Patrick Mahomes long ago gave up a chance at a professional baseball career when he opted instead for football and quarterbacking, first in college at Texas Tech and since then with the Kansas City Chiefs.
But refusing baseball did not dampen his love for the sport, leaving his father, Pat, a pitcher, playing 11 seasons in the major leagues.
Mahomes, 24, was looking for ways to get involved in baseball other than as a player. He found out last month when he bought into the Kansas City Royals ownership group.
“I love baseball,” Mahomes said. I grew up in clubhouses. I love it all.
“When the Royals were bought by last year [John Sherman]To, I wanted to be a part of it. It took a little while. These things take time. It took almost a year to get the language right and do it at the right time with everything that is happening in the world. But we were able to do it and they were able to engage me and be part of something that will be longing. ”
Mahomes said he preferred to own the Royals instead of another baseball team for the Premier League. Royals Kauffman Stadium shares the parking lot at Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City with Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium.
“He is all-in with [Kansas City and] he loves baseball, ” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid. “It’s a game. I joked with him that he can’t play either [sports], but he can be a part-owner of one and play the other, his two loves. ”
For now, Mahomes is a minority owner. But he would not rule out today that he has a larger stake in a property, than that with the Royals or another pro-sports team. After recently signing a contract extension that could pay him as much as half a billion dollars, Mahomes should have the funds.
“I do not know if I ever thought about owning a team … but I’m apparently very interested in all sports and being a part of sports, even if I hope to have my sport for a long time now. [playing] days are over, ” Mahomes said. “I want to be a part of sports for the rest of my life, because it gives me so much.”
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