NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes' father says watching the MLB shaped his son: “Seeing how guys like A-Rod and Jeter...let him know how hard you have to work"

Patrick Mahomes is poised to capture his second MVP award and play in his third Super Bowl this weekend. He has a case for being one of the best football players ever, but his father believes it's baseball that made the Kansas City Chiefs star who he is.

Mahomes grew up with an MLB father and played baseball a lot. It's visible in some of the throws that he makes and how he slides, and the quarterback definitely used to play baseball.

Mahomes' father said growing up around the MLB shaped his son via Yahoo! Sports:

“Being in a clubhouse and seeing how guys like A-Rod and Jeter went about their business, how hard they worked before the games and after the games, even if they had great games the night before, let him know how hard you have to work to get there and to be one of the best. And then to stay there, you have to work even harder."

He continued:

“Patrick has always had that mentality that he was going to be better the next day than he was the day before. It’s very easy to slack off when you’re the best player on the field every time you step out there, but he’s always grinding, trying to get better. That’s why I think he’s done some of the things he’s done early in his career and had so much success.”

Mahomes has had an insanely successful NFL career already. Could he have been that good in the MLB? Maybe, but the MLB almost assuredly helped him become the star athlete he is today.

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Did Patrick Mahomes get drafted into the MLB?

In 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs changed their future by selecting Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick in the first round. This was not the first time the future MVP has been drafted, though.

Patrick Mahomes swinging a baseball bat

In 2014, Mahomes was drafted as an MLB prospect. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round. Obviously, that kind of draft position doesn't indicate that a top tier baseball career is on the way, so Mahomes opted to stay in school and stick with football.