Oakland Athletics: Kyler Murray Begins Season with Oklahoma

Oakland Athletics prospect, Kyler Murray, had a big day for the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday in their 63-14 win over Florida Atlantic. Are the Athletics making a mistake by letting him play football?

Time for a riddle… How could Oakland Athletics prospect, Kyler Murray, have a big day on the field, but not step foot on a baseball diamond?

The answer is simpler than it may seem. Murray, who was taken ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft,  is a part of a very unique situation. The 21-year old prospect is Oakland’s fourth-ranked prospect and also the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners!

Kyler Murray was a two-sport star at Oklahoma, using his athleticism to excel on the football field as well as the baseball diamond. Even with questions swirling about Murray’s future with football, the Athletics selected the 5’11” outfielder ninth overall.

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According to NCAA regulations, Murray still remains eligible for Oklahoma’s football program as he is being paid by an organization to play a different sport. Going into the draft, the A’s were aware that Murray wanted to step into the shoes of Baker Mayfield, the 2017-18 Heisman Trophy winner and first overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. The two sides were able to reach an agreement and Murray is set to suit up for the Athletics in January.

Kyler Murray is set to make more money in 2018 (with his signing bonus) than the head coach of the Sooners, Lincoln Riley. Questions about his eligibility for NCAA  Football is a topic for another article. This article aims to focus on whether the Athletics are making a mistake by letting Murray suit up for the Sooner’s.

Personally, I feel that they might be making a mistake. One tackle or an awkward landing could ruin Murray’s career in both sports… It is reasonable to assume that Oakland will receive a return on most, if not all of Murray’s signing bonus in the event of an injury, but they still used their number nine selection on a risk.

While Murray might have been the best player available, there were still many talented players still to be selected. Their pick might work out perfectly, but in the end, there still is a chance that Murray may never suit up in an Athletics uniform because of an injury suffered on a football field.

Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Athletics, Billy Beane, discussed Murray’s situation with MLB.com in January.

“This guy is fun to watch play football,” Beane said. “I’m looking forward to it, I’m not fearing it, mainly because I think the athletic ability is going to be fun to watch and he’s going to be fine.”

While he will be fun to watch, I am sure that Beane and the Athletics organization will cringe with every tackle. My best wishes go out to Murray as this will be a fun story to follow and because it will be fun to watch Murray roam the outfield in green and gold.

Murray and the Sooner’s rolled over Florida Atlantic in a big 63-14 win on Saturday. Only playing a portion of the game, Murray was 9-11, throwing for 209 yards and two touchdowns. The sports world will be very excited to see Kyler reach his potential on the football field and then on the baseball diamond.