The Tampa Bay Rays are going to try something new.
With the fourth overall selection in the 2017 MLB first-year player draft, the Rays selected Brendan McKay from Louisville – who pitches and plays first base. And even though he was announced as a first baseman, McKay, whose Louisville Cardinals are in the College World Series, has been informed that he will get a chance to continue to hit and pitch in the Rays’ organization.
And you can see why:
McKay was Baseball America’s College Player of the Year, a three-time John Olerud Award winner for being the nation’s best two-way player, and is a semifinalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. When you’re hitting .343 with 17 home runs while posting a 10-3 record, 2.34 ERA, and 140 strikeouts in 104 innings, you’re going to earn those kinds of awards.
And when you’re doing that for one of college baseball’s best teams, there’s no doubt you’ll be worth keeping an eye on as your pro career progresses. Here’s hoping we get some sweet pitcher dingers in the years to come.