Two-sport star Pat Connaughton was taken by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Notre Dame, but outside of a stint in the Orioles' minor league system in 2014, the focus has been basketball for Connaughton, who is in his second season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Connaughton joined Glenn Clark Radio Jan. 16 before the Trail Blazers took on the Washington Wizards to discuss a variety of topics, including a potential return to baseball. In 2014, Connaughton posted a 2.51 ERA in 14.1 innings for the Low-A Aberdeen IronBirds, though he reportedly visited Sarasota, Fla., for some work in extended spring training last May.
The 24-year-old Connaughton is leaving the door open for a return to the mound. The Orioles retain his rights, hoping they'll eventually have a 6-foot-5, 210-pound pitcher with an electric fastball in their system full time. The guaranteed portion of his contract with the Trail Blazers is up after this season.
