OAKLAND — The Athletics will select a player much of their fan base has never heard of Monday night when picking at No. 29 in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
In contrast to last season, when they selected Oklahoma outfielder Kyler Murray at No. 9, there’s a good chance that player will eventually end up in their farm system.
The Athletics knew when they selected and signed Murray he was playing his last season of football at Oklahoma as the heir apparent to quarterback Baker Mayfield. It was a calculated risk, based on the assumption that the NFL wouldn’t fall in love with a 5-foot-10 quarterback.