Walt Beazley

McKinney Named Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Starting pitcher Keaton McKinney picked up another postseason honor Thursday morning, earning Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American honors as selected by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

A day before Arkansas embarks on its sixth Super Regional appearance, McKinney becomes the 18th Freshman All-American in program history and the first since Tyler Spoon garnered the honor following the 2013 season.

The Ankeny, Iowa native put together one of the best second halves to the season of any pitcher in the country, going 5-0 in his last eight starts, while the team has won eight of his last nine starts. He has allowed three earned runs or less in 15 of his 16 starts this year and one run or less eight times.

McKinney is 6-1 on the year with a 3.21 ERA in 81.1 innings of work with two complete games, including a complete-game shutout at Alabama. He was the only player in the SEC to earn the league’s pitcher of the week and freshman of the honors during the year and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team at the conclusion of the regular season.

McKinney and the Razorbacks return to action Friday evening, welcoming Missouri State to town for the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional at Baum Stadium. Game one of the Super Regional is set for Friday at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

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