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Kyler Murray’s representative, Scott Boras, is the most powerful agent in baseball, and Boras firmly told The Chronicle on Thursday that the A’s top draft pick will fulfill his commitment to Oakland despite speculation he might elect for the NFL draft instead.
“Kyler has every intention of fulfilling his agreement with the A’s and he’s grateful he has had the chance to pursue his college goals,” Boras said by phone. “He will be in spring training with the A’s.”
Murray, Oklahoma’s quarterback, is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy after accounting for 51 touchdowns, 40 of them passing, and taking the Sooners (12-1) into the College Football Playoff. On Thursday, he was named the Associated Press college football Player of the Year and won the Davey O’Brien Award as college football’s top quarterback. He has thrown for 4,053 yards and rushed for 892.
According to most NFL experts, given Murray’s size — he’s listed at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, but is closer to 5-9 — he projects as a late first-round pick.
“I think that’s something me and my family will talk about at the end of the season and weigh out the options of what the NFL thinks of me,” Murray told Tim Tebow on ESPN on Sunday. “Right now, my future’s kinda already planned out, but we’ll see what happens.”
Boras said that Murray, the ninth overall pick in June, is continuing to focus on baseball.
“Kyler said more than a week ago that he’s going to spring training,” Boras said. “When
people come around this kid and ask him all this stuff about his future and he said, ‘We’ll talk about it after the season,’ that’s what he’s saying. His attitude is, ‘The Oakland A’s gave me an opportunity to fulfill a personal goal in college football and when it’s complete, I’ll return to my contractual commitment.’ ”
Should Murray opt out of his contract with the A’s, he would have to repay the $4.66 million signing bonus in full. The amount is roughly equivalent to what a late firstround NFL pick might expect. Oakland, however, would not receive a compensation pick in next year’s amateur draft; that provision comes into play only when a draft pick does not sign, and Murray has done so.
“He could play in the NFL, certainly,” Boras said. “But no one understands this guy’s future in major-league baseball — he’s got an opportunity to separate himself from everyone. He’s got a chance to be a great major-leaguer.”
Murray, an outfielder, has drawn comparisons to A’s Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson and, of course, two-sport athlete Bo Jackson, for his speed and skill.
Murray’s uncle, Calvin, played for the Giants and works for Boras; his father, Kevin, played minorleague baseball and was a quarterback at Texas A&M. The family has been supportive of Murray’s decision to play baseball, given his smaller stature and the potential for better overall health and career longevity. Murray isn’t projected to spend many years in the minor leagues, either — he will be promoted quickly if he progresses as the A’s expect.
Boras said he and A’s vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane recently discussed plans for Murray’s preparations for transitioning from the college football season to baseball and getting in shape for spring training.
“Before he signed, I told Kyler, ‘Listen, this is something they have never done before,’ and he is very respectful of that,” Boras said. “That’s why he said a week ago he’s going to finish up with football and then go to spring training.
“The fact is Billy trusted us, me and Kyler, and allowed Kyler to achieve his college goals and be a part of something special. And we take that very seriously.”