Did Kyler Murray Get Drafted to MLB?
Did Kyler Murray Get Drafted to MLB?
By Oliver Wiener August 20, 2024 21:35
Kyler Murray is a multi-sport athlete whose career has intrigued sports fans worldwide. What does the future hold for athletes like him who want to take on two major sports? This piece will explore Murray's athletic history, the narrative of his draft process timeline, what went into his choice to play football over baseball, and where it fits in on a grander scale.
A Narrative of Kyler Murray's Athletic Life
Kyler Murray was born in Bedford, Texas, on August 7th, 1997. From a young age, he displayed prodigious ability in football and baseball. He played high school football at Allen High School, where he won a state championship in Texas's Football Division I and was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The football standout also excelled on the baseball diamond, where he played outfield and shortstop.
His superb college career also solidified him as one of the elite athletes. He first went to Texas A&M University, where he played football, and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma. In college with Lincoln Riley, he won the Heisman Trophy and led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff. His stats were amazing, as he threw for 4,361 yards with a ridiculous 42 touchdowns to only seven interceptions, and his ability to contribute in the running game was on full display.
Murray was an accomplished baseball player in addition to his football exploits. The Oakland Athletics took him with the ninth overall selection in last year's MLB Draft, signing him to a $4.66 million bonus. That all-around talent endeared him to the NBA and made Wilson the first player ever taken in both the NFL draft, 12th overall, and MLB draft, underlining his extraordinary athleticism.
Murray's Draft Timeline
June 2018: Murray was chosen No. 9 overall by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of Major League Baseball's MLB Draft. He signed a substantially above-slot deal soon after the draft, showing that the A's intended to develop him as a player.
December 2018: Murray declares for and is expected to enter the NFL Draft after a highly successful season at Oklahoma, catching many in baseball off guard. The announcement was made after he had signed up to play baseball with the A's, casting some doubt on whether he would be leaving for football.
January 2019: Surrendered $1.29 million of his signing bonus back to the A's and forfeited another $3.16 million due him. It was a move that indicated just how serious Murray planned to be about becoming an NFL player, regardless of the amount of baseball money he left on the table.
April 2019: Murray went No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL Draft in April 2019, fulfilling his longtime dream of playing professional football. His selection was the end of a long road that took him from high school star to NFL quarterback.
Murray's Career
Murray became a star in the NFL by choosing football. With his performance in the Arizona Cardinals, he is one of the most promising quarterbacks in the league. His success implies that other players might choose a more football-centered professional career instead of baseball.
Dual-Sports Athletes
This choice indicates that athletes who are good in two or more sports struggle to make a choice based on financial offers, years of career, and love for the game. Since there will be many players like Murray in the future, the world of sports might change its perspective on valuing dual-sports players.
Expert Opinions
Several analysts and former athletes have said that Murray has done the right thing. According to one ESPN draft analyst, an American football expert, Murray is small at 5-foot-10. However, his skills and achievements at Oklahoma University warranted consideration as a prospect. According to an MLB player who had a similar incident to Murray, players should follow their hearts. Hence, it is for sure that Murray's heart led him to football.
In a nutshell, Kyler Murray's journey from a high schooler identified as a two-sport star to a professional player at the quarterback position has been incredible. More players should be inspired by his story and learn that the duality of sports is not something all teams support.
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