Stanford running back Tyler Gaffney has made a choice when it comes to his athletic future.
Gaffney, a two-sport athlete for the Cardinal, was drafted in the 24th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2012 MLB draft. Late last week, the would-be senior running back had this to say on his Twitter account:
In a statement released through the school Monday evening, Gaffney confirmed that he would be foregoing his final season of eligibility in order to pursue a career in professional baseball.
“Every athlete dreams of the opportunities that I have been afforded, first at Stanford, and now with Pittsburgh,” Gaffney’s statement read. “Every day of the last three years has prepared me for the chance to compete professionally, and I cannot thank enough the coaches and professors who have worked with me. I am especially indebted to Coach Harbaugh and Coach Marquess for inviting me to join the Stanford family, and to Coach Shaw for continuing to allow me the opportunity to play the two sports I love. I look toward returning to Stanford during my off-season to complete my degree.”
“I thank the Pittsburgh organization for providing me this opportunity and I am excited to begin my professional career.”
Gaffney’s been a career backup, but has complimented Stepfan Taylor nicely over the past couple of years. He has 815 yards and 12 touchdowns over his career, which totaled 35 football games.