball, often misunderstood as a “lazy sport” by outsiders, demands an intricate blend of hand-eye coordination, strategy, and athleticism. The challenge of hitting a fast-moving ball with extreme precision, along with power, and the necessity for consistent individual performances proves that achieving success in baseball is far from easy, and maybe a certain Michael Jordan could attest to that. 

Players who came to baseball and failed

The most renowned example of an athlete switching sports is perhaps Michael Jordan’s attempt to play professional baseball. Although he seems to have accomplished everything in the NBA, he did not succeed in one area. Jordan’s performance in the baseball minor leagues was uninspired at best, hitting just .202 (batting average) and striking out 114 times in one season.

The two-time NBA scoring champion and seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady, declared in February 2014 that he will be chasing his ambition of pitching in the major leagues. He joined the Sugarland Skeeters but retired after just four appearances in which he allowed five earned runs and walked 10 in 6 2/3 innings.

Tim Tebow, the Heisman trophy winner, who left football for baseball in 2016, retired in 2021 with 940 Minor League at-bats. Unfortunately, he failed to reach the major leagues. His and other endeavors demonstrate the challenges that baseball players face, regardless of their athletic abilities.

While Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson act as notable exceptions who were able to deliver performance in both baseball and football, neither reached the pinnacle of accomplishment in baseball that they saw on the football field. Their experiences highlight the unique challenges of baseball, which demand a specialized skill set honed through years of practice and dedication.

It is conspicuous that baseball requires a distinctive set of mental and physical skills cultivated over years of repetition. But does every athlete have the time and commitment, especially an NFL linebacker? Tyler Glasnow certainly does not think so. While Mike Parsons could surprise us, to achieve success in baseball he would have to quit football and that scenario seems highly unlikely.