Dallas Cowboys’ star linebacker Micah Parsons has made headlines with his bold claim that he could hit between .180 and .200 in a Major League Baseball season. This audacious statement drew the attention of Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar Mookie Betts, who shared his thoughts on the matter during a lively discussion on his podcast, “On Base Live.”
Parsons’ MLB Ambitions
Parsons, known for his dominance on the football field, believes his athleticism would translate to the baseball diamond. He confidently suggested he could maintain a batting average close to .200 over a 162-game season.
While hitting .200 isn’t exactly impressive by MLB standards, it’s a mark some major leaguers do achieve. Nonetheless, Parsons’ assertion seems overly optimistic to many, including Betts.
Betts Responds: “No Chance”
“Micah, you are a phenomenal, first-rate athlete,” Betts stated bluntly. “But there’s no chance you can get from .180 to .200. You can do a lot of things and be successful at a lot of things, but hitting a baseball is not one of them.”
Betts, a former AL MVP with a career .309 batting average, emphasized the difficulty of hitting a baseball at the major league level. He referred to comments from teammate Tyler Glasnow, who humorously predicted Parsons might not even get a single hit in 500 at-bats.
Texas Rangers’ Marcus Semien, who joined Betts on the podcast, added, “Someone would tell him to drop the bunt at least six times out of 500.”
Reality Check
Hitting in the MLB is notoriously tough. Former MVP Christian Yelich once remarked that an average person wouldn’t record a hit in 1,000 pitches against a top pitcher like Jacob deGrom. This underscores the immense challenge Parsons would face.
Currently, a few MLB players hover around Parsons’ proposed average. Names like Randy Arozarena, Mitch Garver, Eugenio Suárez, and George Springer—all of whom have had seasons hitting between .180 and .200—show that even talented players can struggle.
Yet, these players have a lifetime of baseball experience and accolades, unlike Parsons.
Final Thoughts
While Parsons’ confidence is commendable, hitting in the MLB is a different ballgame. Mookie Betts and Marcus Semien’s skeptical yet humorous responses highlight the gulf between NFL and MLB skillsets.
Parsons might be an All-Pro linebacker, but stepping into the batter’s box against major league pitching is a challenge few can meet. For now, it seems best for Parsons to stick to the gridiron, where he truly excels.
