College sporting prodigy Kyler Murray is a man in demand

An American college superstar is so good at baseball and football both the MLB and NFL are chasing him — but it’s going to cost the winner.

Kyler Murray has a huge decision to make.

Whatever his choice, American college superstar Kyler Murray is set to cash in.

The 21-year-old phenomenon was drafted ninth overall in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft by the Oakland Athletics.

But the talented outfielder is just a college junior and went back to school to play football.

Fast forward to the end of the college year and he’d made a name for himself in his other sport. The University of Oklahoma quarterback had a stunning season, winning the highest honour in college football, the Heisman Trophy, after throwing for more than 4000 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2018.

He followed in the footsteps of 2018 number one NFL draft pick and Oklahoma alumni Baker Mayfield on his way to the individual honour.

When picked by the A’s to play in the MLB, Murray signed an $AUD6.5 million signing bonus with the understanding he would succeed Mayfield on the football field but return to Oakland for pre-season baseball training in 2019.

But Murray’s incredible football season has NFL sides circling and he now has a huge choice to make — baseball or football.

He has even reportedly asked for more money from the A’s and the MLB to pass on the NFL draft.

Kyler Murray is a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback.

Murray only has until Tuesday (AEDT) to decide whether he will declare for the draft.

Dallas TV station WFAA reported Murray had asked for $AUD20 million to skip the NFL draft.

Amid the confusion, only one thing is certain, according to the young gun’s manager. He won’t be going back to college.

Many responses to this saying MLB rules wouldn’t allow for it.

However, now reports indicate MLB is prepared help the A’s keep Murray & find a loophole. Also reports that the league’s marketing arm is trying to help sweeten the pot.

Leverage & stardom are powerful drugs.

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) January 13, 2019

A source told The San Francisco Chronicle the figure is inaccurate and Oakland and the MLB would work on “something creative” to convince Murray to stay.

During Kyler Murray's meeting with the Oakland A's today, specific dollar figures to have Murray choose baseball were not discussed, league sources told ESPN. There was no $15 million demand, per sources.

Clearly more money will be necessary. But it was not talked about today.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 14, 2019

At 1.75m tall, Murray is short for an NFL quarterback and experts see him going anywhere from high in the first round to the third round, should he nominate for the draft.

It would make him the shortest NFL quarterback since Doug Flutie, who stood at 1.78m and played between the 1980s and early 2000s.

The San Francisco Chronicle said some baseball talent scouts think Murray could be an MLB All-Star.

Legendary Oakland executive Billy Beane heaped praise on the youngster after his football skill scared some other teams off picking Murray in the MLB draft.

“This is one of the most dynamic athletes that we’ve selected since I’ve been here,” Beane said in June.

“People ask me, ‘Who does he remind you of?’ I’m not sure I can really come up with anyone, and I don’t want to put any pressure on him, but he’s a phenomenal athlete.”

Kyler Murray visited the A’s after he was drafted in June.

The A’s reportedly even expect Murray to declare for the NFL draft as Beane praised his football ability.

“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.

“He’s really fun to watch on a football field, and he’s going to be fun to watch on a baseball field. It’s neat that he gets to do both, and that the country gets to see both, but we’re going to get the best years, and he’s going to have a great baseball career.”

If Murray chose the NFL over the MLB, Murray would have to pay back the $AUD6.5m signing bonus but the A’s would retain the rights to him if he switched sports.

However, it still seems up in the air with Murray’s agent Scott Boras telling ESPN his client “has a baseball contract”.

At the time, Murray said it was an honour to be drafted by the A’s.

“A little surreal, obviously, getting to play a professional sport, whichever one it was, but it’s been a great day, and I’m just thankful and blessed,” Murray said. “I can’t put it into words, but I’m just thankful.”

It’s a unique situation for a special athlete with plenty of ideas for what he should do.

Still: The notion of a player who has never taken an at-bat in the minor leagues winding up with a big league deal shows how special a situation Kyler Murray's is. It's not just the Oakland A's invested in him. It's Major League Baseball, too. Murray in MLB would be a coup.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2019

I'm probably naive, but maybe Kyler Murray should just pick the sport he likes more.

— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) January 14, 2019

How cool would it be if @TheKylerMurray played both? I might be bias but don’t let anyone say you can’t do it. What a dream.

— Casey Kelly (@JustCK3) January 14, 2019

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Originally published as College sporting prodigy Kyler Murray is a man in demand