SAN DIEGO -- Jose Canseco returned to baseball Thursday when
he agreed to a contract with the independent San Diego Surf Dawgs,
planning to be their designated hitter and -- get this -- pitch.
The Golden Baseball League announced the deal Thursday night,
saying the former AL MVP and Rookie of the Year will make his Surf
Dawgs debut Monday night on the road against the Chico Outlaws.
Canseco will make his debut at 10:05 ET on July 3.
Canseco's return to baseball comes some 19 months after he
attracted Congress' attention with an autobiography, "Juiced,"
that accused several top players of steroid use.
In March 2005, he testified before the House Government Reform
committee that he used performance-enhancing drugs as a player.
Canseco didn't immediately return a message left on his cell
phone.
The news release announcing the deal said Canseco will be the DH
"and will showcase his knuckleball as a member of the team's
pitching staff."
Canseco made one big league pitching appearance, working the
final inning for the Texas Rangers in a 15-1 loss to the Boston Red
Sox on May 29, 1993. He walked the bases loaded and allowed three
runs and two hits. He threw 12 strikes and 21 balls, most of which
were far from the strike zone.
Canseco will be playing for the league maximum of $2,500 per
month.
"We strive to provide a high quality entertainment product, and
Jose will undoubtedly be entertaining for our fans," GBL president
Amit Patel said in a statement.
The GBL is essentially baseball's lowest rung. Rickey Henderson
played for the Surf Dawgs last year as he tried to attract the
attention of a big league team.
Canseco hasn't played in the big leagues since 2001 with the
Chicago White Sox, who purchased his contract from the independent
Newark Bears.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.