Brendan McKay named Baseball America Player of the Year

There have been fewer weeks in the life of Brendan McKay that are larger than this one.

First, the two-way Cardinal superstar will pitch and play the field against Kentucky in a super regional series that he hopes ends with his first trip to Omaha. One or two days after that’s over with, McKay expects to hear his name called as the first or second player selected in the 2017 MLB Draft.

It’s always good to kick off a crucial stretch of time with a bit of good news, and that’s what McKay got Thursday morning when he found out he had been named Baseball America’s college Player of the Year for 2017.

McKay’s junior season has been his best yet. Entering super regionals, he went 9-3, 2.31 with 131 strikeouts in 97.1 innings on the mound and hit .357/.474/.688 with 17 home runs. He helped lead Louisville to the ACC regular season title and the No. 7 national seed. For his sensational season and two-way talent, McKay is the 2017 College Player of the Year.

McKay has considerable physical talents, but his mental capabilities play a big role in his success as well. He shoulders a hefty burden for the Cardinals but never allows the pressure to overwhelm him.

“Baseball’s hard as it is, just being a regular player,” McKay said. “If you put any extra pressure on yourself, it can take even more of a toll. That’s when you play your best, when you’re free and you’ve got a clear mind and you’re just doing your thing out there.”

Congrats to Brendan.