Former Southern Cal QB signs with White Sox
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Former Southern California quarterback Mitch Mustain has signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. The former high school all-American reportedly has a 90-mph fastball. Associated Press/2010 file |
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After not getting a shot at the NFL, former Southern California quarterback Mitch Mustain wants to play baseball, and he has signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox. Associated Press/2010 |
In recent years, the White Sox haven’t exactly scored with former college football quarterbacks.
Outfielder Joe Borchard (Stanford) was a $5.3 million bust, as was another first-round draft pick — Josh Fields (Oklahoma State).
Clayton Richard (Michigan) showed promise as a starting pitcher before being sent to the San Diego Padres in the 2009 Jake Peavy trade.
Richard was 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts with San Diego last season before having season-ending shoulder surgery.
And don’t forget about Sox designated Adam Dunn, the biggest bust in baseball last year. Dunn was a star quarterback in high school and spent one redshirt season on Texas’ football team.
On Friday, the White Sox signed Mitch Mustain to a minor-league contract, according to a report out of Arkansas.
Mustain, 23, played quarterback for one season at Arkansas before transferring to Southern California, where he backed up Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley.
Honored as the 2005 Gatorade, USA Today and Parade Magazine National Player of the Year after leading Springdale (Arkansas) High School to a 14-0 record and state championship, Mustain never made it to the NFL and was out of football after a short stay with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League.
Last February, Mustain was arrested in California for suspicion of selling prescription drugs, according to the Los Angeles Times. The charges were later dropped and Mustain was placed in a pre-file diversion program, according to the Sports Xchange.
“I wish I hadn’t done it,” Mustain told the Sports Xchange. “But I did. I don’t feel my character is an issue. It was an isolated incident.”
Mustain has not played baseball since high school, so don’t look for him on the White Sox’ pitching staff anytime soon.
He reportedly hit 90 mph on the radar gun in a recent tryout, earning a minor-league deal from the Sox.
“I haven’t played in eight years, which, my age, it’s going to be a little bit harder to get back into this,” Mustain told 5 News in Fayetteville, Ark. “As time goes I figured this would be my one shot at it, and why not? I’m going to take this shot. I’m going to give it everything I have and see where it goes.
“I’m going to play one sport or the other until somebody tells me to go home, until they’re not even going to let me try. So I’m going to go do it and literally throw everything I have at it and see where it goes.”
Mustain is scheduled to report to the White Sox’ minor-league camp in early March.
• Follow Scot’s White Sox reports on Twitter @Scotgregor.
