Milwaukee Brewers: Christian Yelich to the NBA dunk contest?
By Ryan Sanders
Bucks forward Pat Connaughton has invited Milwaukee Brewers OF Christian Yelich to Chicago for All-Star weekend to help him out in the NBA dunk contest.
The NBA Dunk Contest is this Saturday and will feature basketball legends Dwayne Wade, Candice Parker, and Scottie Pippen as judges. One of the participants is Bucks forward Pat Connaughton has invited Milwaukee Brewers superstar Christian Yelich, saying he “has an idea”.
Hopefully we all get to see what that idea is Saturday. Connaughton must have watched this post-game interview and drawn inspiration from Dee Gordon putting Yelich on a poster in Miami.
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Connaughton actually has a baseball past of his own as he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round. He pitched 14 innings in the minors and struck out 17% of hitters before choosing basketball full-time.
He was a real prospect too, check out his scouting report from Fangraphs:
"They’re hoping he comes up a little short and opts for baseball in the near future, because after only dabbling in baseball the last couple years, Connaughton is a real prospect. He hit 97 mph in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game and regularly hit 95 mph last summer. His curveball and changeup are both below average now, but flash above average at times and he’s just scratching the surface. He’s still tinkering with new grips for both pitches and names like Kevin Gausman and Jeff Samardzija are mentioned as comparables for Connaughton’s raw talent."
Basketball obviously won out over baseball and it has worked out in his favor. Connaughton plays for the best team in the East alongside probably the best player in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
It remains to be seen if the NBA dunk contest will get a cameo from Yelich. Maybe a future dunk contest could get a slot for an MLB, NHL, and NFL player. He isn’t the most famous player but recently signed Seattle Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker might be the best dunker in all MLB.
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Cross sports cameos are always fun to watch. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich has been seen courtside at Bucks games taking in the game and chugging beers. Your guess is as good as mine in regards to what Connaughton and Yelich might have planned but if Yelich shows up it is sure to be electric.