Baseball's Knuckleball Reality Show Has Hit A Bizarre Snag

MLB Network

Former college quarterback Josh Booty recently earned a chance to participate in Spring Training with the Arizona Diamondbacks after winning the MLB Network's reality show "The Next Knuckler." However, in what can only be described as a major oversight, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com is reporting that the Miami Marlins actually hold the rights to Booty.

The show pitted several former college quarterbacks (including 50-year-old Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie) against each other to see who could learn how to best throw the knuckleball pitch. However, in addition to being a college quarterback, Booty also played parts of three seasons with the Marlins in the mid-90s after being selected as the fifth overall pick in baseball's 1994 draft.

Booty eventually retired from the Marlins, something Major League Baseball apparently did not realize, which meant if he ever attempted a comeback, the Marlins would retain his rights.

The Marlins have agreed to let Booty participate with the Diamondbacks in Spring Training. However, Rosenthal reports that if Booty wants to play in the majors or the minors during the regular season, the Diamondbacks would have to offer the Marlins compensation or Miami can reclaim the 37-year-old.