It’s not unusual to see sports organizations take a chance on a relative of a big star, hoping that they share some of the same genes that translate to talent on the field/court/ice.
However, it is pretty unusual (and hilarious) when that athlete shares the name of a giant movie star.
That’s exactly what happened this week when the Seattle Mariners signed the cousin of Robinson Cano – the All-Star infielder who just signed a massive 10-year, $240 million deal with the M’s a few weeks ago – to a minor league contract. That cousin’s name? Burt freakin’ Reynolds.
Yes, seriously.
Burt Reynolds the minor leaguer was originally a 30th-round draft choice by the Nationals in 2006 but hasn’t exactly torn it up on the diamond as of late. He’s 25 has never had an OBP above .300 in the Canadian-American Association or the Atlantic League, so don’t expect him to be making waves in the Mariner’s organization.
However, that doesn’t change the fact that this story is absolutely hilarious. The only way it could be funnier is if Cano had a cousin named Turd Ferguson, too.
