Alex Rodriguez: 'It Was Remarkable' That Michael Jordan Played Double-A Baseball

Some consider Michael Jordan's baseball career a failure, but Alex Rodriguez was impressed by what the Chicago Bulls legend accomplished on the diamond.

"I thought that what he tried to do in baseball is one of the greatest accomplishments in his career," Rodriguez told Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated.

After his shocking retirement from basketball in 1993, Jordan jumped right to Double-A with the Birmingham Barons. He produced a .202 batting average with three home runs and 30 stolen bases in 127 games.

As Rodriguez explained, this was a much tougher feat than some realize:

"He's getting on a bus and playing Double-A. That’s one of the hardest leagues to play in because that’s where all the great pitching goes, the fire ballers throwing north of 95 miles an hour. The weather was north of 95 degrees, and you’re on buses, not on planes.

"Unfortunately, the benchmark as a great, Hall-of-Fame hitter is .300. Because you’re Michael Jordan, you’re going to be judged on a completely unfair barometer. For him to have a hitting streak, to hit north of .200, and to steal so many bases, I just thought it was remarkable."

Jordan had a 13-game hitting streak during the first month of his baseball career.

"It was bound to end," then-Barons batting coach Mike Barnett said of the hot start, per Steve Wulf of ESPN. "I kept waiting for the pitchers to stop challenging him with fastballs and start throwing him breaking balls, and by the end of April, they were."

Despite some struggles, Jordan showcased his upside as a hitter with 17 doubles plus a good eye that helped him earn 51 walks. Adding in his natural athleticism, he could have been much more productive with added experience.

Considering he jumped straight to Double-A as a 30-year-old following years away from the sport, his numbers deserve praise.

Comparatively, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow switched to baseball but began professional in the instructional league before moving his way up to Single-A and then Double-A two years after being signed.