Ex-Cubs reliever Kyle Farnsworth joins minor-league football team

Former Cubs reliever Kyle Farnsworth exchanged his baseball spikes for football cleats.

Farnsworth retired from Major League Baseball in 2014 after 16 seasons and joined the Florida Football Alliance, a minor-league football league, as a member of the Orlando Phantoms. Farnsworth was known for his 100-mph fastball, but now he’s known as a sack master.

At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Farnsworth is a defensive lineman for the Phantoms and leads the team with 41 tackles and 11 sacks in 11 games.

Farnsworth’s 2015 performance stood out in the FFA, and he was selected to the FFA All-Star team. The all-star game will be held May 31 at the Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Defensive line is a perfect position for Farnsworth after the form tackle he laid on former Reds pitcher Paul Wilson.

Even though Farnsworth retired from the MLB, the 39-year-old said he’s still baseball ready.