How Patrick Mahomes went from a high school baseball star to the most exciting player in the NFL and future of the league

• Patrick Mahomes exploded in 2018, his first year as a starter, throwing 50 touchdowns to become the MVP favorite.
• Mahomes was a high school baseball and football star and nearly chose baseball, with an offer to turn pro.
• Mahomes instead chose football, became a college star, rose up NFL draft boards, and broke out this year to become the most exciting player in football.

Patrick Mahomes was a revelation in 2018.

The 23-year-old Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was something of an unknown coming into his first season as a starter, but quickly announced himself one of the future stars of the NFL.

Mahomes' journey mirrors Stephen Curry's in the NBA — Mahomes was the son of a major league pitcher and grew up with unbelievable arm talent. After an offer to play pro baseball, Mahomes chose football, rose to college stardom, climbed up draft boards, and got taken in the first round of the 2017 draft by the Chiefs.

In his first season as a starter, Mahomes threw for over 5,000 yards with 50 touchdowns, leading the NFL. He's the favorite for MVP and has produced more jaw-dropping highlights than any other player in the league. He's a must-watch player who's only just getting started.

Here's how Mahomes went from a possible baseball star to the most exciting player in the NFL:

Mahomes seems to have been born with a good arm. Mahomes' father, Pat, was a major league pitcher, playing for six different teams.

Mahomes grew up in Texas with his mother (his parents split when he was six). He was a multi-sport athlete but excelled at baseball.

According to ESPN's Seth Wickersham, Mahomes was so good at an early age that he was traded — in tee-ball! He was moved up to play pitch-coach because he was so advanced.

Mahomes quickly outgrew the typical venues for kids to play sports.

According to The Ringer's Kevin Clark, Mahomes' arm became too strong for backyard catches with his dad. By the time he was 10, he could throw from home plate over the center field wall on a baseball field, a distance estimated to be 200-220 feet.

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