TOLEDO, Ohio -- Now that the majors are over, Phil Mickelson wants a shot at the minors -- in baseball.
Mickelson is scheduled to have a tryout Friday with Toledo, the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, with hopes of pitching for the Mud Hens this weekend.
"This is a lifetime dream of mine, and I'm extremely grateful to the Toledo organization for giving me the chance to live it," Mickelson said in a statement.
Mickelson, whose 21 victories on the PGA Tour are the most of any player in the modern era to have never won a major, threw to six players from the Akron Aeros, a Double-A team, last weekend during the NEC Invitational.
He offered $300 to anyone who could hit a homer off him, and the best anyone could do was a fly to the warning track.
Mickelson, who throws right-handed, says he often plays catch to loosen his rotator cuff. He has worked recently with former Texas Rangers pitching coach Tom House.
Despite a chance to pitch in the minors, Mickelson isn't about to quit his day job.
"I know which sport is mine, but I just could not pass on this opportunity," he said.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
= Sporting News Radio Pass