Shreveport’s Josh Booty Baseball ‘Reality Show’ Winner

Shreveport native and former Evangel and LSU quarterback Josh Booty is the winner of  MLB Network's first reality TV series, "The Next Knuckler", to secure a tryout in spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

For the 37-year-old Booty, the return to spring ball marks a second chance at the sport. Coming out of Evangel in 1994, Josh was a first round pick of the Florida Marlins. He spent five years with that organization - including a year in the majors - before returning to football at LSU.

The competition featured former college quarterbacks Doug Flutie (Boston College), David Greene (Georgia) and Ryan Perrilloux (LSU & Jacksonville State), who joined Booty and his younger brother John David (USC) , all attempting to capture the spot in the Diamondbacks' camp.

The five were tutored by former Red Sox star knuckler Tim Wakefield, along with ex-MLB kunckleballing legends Charlie Hough and Tom Candiotti.

Josh outpitched Greene in the show's finale, both facing a lineup of junior college hitters.

Next for Booty, spring training with Arizona, where he reports next Friday. "I'm ultra-competitive and I'd love to see what I can do...I think I could be a great knuckleballer in 30-40 sessions. If I can throw one inning in a game then I'll know it was worth it."