'"In the same way roping adds to Bumgarner's mystique, the southpaw also has two Silver Slugger awards for his prowess at the plate. It’s also reportedly known among all of Bumgarner’s MLB acquaintances.Bumgarner just kept it a secret from the media to avoid outside attention, for obvious reasons. The Diamondbacks likely don't care why they got Bumgarner but are instead just happy they did. Get all the sports news you need, direct to your inbox.For years, the four-time All-Star has reportedly been competing in team-roping rodeo competitions in secret, under the alias “Mason Saunders” and possibly others. The San Jose Giants, a Class-A Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants said it's "time to saddle up" for Mason Saunders night on Friday, June 5. He didn’t sound happy with The Athletic as he explained to them why he used an alias and how he arrived at Mason Saunders:Why the alias then?
But you're going to ruin that for me. Days afterward, the three-time World Series champion Bumgarner's alias is a new revelation, but the 30-year-old ace has been roping since he was 15 or 16 years old, per The Athletic.Bumgarner disclosed that he opted to compete under a different name to avoid enhanced publicity.Bumgarner called the perception that he only became a Diamondback to be close to his horses "bulls--t," per The Athletic, but he did admit that he enjoys having several rodeo arenas around Phoenix. "Jaxson Tucker & Mason Saunders took home the biggest paycheck of the day topping the #12.5 Big Gamble," the arena posted in early December. The Athletic’s uncovering of Mason Saunders, the stage name of the former Giants star pitcher who would enter — and sometimes win — team-roping competitions, landed mostly with a thud to San Francisco veterans who have known about Bumgarner’s other love for years. On the mound, Bumgarner is a hero.
Baseball hats under cowboy hats, and of course, adding a miniature roping event to the seventh-inning stretch. "Under his alias, he won $26,500 in a team-roping rodeo competition. “But you’re going to ruin that for me.”Bumgarner admitted to entering “smaller rodeos” back in 2016 in Bumgarner told The Athletic that he might try a full-time rodeo career after retiring from baseball, though we might have guessed that even before this news came out. That was to protect his adventures from garnering too much attention outside the insular world of roping.
(“I’m nervous about this interview right now,” Bumgarner said through a smile to a pair of reporters from The Athletic at one point. Madison Bumgarner throws baseballs with his left hand but lassos steers with his right. "Oh boy," Bumgarner responded, confirming that he is Saunders.
Baggarly and Buchanan added that Bumgarner confirmed the photo was taken on Dec. 3. For years, the four-time All-Star has reportedly been competing in team-roping rodeo competitions in secret, under the alias “Mason Saunders” and possibly others. "The surname is the maiden name of his wife, Ali.
While Bumgarner used an alias – “Mason Saunders" – he insists he was never discreet with his hobby. He wouldn't go into any details on what Bumgarner's contract says, but he did say all his players are adults and they have lives of the field, and he doesn't tell them what they can and can't do.So, for now, it appears the D-Backs will deal with Bumgarner’s hobby in-house, if at all.However, let’s face it. “I’m upset with both you two.”) If he competed as Madison Bumgarner, every phone camera in the arena would be trained on him, he said. "The surname is the maiden name of his wife, Ali. 'Mason' is a shortened version of Madison, 'something for my wife to call me when we were out in public to keep people from recognizing me. But ESPN's Pedro Gomez elaborated on how Arizona might have appealed to Bumgarner's sensibilities (h/t "The duo roped four steers in … Here’s another photo of the pair in action.According to The Athletic’s interview with Bumgarner, the former The participation of the 2014 World Series MVP is apparently an open secret in the rodeo community, given that Bumgarner is one of the most recognizable faces in baseball. Bellinger slumping ... "So, he devised 'Mason Saunders,'" Baggarly and Buchanan wrote. If you willfully employ Madison Bumgarner, you’re going to have to accept that he occasionally enter rodeos in secret. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Madison Bumgarner reveal that stunned the public did not exactly make the Giants buck.
So, he devised “Mason Saunders.” The surname is the maiden name of his wife, Ali. Amateur after caddie makes unbelievable error on 18th holeWoods commits to next week's FedExCup playoff openerCleveland pitcher Zach Plesac confirms he ignored COVID-19 protocols, claims media coverage has been 'evil'Joey Logano honors Bobby Allison with Darlington throwback schemeStephen Strasburg ejected from Nats game on his day off — while sitting in the stands Bumgarner has never made it a secret However, he might need another alias if he wants to avoid being the most-watched man in rodeo.And now we come to the less fun part. Better yet, the promotional opportunities will live forever.