Oakland Athletics: Kyler Murray To Stick With Baseball
By Sean O'Leary
Oakland Athletics draft pick, and current University of Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray has reiterated his plans to stick with baseball after this college football season is over.
On Monday, current University of Oklahoma quarterback, and Oakland Athletics draft pick, Kyler Murray reiterated that his future will be in baseball, not football.
"“As of now, that’s the plan,” said the Heisman Trophy hopeful."
Murray was the ninth overall pick by the Oakland A’s in June’s First-Year Player Draft. He agreed to a $4.66 million dollar signing bonus, and Fancred’s Jon Heyman reported that the agreement would also allow him to play the 2018 season as Oklahoma’s quarterback.
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That has worked out well for Murray, as he will be playing for the Big 12 Conference championship game, and a possible Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff spot.
As for his baseball career, it was a bit of a surprise when the A’s picked him where they did. Murray had come into this season as the projected replacement for reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Baker Mayfield. He had played baseball at Oklahoma, but he was always seen as football first.
Murray’s agent, the well-known Scott Boras, talked to The Oklahoman and was adamant that Murray will play for the A’s.
"“Any judgments made as to him executing his contractual commitments, understand who Kyler is. He’s committed to his team at OU, and he’s also committed to the Oakland A’s,” said Boras"
During the 2018 season, the 5’11”, 195 pound outfielder slashed .296/.398/.556 with a .954 OPS and ten home runs.
Most of his tools aren’t overwhelming, but Murray’s 70 rated speed, according to MLB Pipeline, will make hime a dangerous leadoff hitter, especially if he is able to get on base at around the same clip he did at Oklahoma.
There have been plenty of athletes that gave both baseball and football a shot, Bo Jackson, Tim Tebow and Russell Wilson, to name a few. Murray has the chance, and is projected to be, a better baseball player than all of them since Bo Jackson.
Next. Oakland A's Mount Rushmore. dark
Murray’s main focus right now is football, a sport in which he is electric, but his future is in Oakland, and that future is bright.