Muller was asked to sign in the sixth and seventh rounds of the
Major League Baseball draft held this week, but declined in order
to attend the University of San Francisco on scholarship.
Muller was asked to sign in the sixth and seventh rounds of the Major League Baseball draft held this week, but declined in order to attend the University of San Francisco on scholarship.
“Had he been invited to sign in the third round or higher, he would have signed and passed up on college,” said his dad William George. “We felt his best option was to go to school.”
When the teams found out that Muller wouldn’t sign, they passed on drafting him so they wouldn’t lose their picks.
“The Rockies, Cardinals, Astros and Royals all expressed they would take Ryan in the sixth and seventh rounds,” George said. “We advised them he would not sign in those rounds as the USF opportunity was a better fit. The Tigers made a last minute call to see if Muller would take seventh round money plus a full reimbursement for the USF Scholarship. Again we declined.”
If Muller would have signed in the sixth or seventh rounds, he would have been paid about $100,000. Whereas the average third round pick makes about $475,000 per year.
The Detroit Tigers drafted Muller in the 35th round with the 1060 overall pick to have first dibs on him if his college plans fell through for next year.
They will be scouting him this summer while he pitches off and on for the Lafayette Generals, George said. The Tigers would lose all rights to him the first day school stars.
“I was very excited,” said Muller who received the call at school from his dad. “College will be just as fun as playing in pro ball. It will just get me more prepared to do it. I would have liked to have gone a little higher, but it is still an honor to have known that I could have been drafted in the seventh round as a high school player.”
Muller won’t be eligible again for the MLB draft until after his junior year.
“I’m excited for him and can’t wait to see him on the mound pitching against Stanford,” George said. “Hopefully he will be about 20 pounds heavier and still throwing heat.”
Muller finished with a 9-2 record for the Acorns this year.
