Top pick signs, still focused on football

OAKLAND >> Wearing a green A’s jersey with his name on the back, Kyler Murray began to live out his dream Friday night when he stepped in the cage and took his first professional batting practice.

Murray hit some impressive drives and even launched one over the fence. The A’s first-round draft pick was officially signed, sealed and delivered, but his immediate goal has nothing to with playing in a big league game or even a minor league game. There will be no time for hitting, throwing or stealing bases.

“Right now it’s about getting ready to go win a national championship,” Murray said.

Murray, 20, is projected as the starting quarterback at Oklahoma University, the successor to Heisman Trophy winner and NFL No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield. He won’t go back to school as a poor college student either, having been selected with the ninth overall pick that brings with it an estimated payout of $4.7 million.

The A’s are gambling that the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Murray is such an exceptional athlete he can walk away from the sport and try and live out his football dream before turning his attention full-time to baseball.

“This is one of the most dynamic athletes that I think we’ve ever selected since I’ve been here,” A’s executive vice president Billy Beane said.

Some teams shied away from Murray, unsure if they could get a baseball commitment and even if they did, was it worth the risk to let him play one last season of football.

Beane was sure Murray would choose baseball over the long term once he learned his agent was Scott Boras.

“The fact that Scott was involved gave us a sense of confidence before the draft,” Beane said. “Scott represents baseball players. Things moved very quickly, and it wasn’t very complicated at all.”

A right-handed hitting outfielder with excellent speed, Murray hit .296 for the Oklahoma baseball team this season with 10 homers and 47 RBIs. Murray said he’s heard himself compared to none other than A’s Hall of Fame left fielder Rickey Henderson.

“I’ve watched a lot of his film. Great player, great legend, obviously,” Murray said. “But I’m pretty confident in my own skills.”

Although Murray isn’t far off from Seattle’s Russell Wilson in terms of size as a quarterback, he’s not considered a NFL prospect. As a high school quarterback at Allen High in Texas, Murray started 42 games and won 42. He started his career at Texas A&M.

A’s manager Bob Melvin, who got to meet with Murray for the first time, says he’ll be watching OU. Sort of.

“We have a little vested interest in watching Oklahoma football this year — with our eyes closed and our ears closed,” Melvin said.