Former 16 year veteran relief pitcher, Kyle Farnsworth has decided to make an abrupt career change. After being released by the Houston Astros AND the New York Mets last year, Farnsworth stumbled upon an open tryout for the Orlando Phantoms of the Florida Football Alliance, a semi-pro league. When the Phantoms coach saw Farnsworth, all he could remember about him was not the fact that he could throw a 100-mile-per-hour fastball or the fact that he has been a member of eight teams; all he could remember was “the tackle.”
On June 19, 2003, a younger Farnsworth was in a relief appearance facing the Cincinnati Reds. Facing the opposing relief pitcher, Paul Wilson, Farnsworth threw a 96-mile-per-hour fastball high and inside;the pitch then got away from Cub catcher Michael Barrett, advancing the runner to second. He and Wilson had a few words and Wilson threw down his bat and charged at Farnsworth. He then picked up Wilson and threw him to the ground, and they both started to pummel each other until both benches cleared and they had to be separated.
After being released by the Astros, Farnsworth put on 15-20 pounds, and instead of pitching fastballs and curveballs to a catcher, he is rushing quarterbacks and tackling talking running backs, which he isn’t bad at. He has become an all-star in his first short season at defensive end. He said he has already accumulated three nicknames: CrossFit, NASCAR, and Big Grizzly, two of which are from both his age and beard.