Grand Canyon University is in Phoenix. It’s been around for more than 70 years but has a budding athletic program that’s gained prominence in recent years. Grand Union is a chain of grocery stores, primarily in the Northeastern United States.
Theoretically, it shouldn’t be that hard for the average person to differentiate between the two. But as we know by now, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is not an average person.
LSU pitcher Paul Skenes, LSU outfielder Dylan Crews, Franklin Community High School (Indiana) outfielder Max Clark, Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford and South Brunswick High School (North Carolina) outfielder Walter Jenkins were the first five players selected in Sunday’s MLB Draft. While the order was somewhat disputed, it was generally agreed upon that those would be the first five to go. After that, it was a mystery.
The Oakland Athletics had the No. 6 pick and used it on Jacob Wilson, the son of former MLB All-Star Jack Wilson. Wilson (Jacob) is a shortstop from Grand Canyon University. Only, Manfred announced him as being from Grand Union University.
"With the 6th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Oakland Athletics select Jacob Wilson, a SS from Grand Union University."
We're guessing the Commish doesn't get to Arizona that often. pic.twitter.com/3PuneQHHS3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 9, 2023
Commissioners making baffling mistakes at the MLB Draft. A tradition almost as old as baseball itself.
Perhaps Manfred was reading from his grocery shopping list instead of the draft card.
Baseball fans, of course, were quick to have fun with Manfred’s gaffe.
The man who brought us the "hunk of metal" explanation clearly has never heard of Grand Canyon University https://t.co/eApW2G5QVu
— Brian Webber (@bwwebber) July 9, 2023
Yikes Mode: Activated. https://t.co/aLKY7idg7y
— Nicholas Hodell (@HodellSports) July 9, 2023
A’s are so poorly run that they’re drafting from schools that don’t even exist https://t.co/uxSaqv0dCr
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) July 9, 2023
He went to Grand Canyon University. Manfred made another mistake. https://t.co/M8cWcLgcrm
— Nate Weiser (@nweiser09) July 9, 2023
To be fair, Manfred can’t stand any of this and doesn’t want to be there because he’s a trash person.
— Ken Childs (@TheKenChilds) July 9, 2023
In all fairness to Manfred, those two syllable words that are pronounced exactly how they’re spelled can really be a mouthful.
[Photo Credit: ESPN]
