How Good is Brendan McKay?
McKay was widely regarded as the best two-way Draft prospect since Dave Winfield after winning the coveted John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award each of his three seasons at Louisville (1973).
After winning both the Golden Spikes and Dick Howser Awards as a junior in 2017, he was selected by the Rays in the fourth round of the 2017 Draft and signed for $7,005,000.
Although McKay’s pitches aren’t exceptionally strong, he has excellent command and a natural instinct for sequencing a repertoire of four average or better pitches.
In addition to his fastball and cutter, he also throws a low-spin low-spin curveball in the low 80s, which has a big, top-to-bottom form and produces weak contact because of its big, top-to-bottom shape.
Despite just seeing little action in his debut season, McKay’s mid-80s changeup looks to be a key part of his arsenal moving forward. At every level of his career, McKay has been a steady strike-thrower, and he is a talented athlete.
He nevertheless managed 145 Minor League at-bats (.629 OPS, 5 HR) and recorded two hits, including his first major league home run in a mere 10 times with the Rays in spite of the decline in his dual role.
However, McKay’s patience and left-handed power will continue to earn him at-bats in a reserve position, but his future is on the mound, where he has the potential to become a consistent mid-rotation starter.
Is Brendan McKay a two-way Player
Yes. At Louisville in 2015, McKay was a two-way player who pitched and played first base.
