Tracy McGrady on Independent League debut: 'I give myself a B-minus'

Tracy McGrady took the loss in his professional baseball debut on Saturday, though the former NBA All-Star said it was "gratifying" to take the hill for the Sugar Lan Skeeters on Saturday night.

McGrady lasted only 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and two runs. He threw 35 pitches, 18 of which went for strikes, and walked two in a 5-3 loss.

"All in all I did pretty well, and those guys [his teammates] seem to think I did as well," McGrady said, via the Houston Chronicle. "I give myself a B-minus.

"I'm sure they're [Somerset] not used to a 6-8 guy being on the mound pitching to them. I was just trying to relax myself, keep my composure. Because this is different territory."

McGrady played baseball in high school until transferring to a school without a baseball program for his senior year. He went on to become a seven-time NBA All-Star, winning two scoring titles.

"If this is the only time I pitch, it's a gratifying feeling," McGrady said. "I knew I was on a pitch count, I didn't know what that number was. I knew I wasn't going to go too long."