MLB Insider Reminds Fans Of Important Youth Sports Fact

Late on Tuesday, former third baseman and slugger Scott Rolen got the call.

The 47-year-old was the only player on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot to be elected to Cooperstown.

Rolen played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cincinnati Reds, winning a Rookie of the Year Award, eight Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger Award, and a World Series ring.

He was also an All-Star seven times.

However, a little-known fact is that Rolen played multiple sports growing up, including basketball.

MLB insider Jon Morosi reminded fans of this fact on Twitter.

Youth sports parents, please take note:

Playing multiple sports might help your child reach the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Scott Rolen did not specialize in baseball . . . until he signed with the @Phillies. @MLBNetwork https://t.co/XeU6avIKvo

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 25, 2023

Rolen was quite a good basketball player too.

Morosi linked a story from MLB.com that shows a video of Rolen dropping 47 points in a high school game.

Rolen didn’t even specialize in baseball until he was signed by the Phillies.

Morosi encouraged parents to allow their children to play multiple sports, as it could be a pathway to the Hall of Fame.

Rolen certainly had an accomplished MLB career, but had he not been signed by the Phillies, things may have gone quite a bit differently.

We could be talking about Rolen as a star in the NBA.

In addition to his accomplishments, Rolen is also currently a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

He hit for a career .281 average, had a total of 316 home runs, a WAR of 70.1, and 2,077 hits to his name.

But it could have been a much different story had Rolen continued with basketball.