The College Baseball Foundation announced the semifinalists for a trio of national awards on Thursday and those candidates included University of Louisville juniors Brendan McKay and Devin Hairston.
McKay was named among nine semifinalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and was one of 21 semifinalists for the Pitcher of the Year Award. Hairston was among 13 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award honoring the nation’s top shortstop.
A two-time John Olerud Award winner, McKay is hitting .379 with 15 home runs, 46 RBI, .733 slugging percentage and .498 on-base percentage in 48 games played this season. The two-time All-American from Darlington, Pennsylvania has also been stellar on the mound producing a 7-3 record with a 1.92 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 75.0 innings pitched.
Hairston, a finalist for last year’s Brooks Wallace Award, has delivered another strong season for the Cardinals hitting .330 with three home runs, 14 doubles and 46 RBI. The Lexington, Kentucky native has also been tremendous defensively committing just one error in 195 chances this season for a .995 fielding percentage in 49 starts at shortstop.
For more information on the Olerud Award, Pitcher of the Year Award, Brooks Wallace Award or the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Night of Champions, visit www.collegebaseballhall.org.
Up next, No. 2 Louisville takes on No. 7 Clemson in a weekend road series starting Friday at 1 p.m., ET. The Cardinals and Tigers are also slated for Saturday at 4 p.m., and Sunday at noon.
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by Garett Wall
Assistant Sports Information Director
