Four Wildcats Earn Academic All-District Honors

Four Kentucky baseball players have been named to the Division I Academic All-District Team, the College Sports Communicators announced. Outfielder Cole Hage also now will advance to the Academic All-America voting.

Devin Burkes, Evan Byers, Hage and Nic McCay all received All-District honors for their work in the classroom. Criteria included at least a 3.50 grade point average and significant playing time.

Burkes, a senior from Bradenton, Florida had a perfect 4.0 as a graduate student this season. He completed his career last weekend with a home run in his final collegiate at bat. He and Byers are part of the second-winningest senior class in program history. Burkes also was named Academic All-District in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 and is a five-time Dean’s List member.

Byers, from Nicholasville, Kentucky, just completed his career in the program’s Top 10 for all-time appearances on the mound. He has been an integral part of three NCAA Tournament teams and continues to garner awards for his academic prowess and work in the community. He recently was named a finalist for the inaugural Tony Gwynn Trophy for community service, is a two-time member of the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team, the 2024 NCAA Elite 90 Award winner and seven-time Dean’s List honoree.

Hage, an outfielder from Fargo, North Dakota, has been a stalwart both on and off the field. He now has been named Academic All-District four straight years, was Academic All-Ivy League at Columbia before transferring to UK and now will have an opportunity to be named an academic All-American. He also led the Wildcats in hitting, home runs, stolen bases and runs this season.

McCay, a seventh-year player from Carlisle, Iowa, finishes his career with back-to-back Academic All-District honors. He also starred on the field, going 5-0 on the mound and earning National and SEC Pitcher of the Week honors for his effort in a victory over then-No. 2 Tennessee.