Well, apparently Madison Bumgarner is into some horseplay.
According to a well-researched story from The Athletic, the big lefty has been competing in rodeo events for quite some time under the alias "Mason Saunders."
In the interview, Bumgarner admitted to partaking in the team-based roping events throughout the course of his career, making as much as $26,560 in a recent event in Arizona.
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Bumgarner, a noted, avid outdoorsman, says that he's been "roping" since he was 15 or 16 years old. There are some details about the rodeo-loving lefty that are left murky, as in whether or not his freshly signed five-year, $85 million contract has specific clauses that allow for his rodeo habits.
The kicker: Bumgarner says that it was an open secret that he was recognized at events — he is a pretty noticeable guy with his 6-4 frame, after all — and that the media were the last ones in on the secret; MLB players and front offices apparently knew about his hobby, even though he competed under "Mason Saunders" to try and keep the attention off his real name.
And just like that, the wacky offseason continues.
