:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55514065/usa_today_10119481.0.jpg)
Brendan McKay had already claimed virtually every major national honor there is to receive in college baseball. Now he has the most prestigious one.
McKay was named the 2017 Golden Spikes Award winner Thursday night during a presentation that was broadcast live on ESPN2.
Congratulations to Brendan McKay, winner of the 2017 @USAGoldenSpikes Award! #L1C4 pic.twitter.com/4G1XkVz77o
— Louisville Baseball (@UofLBaseball) June 29, 2017
For McKay, who earlier this week signed a record deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, the award is the cherry on top of a career that will be remembered as the best ever by a Louisville baseball player. As a junior in 2017, McKay hit .341 with 20 home runs and 58 RBI. On the mound, he went 11-3 with a sparkling ERA of 2.56.
McKay’s victory also represents a piece of history for the University of Louisville. U of L is now the only program in the history of college athletics to produce the Golden Spikes Award winner and the Heisman Trophy Award winner in the same season.