A video that went viral in 2014 on Twitter has taken the sports world by storm. In just 48 hours, this clip received a mind-boggling 366.6 thousand views, featuring a young Patrick Mahomes on the baseball diamond rather than the gridiron. The footage shows the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback throwing strike after strike to the catcher while also snatching a pitch out of mid-air and gunning down a runner at first base with natural ease. “He pitches just like his dad,” one fan’s comment summed it up perfectly.

Indeed, Pat Mahomes Sr., Mahomes’ father, was an MLB pitcher for 11 seasons, so it is not surprising that he would have some skills in this area as well. Young Patrick’s arm was reportedly clocked at 95 mph on the radar gun—a velocity that would make many big league hurlers jealous—and not only did he excel at pitching; during one game where his team played against other schools’ teams, he also hit three-for-four, including home runs, doubles, triples, RBIs, and so on. A baseball signed by him when he was in high school even sold for $10,000 recently.

This video has re-sparked “what if?” conversations around Mahomes’ career path. In 2014, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers during the 37th round of Major League Baseball draft, which speaks volumes about his talent considering how little experience playing college baseball had under his belt at the time. There are those who believe that if only this gifted athlete focused solely on playing professional baseball, there would be no doubt about whether or not Patrick could have been selected as a first-round pick. But football turned out better for him when everything was said and done. This move paid off handsomely, as he became a six-time Pro Bowler, two-time league MVP, and three-time Super Bowl champion at just 28 years old.

His football game reflects his baseball background too: the way Mahomes throws with such velocity from different angles appears similar to how infielders must make long, accurate throws across the diamond while in motion. Of course, you can’t forget that before becoming an NFL star quarterback, Patrick played shortstop during high school, where he excelled not only there but also on the basketball court. Still, it was within the confines of the baseball field where people saw potential for greatness in him professionally, according to his father, Pat Sr. “He grew up in the clubhouse, he was always around the game, and he was always the best player on his baseball team.” 

However much Mahomes’ true calling may be considered football by now, thanks largely to clips like these going viral every once again, reminding everyone about what could have been if not for these moments happening more often than usual during recent times. Nevertheless, such videos cannot help but make individuals ponder past possibilities left unexplored, especially when taking into account how different life might look today had things turned out otherwise. Still, one Twitter user didn’t leave without showing support for the caption, “Patrick Mahomes used to be filthy on the bump.” “Yes, he was.” The video’s resurfacing has ignited a social media frenzy amongst many fans.

Fan reactions to Patrick Mahomes’ mound mastery

The unearthed video has ignited a flurry of reactions from fans across social media platforms. The prevailing sentiment seems to be one of awe and wonder at Mahomes’ multi-sport prowess. Many are reminiscing about his high school days, with one fan commenting, “Look at Patrick Mafilthy dropping hammers like pops used to,” a nod to his father’s pitching legacy.

The video has also sparked speculation about Mahomes’ potential baseball career. “Does Mahomes pull a Jordan and give baseball a go after he hangs it up in the NFL?” one fan pondered, referencing Michael Jordan’s brief foray into professional baseball. While the idea is intriguing, Mahomes seems firmly committed to football for the foreseeable future.

The video even elicited some playful banter, with one fan jokingly commenting, “That’s Spencer Rattler,” referring to the New Orleans Saints quarterback’s arm’s absurd accuracy. This tongue-in-cheek remark highlights the lighthearted atmosphere surrounding the video’s rediscovery.

Other fans focused on the technical aspects of Mahomes’ pitching, with one noting, “Those are some elite secondary pitches for a high school kid.” This comment underscores the fact that Mahomes wasn’t just a gifted athlete but also a skilled baseball player with a deep understanding of the game.