It was announced on Thursday that Louisville pitcher/first baseman Brendan McKay won the Golden Spikes, honoring the best amateur baseball player in the United States.
McKay is the second Cardinals’ athlete to win a prestigious award during the 2016-17 school year. In December, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson won the Heisman.
That gives Louisville a piece of history. For the first time ever, athletes from the same school the won Heisman Trophy and Golden Spikes Award during the same school year.
Brendan McKay wins the 2017 Golden Spikes Award.
Louisville is the 1st school to win the Heisman and Golden Spikes in the same school year. pic.twitter.com/KMTP4RKKFK
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 29, 2017
McKay joins an elite group baseball players to win the Golden Spikes Award. Three of the last five National League MVPs (Buster Posey, Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant) won the award.
McKay was selected fourth overall (and was the first college player) in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. McKay finished 2017 with an 11-3 record and a 2.56 ERA as a pitcher, while hitting .341 with 18 home runs.