The Oakland A’s were hoping to have a key piece to their future with Kyler Murray. Selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, he was a toolsy outfielder who had the potential to be a star. However, he returned to college to lay football in his senior year, won the Heisman, and was selected with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. So much for that baseball future.
But that does not mean that another team could not claim his rights. Technically, Murray is eligible for the Rule V Draft, meaning that the A’s would need to add him to the 40 man roster or risk another team selecting him.
Kyler Murray is Rule 5 draft eligible
— Melissa Lockard (@melissalockard) October 21, 2021
Former Oakland A’s draft pick Kyler Murray eligible for Rule V Draft
Clearly, the A’s are not going to protect him in either the major league or minor league portion of the draft. They would need to add him to the 40 man roster, and as Murray is entrenched as an NFL starter, there is zero reason to think that he would ever appear for Oakland in anything other than a spring training game at some point down the road, just as Russell Wilson has done in the past.
Likewise, this may not stop another team from selecting Murray. Wilson had been selected in the Rule V Draft in the past, although as more of a publicity stunt than anything else. The same could happen this year.
If it was to happen, it would not be a surprise to see the Diamondbacks select Murray in the minor league portion. They could bring him to spring training for a game or two, and use his popularity with the Cardinals to help boost their franchise. It certainly would be worth the selection.
Kyler Murray is eligible to be selected in the Rule V Draft. Even if he never plays baseball, his time with the Oakland A’s organization could end soon.