There's a dark horse in the Kyler Murray sweepstakes quietly waiting to see if he'll pick a new career path.
The NFL's Arizona Cardinals will reportedly release the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback next week. However, the Athletics - who still hold Murray's baseball rights after drafting him in 2018 - said Wednesday that the organization would welcome him back should he wish to return to the diamond.
"Kyler is an elite NFL quarterback and I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities for him to continue his football career," Athletics general manager David Forst told Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. "That said, he and his baseball representatives know that we're always open to him exploring a return to baseball with the A's if that time ever comes."
Murray was a legitimate two-sport star in college at Oklahoma. Months before winning the Heisman Trophy in 2018, he hit .296/.398/.556 with 10 homers, 47 RBIs, and 10 steals in 51 games as the Sooners' starting center fielder.
The A's saw enough baseball potential to select him ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft and handed him a $4.66-million signing bonus while allowing him to continue playing football at Oklahoma. He was expected to begin his pro baseball career in 2019, but Murray's Heisman win led him to spurn the diamond for the gridiron before playing a game in green and gold. Arizona made him the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
By choosing football over baseball, Murray had to return most of his signing bonus to the Athletics. However, because the A's own his baseball rights, he'd have to return to their organization if he did return to the sport. Officially, Murray's been on MLB's restricted list since going pro in football.
Murray was ranked as the No. 36 prospect by MLB.com ahead of the 2018 draft, with speed highlighted as his best attribute. After signing him, Athletics president Billy Beane declared Murray was "one of the most dynamic athletes that we've selected since I've been here."
The 28-year-old quarterback has not publicly expressed any interest in returning to baseball. In a post Tuesday on X, Murray wrote: "I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it," presumably referring to his NFL career.
