Some people know Kyler Murray as the Oakland Athletics 1st round pick in the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Number 9 overall), and other people know Kyler Murray as the Oklahoma Sooners Heisman winning quarterback. When his career is over, will people associate Murray with football or baseball? The quick response will be, at least as of 2019, football. Kyler Murray has decided to go into the NFL draft. Just because Murray has declared for the NFL draft it does not mean that he isn’t going to pursue baseball, but it seems pretty clear that he is willing to give up $4.6 million signing bonus that he is guaranteed if he plays with the Athletics. The verdict is still unclear what Murray is going to do for his career, but it leads me to the big question, if Murray does forgo his $4.6 million guaranteed and take his chances to play in the NFL, does this hurt baseball?
How Quickly Do You Want to be Rich?
Athletes can make millions of dollars whether they are playing professional baseball or football, it is just a matter of how that money comes about. In professional football, you can be drafted in April and be on the opening day roster come September of that same year. Playing in professional baseball is more of a grind. Player’s chosen in the First-Year Player Draft in June could essentially play in the majors that same season, but very rarely happens. Most of the time baseball players have to make their way through the various levels of the minor leagues, making very little money, for their chance at the big money contract. In the short term, it seems appealing to choose football.
Guaranteed Money
In professional football, you can make millions just months after you a done playing in college. This money is not guaranteed though, and if you get cut that money is gone, so you have to be smart with how you spend your money. This is a very difficult concept to someone who is in their early 20’s (trust me). In professional baseball, you have to grind to make it to the Majors, but once you do, then it is your time to earn some cash! Baseball money is guaranteed and no matter what, you are getting paid (ask Jacoby Ellsbury).
Injuries
Looking at the two sports, there are injury risks in both, but what do you think is worse, a high risk of a concussion or a torn ligament in your elbow. Yes both can be career ending, and both can occur in either sport, but we all know the concern with hits in the NFL and in my opinion, I would much rather take the risk of having limited use of my arm compared to a brain injury that could severely affect the rest of my life.
In The End…
In the end, I think it all depends on how risk averse the player feels and how confident they are in their abilities in either sport, but I don’t think this necessarily hurts baseball. Yes, don’t get me wrong, MLB should rethink their policies and start paying minor league players what they deserve, but I think I would take the longer path to stardom with guaranteed money and less injury risk then quick money and the potential of life-threatening injuries, which the money isn’t guaranteed.
