University of Louisville

Louisville’s Brendan McKay taken as No. 4 pick in MLB Draft

Louisville's Brendan McKay pitches to a Kentucky batter during the first inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game in Louisville, June 10, 2017. McKay's fastball-hurling left arm has made him a potential No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. Thing is, so has the Louisville slugger's bat. The Cardinals star is one of college baseball's greatest two-way players, a rare talent who has given big league ballclubs a tough question to consider: Do they take McKay as a pitcher, hitter–or both?
Louisville's Brendan McKay pitches to a Kentucky batter during the first inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game in Louisville, June 10, 2017. McKay's fastball-hurling left arm has made him a potential No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. Thing is, so has the Louisville slugger's bat. The Cardinals star is one of college baseball's greatest two-way players, a rare talent who has given big league ballclubs a tough question to consider: Do they take McKay as a pitcher, hitter–or both? Timothy D. Easley AP

The Tampa Bay Rays made Louisville’s Brendan McKay the No. 4 overall pick in Monday’s Major League Baseball Draft.

The Cincinnati Reds had a chance to select McKay with the No. 2 pick but opted instead for California high school standout Hunter Greene.

McKay, the slugging pitcher/first baseman, dominated opponents at the plate and on the mound.

The 6-foot-2 junior left-hander out of Darlington, Pa., has gone 10-3 this season for the College World Series-bound Cardinals with 2.34 ERA, 140 strikeouts and a .188 batting average against.

The three-time John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year also batted .347 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI, second-best on the team in each statistic to Drew Ellis, who is projected as a second-round pick.

The Minnesota Twins used the No. 1 overall pick to draft Royce Lewis a high school shortstop/outfielder from California.

After the Reds chose Greene and before the Rays picked McKay, the San Diego Padres drafted MacKenzie Gore, a high school pitcher from North Carolina.

Jared Peck: 859-231-1333, @ItSaysHere

This story was originally published June 12, 2017 at 7:37 PM with the headline "Louisville’s Brendan McKay taken as No. 4 pick in MLB Draft."

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