NEW YORK Just call him Johnny Baseball.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball draft Saturday the 837th player taken. Manziel was listed as a shortstop for Texas AM although he never played for the Aggies as he focused on football.
Manziel the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012 was taken by the Browns with the 22nd overall pick in the NFL draft last month.
The quarterback took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon to express his excitement
Big thank you to the Padres and padresmikedee for selecting me in the MLB draft. What a great day pic.twitter.com/MaTKVZ5JqY
Johnny Manziel ( JManziel2) June 7 2014Dee the Padres' president and CEO tweeted back
Best athlete on the board... JohnnyBaseball pic.twitter.com/yqOYmgLPr2
Mike Dee ( PadresMikeDee) June 7 2014Manziel played baseball and football at Tivy High School in Kerrville Texas and asked Texas AM coaches about being part of the baseball team before winning the Aggies' starting quarterback job as a redshirt freshman.
Earlier this week Manziel decked out in an Indians jersey was set to throw out the first pitch in Cleveland before the Indians played Boston. His toss was washed out by rain that delayed the start.
Two Sport StarJohnny Manziel now joins a long list of notable active NFL quarterbacks drafted in the MLB draft.
But in May 2013 Manziel took batting practice with the Padres at Petco Park and tossed out a football style first pitch as he dropped back scrambled to the side of the mound and floated a bootleg pass to San Diego outfielder Mark Kotsay who caught it behind his back with his glove.
On Manziel's first swing in batting practice the bat flew out of his hands but he settled down and later drove a pitch off the right field wall.
It is unlikely Manziel will ever play as no 837th pick in the June draft has ever played an MLB game according to ESPN's Stats Information.
Another notable draft pick on Saturday occurred in the 29th round when the New York Yankees selected the son of former closer Mariano Rivera. With the 872nd pick the Yankees picked Mariano Rivera III a right handed pitcher out of Iona College.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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