What sport should Kyler Murray choose?

Leslie Roda

Staff Writer

Oklahoma star quarterback Kyler Murray has come across a tough decision: MLB or NFL. This decision cannot possibly be easy for anyone. Not many Division-I players can say that they have the potential to be drafted high in both the MLB and NFL draft.

In the 2018 MLB draft, Murray was drafted ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics. He signed a contract with the A’s, which included a $4.66 million dollar signing bonus. Despite getting drafted, Murray decided to play football his redshirt junior year of college and the A’s had no issues with him playing football his junior year. In fact, they knew the risk drafting him and the potential that he would not play baseball soon.

Murray’s agent back in December reassured people that he would honor his commitment to the A’s, who drafted him very high in the MLB draft. Despite what his agent told the media, Murray did not confirm nor deny whether or not he would be committed to the A’s. He told the media he would wait until the end of the season to look at his option.

The Heisman trophy winner, Murray decided he was going to enter the NFL draft. At 5’10”, Murray would be the shortest quarterback to enter the NFL since Doug Flutie. In his junior season playing football, he threw for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. In his junior season baseball, Murray had a .296 batting average with 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases and 47 RBIs.

Murray should choose baseball, but only if he loves it more than football. Murray is a rare talent in baseball and football. He is incredibly athletic with intangibles. He has raw talent in baseball, and with more practice and focus on baseball; he could become a great MLB player.

Murray has to choose the sport he loves the most, not the one he is most talented at. Talent should play a part, but it should not be the only contributing factor; like his height should not determine whether or not he wants to play in the NFL. It is great that Murray is weighing his options to see where he can be successful, but at some point he has to make a choice.

Murray has a legitimate chance to not only be a first-round pick in one sport, but two. In some mock drafts, Murray is projected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. There has never been a player that has been drafted in the first-round in both baseball and football.

He has a bright future no matter what he decides. If Murray does decide to play baseball, he will be only the third player to win the Heisman trophy and play in the MLB. The other two: Bo Jackson and Vic Janowicz.

To say that this decision is easy would be absurd. Murray ultimately needs to decide what he thinks is best for him and follow his heart, not his head. By overthinking the decision, Murray could potentially find himself second-guessing his decision in the future.

Leslie Roda, a senior, studies English. She is a staff writer for Le Provocateur.