McKendry Selected by Tampa Bay Rays
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami’s Evan McKendry was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays on the second day of the 2019 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday.
McKendry, who was selected in the ninth round by the Rays with the 278thoverall pick, was a team captain in 2019 and Miami’s Friday night starter to open the season. The junior right-handed pitcher went 7-2 over 13 starts in his third season with the Hurricanes, striking out 72 batters over 67.1 innings pitched. He made his NCAA tournament debut on June 1 against Southern University, allowing just one hit over four shutout innings in an elimination game the Hurricanes won, 12-2, before making a run to the Starkville Regional final.
A native of Pembroke Pines, Fla., McKendry had some of his best 2019 performances against Miami’s biggest rivals. The junior threw seven strong innings in a win at Florida, striking out nine Gators while allowing just two runs on four hits. He also was outstanding against Florida State, holding the Seminoles to just three hits and striking out nine over seven shutout innings en route to being named ACC Pitcher of the Week.
McKendry put together a breakout season on the mound in 2018, where he led the Hurricanes staff in wins (seven) and strikeouts (114), as well as compiled a 3.52 ERA – second-best among weekend starters – while earning Third-Team All-ACC honors. McKendry did not miss a turn in the rotation, making 14 starts and posting the first 100-strikeout season by a Hurricane hurler since Bryan Radziewski accomplished the feat in 2014. He was a three-time ACC Pitcher of the Week selection in 2018, winning the award outright on Feb. 26 and March 12 and sharing the honor on March 26.
In three seasons at Miami, McKendry has made 45 appearances and 34 starts compiling an 18-10 record with a career 3.96 ERA and 250 strikeouts over 218.0 innings pitched.
The 2019Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft will conclude on Wednesday with rounds 11-40.
