Top 10 Seasons By Two-Way College Stars
Jason Jennings won the 2002 National League Rookie of the Year award, three years after starring at Baylor. (photo By R.J. Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
College baseball’s current era begins in 1999, when bat standards changed and the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams. Brendan McKay is the third two-way athlete to win College Player of the Year honors in that time, joining Jason Jennings and A.J. Reed. Conveniently, those three rank as having the best overall season by two-way players in the current era.
1. Jason Jennings, RHP/DH, Baylor, 1999
On the mound: 2.58 ERA in 147 IP. At the plate: 1.158 OPS in 282 PA.
Future Rockies righthander carried the Bears to a super regional on the mound and at the plate. Baylor lost to Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma State in a heated super.
2. A.J. Reed, LHP/1B, Kentucky, 2014
On the mound: 2.09 ERA in 112 IP. At the plate: 1.211 OPS in 290 PA.
Basically a lefthanded Jason Jennings, Reed dominated college baseball even more offensively than Jennings, lifting Kentucky to a regional final.
3. Brendan McKay, LHP/1B, Louisville, 2017
On the mound: 2.31 ERA in 97 IP. At the plate: 1.159 OPS in 254 PA
McKay has hit for unprecedented power and increased his strikeout rate considerably. Now, can he make his first trip to the College World Series?
4. Micah Owings, RHP/1B, Tulane, 2005
On the mound: 3.26 ERA in 130 IP. At the plate: 1.189 OPS in 267 PA.
Teaming with fellow two-way star Brian Bogusevic, Owings led preseason No. 1 Tulane to a College World Series trip with power in both roles.
5. Brendan McKay, LHP/1B, Louisville, 2016
On the mound: 2.20 ERA in 110 IP. At the plate: .927 OPS in 264 PA.
McKay formed a formidable rotation with Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year Drew Harrington and senior Kyle Funkhouser. He supplanted Funkhouser as staff ace.
6. Stephen Head, LHP/1B, Mississippi, 2004
On the mound: 2.82 ERA in 70 IP. At the plate: 1.002 OPS in 265 PA.
Head played at Ole Miss while current Louisville coach Dan McDonnell was an assistant, giving McDonnell a guide on how to handle McKay.
7. Joe Savery, LHP/1B, Rice, 2007
On the mound: 2.99 ERA in 93 IP. At the plate: .940 OPS in 317 PA.
The 2005 Freshman of the Year, Savery was productive both ways, but his strikeout rate plummeted from 9.8 to 5.9 per nine innings from 2005 to 2007 as his body wore down.
8. Brad Lincoln, RHP/1B, Houston, 2006
On the mound: 1.69 ERA in 128 IP. At the plate: .904 OPS in 261 PA.
The No. 3 overall pick that year, Lincoln was a power pitcher (10.7 strikeouts per nine innings) who also provided pop at the plate (14 home runs).
9. Brendan McKay, LHP/1B, Louisville, 2015
On the mound: 1.77 ERA in 97 IP. At the plate: .849 OPS in 256 PA.
As a freshman, McKay worked from midweek starter and weekend closer into a starting role and finished the year as the cleanup hitter.
10. Sean Doolittle, LHP/1B, Virginia, 2006
On the mound: 2.38 ERA in 91 IP. At the plate: .912 OPS in 293 PA.
An effective college pitcher, Doolittle was drafted by the Athletics as a hitter. A knee injury forced him back to the mound, where he’s become a dominant closer.
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