Is famed faux pitcher Billy Ray “Rojo” Johnson set to make his Cactus League debut this week?

Adding more credibility to the notion that baseball spring training is mostly a waste of time, actor and comedian Will Ferrell is scheduled to play in multiple Cactus League games Thursday, including the Angels-Chicago Cubs exhibition.

“We’re all fans, for sure, he’s a funny guy,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Remains to be seen how it’s going to work out, but we’ll do our part. He’s jumping around from game to game, one inning in five different games, starting at noon, coming here the second stop, play an inning, and then he’s going to go.”

Ferrell will play all nine positions and will be shuttled by helicopter to multiple games. According to the Chicago Tribune, Ferrell’s appearances are part of a cancer awareness and charitable event coordinated by Major League Baseball and HBO.


In addition to the Angels-Cubs contest, Ferrell is expected to play in the Chicago White Sox-San Francisco Giants exhibition and three other games.

“Hopefully it will be something that’s fun to be a part of,” Scioscia said.

USA Today first reported Ferrell’s Cactus League tour.

Baseball fans can only hope Ferrell’s baseball alter ego fares better Thursday than he did during a minor-league game with the Round Rock (Texas) Express in 2010.


Johnson, the beer-drinking, mustachioed Venezuelan hardballer, was ejected after one pitch.

Times staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.