Michael Jordan, expected to be cut Monday, got his third spring hit Sunday and a small scare when a woman jumped from the stands to hug him.
Jordan did not start Sunday's exhibition game between the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins, but was a defensive replacement in right field in the sixth inning.It was quite an inning. One of his many fans among the 33,263 at Joe Robbie Stadium leaped from the right-field bleacher seats, ran to Jordan and hugged him.
The woman then left on her own, climbing over a side wall. Stadium security finally caught up to her in the stands.
"It scared me," Jordan said. "I told her, `You'd better get back before you get arrested.' She asked me, `How do I get back out?' and I told her, `The same way you got in.'
"She didn't mean to hurt me. She just wanted to say hello. But you never know. It made me think."
Jordan's first at-bat came with one on and one out in the Chicago eighth against left-hander Rich Rodriguez. He took a ball, then a called strike before hitting a chopper to third baseman Jerry Browne. Browne tried to backhand the ball, but couldn't and Jordan was generously credited with a hit.
"I've seen a lot of hits in my life," Rodriguez said. "I'm not sure if that was one of them."
"I need a break every now and then," Jordan said.
Of his three hits this spring, Jordan has gotten only one out of the infield. The other two have been balls knocked down by the respective third baseman.
Jordan advanced on a groundout and easily scored from second on Esteban Beltre's single, tying the game 4-4.
In the ninth, Jordan faced right-hander Matt Turner with two out and a runner at first. He drew a walk, and was stranded.
In 13 spring games, Jordan is 3-for-20, with four walks and a sacrifice fly.
The basketball star was expected to be optioned to the minor league camp Monday. The White Sox' minor league teams started playing games Saturday.
"I'm not sure exactly when they're going to do it," White Sox manager Gene Lamont said Sunday about Jordan. "I think the decision has pretty well been made."
Jordan, who was cut from his high school basketball team, said he's prepared for the demotion.
"I know it's coming," he said. "I'm just trying to gain as much knowledge while I'm still here as I can so when I go down I can utilize the knowledge and hopefully improve as a player.
"I understand what the White Sox must do to try to get their team together to get on with the rest of the season," he said. "I respect that. They're still going to give me the opportunity to improve my skills. I'm not going to quit because I didn't do as well as I wanted. I want to keep pushing to do as well as I can."