Dolphins QB Pat White Drafted by New York Yankees

Shades of John Elway with late round pick

Quarterback Pat White was a second-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in April's NFL Draft. But he wasn't done being drafted. To White's surprise, he was selected in the 48th round of last week's baseball amateur draft by the New York Yankees.

White hasn't played baseball since high school, but he was pretty good back then -- good enough to get drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 MLB draft by Anaheim. He turned down the Angels and went on to have a stellar college career at West Virginia, presumably leaving baseball behind for good. But the Yankees like him enough as an athlete that they took a low-risk chance.

Quarterback Pat White was a second-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in April's NFL Draft. But he wasn't done being drafted. To White's surprise, he was selected in the 48th round of last week's baseball amateur draft by the New York Yankees.

White hasn't played baseball since high school, but he was pretty good back then -- good enough to get drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 MLB draft by Anaheim. He turned down the Angels and went on to have a stellar college career at West Virginia, presumably leaving baseball behind for good. But the Yankees like him enough as an athlete that they took a low-risk chance.

"The thought from our side was, at that point in the draft, let's draft him in case it doesn't go right with the Miami Dolphins or in the NFL," Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer told FanHouse. "If he wants to be a football player, we completely understand and completely wish him the best of luck."

Oppenheimer said the Yankees were still trying to get White's phone number so they could connect with him and explain their thinking.

"Just let him know, if he does have an interest in baseball, we're here," Oppenheimer said. "It's probably a million-to-one shot, but if it happens, I'd rather it be for us than for Boston or somebody else."

White was a star pitcher and outfielder at Daphne (Ala.) High School but didn't play baseball at West Virginia. He told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel this week that his focus was on football:
 

"I'm thankful and grateful, but my focus is as a Miami Dolphin football player. I'm playing football right now. That's my focus."

But hey, it was the 48th round. Why not take a shot?

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