According to a report that emerged in The Athletic this weekend, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner has been competing in rodeos in secret using a fake name.
Bumgarner, who is beginning his first season in Arizona after pitching for the San Francisco Giants for 11 years, reportedly competes in rodeo competitions using the alias “Mason Saunders.”
The Athletic figured out Bumgarner has been up to after stumbling across a Facebook page showing the winners of a team-roping competition that was held at Rancho Rio Arena in Wickenburg, Arizona, in December
In the photo, Jaxson Tucker and “Mason Saunders” are seen after their win, the former holding an envelope containing $26,560 in winnings.
A native of western North Carolina, Bumgarner grew up roping cows as a teenager and, at 30 years old, the four-time All-Star is going back to his roots.
When contacted by The Athletic, Bumgarner admitted he’d been using the Saunders alias to compete in secret for some time.
He also said he takes the rodeo competitions as seriously as he takes competing on the diamond in MLB.
“No matter what hobbies I have, I take ’em serious,” Bumgarner said. “That’s just my personality. I don’t do anything just for fun, per se. I wish I did.”
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