Perfect Game Names McKay, McClure Preseason All-Americans
January 10, 2017 | Baseball
McKay receives First Team honor while McClure earns third team accolade
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville junior lefthanded pitcher and first baseman Brendan McKay was named Monday as a preseason First Team All-American by Perfect Game, while junior righthanded pitcher Kade McClure received third team recognition. It was the second preseason honors for both players as McKay was chosen as the preseason National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper and a McClure was a Third Team All-America selection by the same organization.
McKay (Darlington, Pennsylvania) was tabbed as the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and earned First Team All-America honors in each of his first two collegiate seasons. As a sophomore in 2016, McKay had a 12-4 record with a 2.30 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 17 starts on the mound, while hitting .333 with six home runs, 19 doubles and 41 RBI at the plate. The two-time All-ACC First Team selection also had a stellar summer hitting .326 with five RBI in 13 starts as a hitter and registering a 2-1 record with a 1.35 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 13.1 innings on the mound for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
McKay emerged on the scene with an impressive rookie season in 2015 when he was selected as national Freshman of the Year by four different organizations, was a First Team All-American and won his first John Olerud Award. McKay closed his first season at Louisville with a 9-3 record, 1.77 ERA, four saves and 117 strikeouts in 96.2 innings on the mound while also hitting .308 with four home runs, 34 RBI and 14 doubles in 58 starts as a hitter.
In his first season in a starting role, McClure (Mentor, Ohio) earned All-America honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (First Team) and Perfect Game (Third Team) after finishing 12-0 with a 2.54 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 13 starts and 15 total appearances on the mound. The 12 wins ranked as the second most in school history and placed McClure fifth in the nation in victories last season.
The No. 11 Cardinals are scheduled to open the 2017 season on Feb. 17-19 in Clearwater, Florida with a trio of games at Spectrum Field (formerly Bright House Field), spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Louisville will face Alabama State on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m., ET, Maryland on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., and Ball State on Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. The 2017 home-opener for the Cardinals is set for Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m., ET at Jim Patterson Stadium against Eastern Kentucky.
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