This fall, Kyler Murray will be starring at quarterback for the University of Oklahoma.
After that, it's all about baseball.
"We're going to get (his) best years," said executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane. "He'll have fun this fall, but he's going to have a really long and very productive baseball career, and we're looking forward to seeing it."
The Athletics officially introduced their first-round draft pick Friday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. Murray, 20, and the A's agreed to a $4.66 million signing bonus, according to MLB.com's Jim Callis.
"It's a little surreal, growing up as a kid dreaming to play a professional sport, whichever one it is," Murray said. "I'm just thankful, blessed. I can't put it into words, just thankful."
The A's turned some heads when they drafted the two-sport star ninth overall, but they are comfortable with Murray playing one more season of football before focusing on baseball full-time.
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"In January, we're going to be so excited that this kid is playing for the Oakland A's," Beane said. "We (would) be hitting ourselves in January if we haven't taken this kid."
"I've been doing it my whole life," Murray said of playing both baseball and football. "Obviously I worked hard for the opportunity to be the quarterback at the University of Oklahoma. For me, that's a huge deal."
On the baseball field, Murray slashed .296/.398/.556 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI in 51 games as a redshirt sophomore in 2018. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound outfielder also recorded 13 doubles and three triples, stealing 10 bases in 14 attempts.
Murray has drawn comparisons to major league outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Jackie Bradley Jr. But he likes another comparison.
"The big one is Rickey Henderson," he said. "I've watched a lot of his film. He's a great player, a great legend obviously. But I'm pretty confident in my own skills, so hopefully one day, dudes will be looking up to me."
