The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Baseball announces winners of 2018 postseason team awards
07.09.2018 | Baseball
Kody Clemens, Parker Joe Robinson, Jake McKenzie, and Andy McGuire were honored with the second annual team awards.
AUSTIN, Texas—Following the conclusion of a season that saw the Longhorns return to the NCAA College World Series, Texas Baseball head coach David Pierce and his staff have announced the winners of the second annual postseason team awards.
The six awards—the James and Huston Street Longhorn Award, the Brooks Kieschnick Team MVP, the Keith Moreland Offensive Player of the Year, the Greg Swindell Pitcher of the Year, the Spike Owen Defensive Player of the Year, and the Sean Braswell Academic MVP—are each named after former Longhorns who are honored for their contributions to the program.
The 2018 winners are: Andy McGuire (James and Huston Street Longhorn Award), Kody Clemens (Brooks Kieschnick Team MVP, Keith Moreland Offensive Player of the Year), Parker Joe Robinson (Greg Swindell Pitcher of the Year), and Jake McKenzie (Spike Owen Defensive Player of the Year, Sean Braswell Academic MVP).
McGuire, a redshirt-junior, is the recipient of the James and Huston Street Longhorn Award, which recognizes the player who most embodies what it means to be a Longhorn through leadership, selflessness, and integrity both on and off the field. McGuire, a right-handed pitcher/utility player for the Texas, returned to the team after a two-year hiatus that saw him sit out in 2016 and not make the cut in 2017. Still, McGuire persisted and contributed in a big way in 2018, recording seven saves to go along with a 1.93 ERA in 28 appearances while also hitting two homers and collecting 11 RBI in 39 at-bats. An All-Big 12 second team selection, McGuire was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 28th round of the 2018 MLB Draft and began his professional career earlier this month.
"Andy showed great leadership and perseverance over the years but in 2018 he also showed the ability to be an exceptional two-way player," Pierce said. "Andy's pride, integrity and character showed throughout the season and that's why he is this year's recipient of the James and Huston Street Longhorn Award, given
A year after his older brother Kacy received both the Brooks Kieschnick Team MVP and Keith Moreland Offensive Player of the Year honors, Kody Clemens was awarded both by Pierce and staff. A junior, Clemens recorded one of the best offensive seasons in Texas Baseball history in 2018. The second baseman hit .351/.444/.726 with 24 homers and 72 RBI in leading Texas back to Omaha. His 24 homers ranked second in the nation and rank second in program history for a single season. He was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, becoming the first Longhorn to pick up that honor since 2007, and was a finalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Awards. The ABCA Player of the Year, Clemens hit also .419/.536/1.000 in the Longhorns' eight NCAA tournament games and helped turn a nation-leading 73 double plays. Clemens was selected in the third round by the Detroit Tigers and began his professional career with the West Michigan Whitecaps (A) in June.
"Kody had a magical season in 2018," Pierce said. "A unanimous first team All-American, the Big 12 Player of the Year, the ABCA Player of the Year, and a finalist for two other major awards, it goes without saying he is the 2018 Brooks Kieschnick Team MVP and Keith Moreland Offensive Player of the Year."
Robinson, a redshirt-junior, was stellar this season to earn Greg Swindell Pitcher of the Year honors. The right-hander went 3-0 with a miniscule 1.71 ERA in 31.2 innings pitched for the Longhorns. On five separate occasions in 2018, including twice in the postseason, Robinson inherited the bases loaded with fewer than two outs and performed masterfully in that scenario. Robinson, who prior to this season had made just 10 career appearances, was an All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention selection.
"Parker Joe had a breakout season and was our best reliever, which made him the Greg Swindell Pitcher of the Year," Pierce said about the 6-5 righty. "P-Joe was our Houdini because of his great escapability and skill in controlling inherited runners. He came up big for us in big situations to anchor our bullpen this year."
McKenzie performed both on and off the field for Texas this season to earn the Spike Owen Defensive Player of the Year and the Sean Braswell Academic MVP award. The senior, who during an April game against UTRGV played all nine positions over the course of the seven-inning contest, began the year as a right-handed pitcher and utility player before he became the starting first baseman for Texas, solidifying the infield defense. In the classroom, McKenzie finished his four-year career with a 3.95 GPA in petroleum engineering. An Engineering Scholar, a CoSIDA Academic All-American, and the 2017 recipient of the Sean Braswell Academic MVP honor, McKenzie epitomized what it means to be a student-athlete on the Forty Acres.
"An outstanding leader and student for the Longhorns, Jake did it all in 2018," Pierce said. "As a senior, Jake graduated with his degree in petroleum engineering to earn the Sean Braswell Academic MVP award and also earned the Spike Owen Defensive Player of the Year thanks to his stellar performance as a utility player before settling in as the everyday first baseman."
This is the second year that Pierce and his staff have announced postseason team awards. The 2018 winners join the 2017 winners: Travis Jones (James and Huston Street Longhorn Award), Kacy Clemens (Brooks Kieschnick Team MVP, Keith Moreland Offensive Player of the Year), Morgan Cooper (Greg Swindell Pitcher of the Year), David Hamilton (Spike Owen Defensive Player of the Year), and McKenzie (Sean Braswell Academic MVP).
