Mitch Mustain’s future appeared to be in the National Football League. The former University of Arkansas and Southern California quarterback’s fortunes have taken a turn, however. After not being drafted in 2011 and playing in the Canadian Football League last year, Mustain turned down a job in the Arena Football League this year to sign a free agent contract with the White Sox. The native of Arkansas will now try and become a pitcher after impressing scouts at a tryout last month in which his fastball allegedly hit 90 on the gun.
The undertaking will be a change for Mustain, but not one he has never attempted. The last pitch he threw occurred at Springdale High School when he was still just a teenager. How that all translates with be determined on March 8th when he reports to Scottsdale, Arizona for the start of spring training and begins facing real major league hitters.
While signing a player without any college baseball experience is certainly a gamble, the Sox employ one of the best coaching coaches in the business. Don Cooper has taken many young pitchers and crafted them into quality major league starters. At just 23, Mustain certainly fits the bill of an unproven, but talented prospect. It is now up to Don Cooper to work his magic.
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