JOSH BOOTY WINS MLB NETWORK’S FIRST-EVER REALITY SERIES COMPETITION THE NEXT KNUCKLER
Former Major League Infielder and NCAA Division I Quarterback to Report to D-backs Spring Training Camp Tomorrow
Secaucus, NJ, February 21, 2013 – Former Major League Infielder and NCAA Division I quarterback Josh Booty (LSU) was named the winner of MLB Network’s first-ever reality series competition The Next Knuckler, earning a non-roster invitation to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Major League Spring Training camp. Booty defeated fellow NCAA Division I quarterback David Greene (Georgia) in tonight’s series finale, which featured each contestant pitching against junior college hitters in a three-inning game.
Booty will officially report to camp with the Diamondbacks tomorrow, February 22, after meeting with Diamondbacks radio broadcaster and former knuckleball pitcher Tom Candiotti today at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the Spring Training home of the Diamondbacks, as seen in the attached photo.
Booty was a quarterback at LSU and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Prior to his time at LSU, Booty was the fifth overall draft pick by the Florida Marlins in 1994 and played in 13 MLB games for the Marlins between 1996 and 1998.
Produced by MLB Productions and co-hosted by World Series champion and former All-Star knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield and MLB Network analyst Kevin Millar, The Next Knuckler featured five former NCAA Division I quarterbacks, including Greene, Josh Booty’s younger brother John David Booty (USC), Doug Flutie (Boston College) and Ryan Perrilloux (LSU & Jacksonville State) competing against each other to determine who could throw the best knuckleball.
The Next Knuckler featured special guests, including 2012 NL Cy Young Award Winner and knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey of the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, former All-Star knuckleball pitcher Charlie Hough and 15-year old knuckleball phenom Chelsea Baker.
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