Looks like Christian Yelich will be involved in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest

It’s All-Star weekend in the National Basketball Association, and the Milwaukee Bucks will be well represented. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a captain for one of the All-Star squads and will be joined by teammate Khris Middleton. Lastly, thanks in large part to the successful #LetPatDunk social media campaign, reserve guard Pat Connaughton will compete in tonight’s Slam Dunk Contest.

Interestingly enough, Connaughton actually had a brief foray into pro baseball before getting selected in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft and beginning his basketball career. Pat was a 4th-round pick by the Orioles out of Notre Dame in 2014, signing for a $428,100 bonus as a right-handed pitcher. He spent one summer pitching in the short-season New York-Penn League and posted a 2.45 ERA in six appearances (four starts) and 14.2 innings with 10 strikeouts versus three walks before deciding to hang up his cleats and focus his attention on the court.

It appears that Connaughton is looking to involve his previous profession in some way during the Slam Dunk Contest, using a familiar face:

While pitchers and catchers have already reported to Spring Training in Maryvale, position players for the Milwaukee Brewers aren’t required to arrive until Monday. So that leaves Christian Yelich with some free time this weekend, and he has taken Pat up on his offer to get together in Chicago:

We will have to wait and see what the pair has planned for tonight’s festivities.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference