Athletics keep door open for former Cardinals QB Kyler Murray’s baseball return

GLENDALE — While Kyler Murray turns the page on his career with the Arizona Cardinals, it appears a return to baseball remains on the table — at least according to the Athletics.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up before their game against the Las Vegas Raiders at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Aug. 23, 2025.

Athletics general manager David Forst said the organization has let the former Cardinals quarterback know that switching from the NFL to MLB is still possible after the former two-sport star chose football over baseball.

“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,” Forst said, according to MLB.com reporter Martin Gallegos.

Known primarily for his tenure as the starting quarterback for Arizona, Murray was once also one of baseball’s most intriguing prospects. The A’s selected him ninth overall in the 2018 MLB amateur draft out of Oklahoma as a dynamic young outfielder who had the speed and power to potentially develop into an All-Star-level player.

Murray went all in on football after winning the Heisman Trophy in 2018 and was subsequently drafted No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft by Arizona. The decision reshaped both his career and the Athletics’ plans, leaving his baseball future as one of the sport’s biggest “what might have been” stories.

However, the door was never fully closed on the Athletics’ end.

Mar 4, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray wears an Oakland Athletics baseball hat as he sits courtside of the Phoenix Suns game against the Golden State Warriors in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Forst’s comments highlight a unique position in professional sports: a franchise remaining open to welcoming back a former draft pick years after he chose a different professional path. Murray would enter baseball at a later stage than most prospects, but his athleticism and prior skill set could keep the possibility realistic.

Retaining Murray’s rights allows the A’s to maintain a valuable option without committing major roster resources — something that could carry both short- and long-term implications if Murray were to make the jump.

Jun 25, 2019; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals first round draft pick Kyler Murray throws out the first pitch before a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

If it were to happen, it wouldn’t be the first time a great athlete crossed over from another professional league, but it would be one of the most notable examples in the modern era.

The future remains uncertain, but the Athletics have made it clear the former Cardinals quarterback has a place in their organization — if he ever chooses that path.

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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde