RENTON — Before Madison Bumgarner became a World Series hero and Russell Wilson became the face of a Super Bowl-winning franchise, they were teenagers who spent part of a summer as teammates and roommates back in 2006.
Wilson revealed that little nugget Thursday, a day after Bumgarner was named World Series MVP for his role in the San Francisco Giants’ seven-game series victory over the Kansas City Royals. Wilson, once a highly regarded baseball prospect who was drafted both out of high school and then again while playing at North Carolina State, was asked in his weekly press conference how he might fare in an at-bat against Bumgarner. While Wilson didn’t answer that question, perhaps because he knew that hypothetical at-bat would not end well for him, he did reveal that the two have a bit of history.
“So, funny story about Madison Bumgarner,” Wilson said. “We were roommates at the (East Coast) Showcase coming out of high school, the top 100 players. We were roommates also at the Area Code games as well. I’ve gotten to know him over the past few years. I haven’t gotten in touch with him lately, but yeah, I used to play with him. I think we won it all at that showcase. He’s a big guy, can really throw it, great athlete. I’m excited for him, he’s a great competitor.”
Between their junior and senior years of high school, Wilson and Bumgarner played together at both the Area Code games in Long Beach, Calif., as well the East Coast Showcase at UNC Wilmington in 2006.
And Wilson’s connections to the champs don’t end with Bumgarner; he also noted that he played against Giants catcher Buster Posey when the two were in college, Wilson at NC State and Posey at Florida State.
Injury update
Four new names were added to the injury report Thursday, which sometimes can be ominous, and other times can just mean a rest day. We won’t know for sure until Pete Carroll gives an update Friday, but it’s probably safe to assume that defensive end Michael Bennett (toe) is OK, because he also showed up on the report last Thursday with a toe injury and he was fine.
Cornerback Richard Sherman was listed with a back injury, but it was common for him last year to get a day off listed as a back injury.
Cornerback Tharold Simon was also new to the list with a knee injury, and that is potentially more troubling, both because Simon has had a hard time staying healthy in the past, and also because it’s highly unlikely the Seahawks are just giving a rest day to a player with all of six quarters of NFL experience under his belt.
Same goes for center Stephen Schilling, who was new to the list with a knee injury. If Schilling can’t play, the Seahawks have to hope Max Unger gets back from the foot injury that has kept him out of the past three games, otherwise they’d be down to their third-stringer, Patrick Lewis, who was only signed after Unger’s injury.
Sitting out for a second straight day were cornerback Byron Maxwell (calf), defensive tackle Jordan Hill (ankle), safety Jeron Johnson (concussion), and linebacker Malcolm Smith (groin). Center Max Unger was again limited with a foot injury, while receiver Bryan Walters (concussion) and guard James Carpenter (back) were full participants.
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