Kyler Murray was selected with the 9th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. This pick came as a surprise to some since teams were unsure whether or not he would be pursuing a career in baseball. Now, you might ask why Murray would not go to the MLB right away if he were drafted? It’s because he also plays football.
That’s right, Murray is also in line to be Oklahoma’s starting quarterback. With the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, Murray is fully expected to take over Mayfield’s responsibilities under center next season. When asked about Murray’s potential, Mayfield replied by saying, “He’s going to break all my records. He’s that good.” For this reason, Murray has chosen to put his baseball career on hold… albeit only temporarily.
???MLB DRAFT ALERT???
Kyler Murray has been selected by the Oakland Athletics with the No. 9 pick in the MLB Draft.#BoomerSooner #MLBDraft18 pic.twitter.com/XcEoKeEVcO
— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) June 5, 2018
Although Murray signed a five million dollar deal with the Oakland Athletics, he is still going to play football for Oklahoma.
Let me explain. In his contract, Murray and the A’s agreed to a clause that would allow the young prospect to return to the Sooners football program for one more season, after which he is expected to focus on baseball full time.
The former Gatorade Player of the Year is the epitome of the word, “athlete.” Despite being small in stature, Murray’s mobility and athleticism almost resemble that of a wide receiver rather than a quarterback. Also, his explosive speed is rare at the quarterback position which makes him one of the more unique prospects that were called in the draft.
The sky is the limit for this young outfielder, but this decision could prove to haunt him if he were to suffer an injury during his football season with Oklahoma. One mistake could cost him millions of dollars, but Murray is hell-bent on finishing what he started as a Sooner.
Featured Image Via Wikimedia Commons
