Michigan's Shea Patterson signs with Texas Rangers

Nick Baumgardner | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Michigan QB Shea Patterson meets with reporters in Paris Michigan QB Shea Patterson meets with reporters in Paris.

Shea Patterson may be interested in baseball after his football career at Michigan is over.

Patterson, a junior quarterback for the Wolverines, was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 39th round of the Major League Baseball draft last month despite not playing organized baseball since his junior year of high school.

His focus is still on playing football in Ann Arbor.

More: Michigan's Shea Patterson thankful for MLB pick, but focused on football

Though he's keeping baseball on the table. The Dallas Morning News first reported Tuesday that the Rangers have signed Patterson to a "2019 contract to play after he completes his football eligibility at Michigan."

Martin Perez will pitch Thursday for Round Rock.... Jax Biggers No. 9 pick has signed... 39th round pick Shea Patterson has signed a 2019 contract to play after he completes his football eligibility at Michigan — Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) July 3, 2018

The deal, per a source with direct knowledge of the situation, is a six-year agreement that will allow Patterson to work with the Rangers' instructional staff when he has off time from football at Michigan.

He won't play in any baseball games during his football career, and the agreement has no impact on his status or eligibility at Michigan. Beginning this season, Patterson will have two more years of football eligibility remaining.

Michigan was made aware of Patterson's decision to sign and, per the source, coach Jim Harbaugh was in complete support of the move.

NCAA rules allow players to be considered as professionals in one team sport while maintaining eligibility in another. Several players have gone through the football-baseball combination over the years.

More: Michigan football, Shea Patterson and the RPO: What's it all mean?

Most recently, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray agreed to a $5 million deal with the Oakland Athletics after being selected in the first round last month. He'll still be able to play for the Sooners this fall, though.

Patterson last played baseball during his junior year at Calvary Baptist Academy in Louisiana. Shortly after being selected by the Rangers in June, Patterson's father, Sean, maintained that his son was still fully focused on playing football at Michigan.

"He's just happy and humbled he was drafted at this point," Sean Patterson said.

After winning a lengthy appeal battle with the NCAA, Shea Patterson was granted immediate eligibility at Michigan this season after transferring from Ole Miss over the winter.

He was a full participant for the Wolverines during spring drills and will compete with redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters, redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey and true freshman Joe Milton this fall.

“Every day is a work in progress. I definitely feel comfortable and have great coaches helping me,” Patterson said this spring. “But repetition, repetition, repetition. ... We got a lot of reps and I feel comfortable with it.

“I feel like being able to adapt is one of my qualities. I can get along with anybody. But the guys did a great job of taking me in and making me feel comfortable.”

Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickBaumgardner.

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