Shortstop Brady McConnell takes batting practice Thursday at Rip Griffin Park in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Gators Q&A with Shortstop Brady McConnell
Friday, May 31, 2019 | Baseball, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
LUBBOCK, Texas – In what has been a jagged season for the UF baseball team, one that started with the inexperienced Gators being over-ranked in the national polls, followed by a sturdy 20-7 start and then a drop to reality once the Southeastern Conference portion of the schedule arrived, and finally, a late surge to make the NCAA Tournament, Brady McConnell has been a constant.
A draft-eligible sophomore from Merritt Island, Fla., McConnell has blossomed into the type of player the Gators envisioned a year ago when he homered in his first college game. However, McConnell suffered a wrist injury that at first hampered him, and after a few more games, sidelined McConnell for the rest of the season.
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 31, 2019
As the Gators stormed Omaha for a fourth consecutive trip to the College World Series, McConnell could only watch and wait for 2019.
Once the calendar flipped, McConnell transformed from uncertain prospect into one of the SEC's top players.
McConnell leads the Gators in the triple crown categories with a .341 average, 15 home runs and 47 RBI. McConnell's power surge allowed him to eclipse the school record for single-season home runs by a shortstop, breaking Mark Ellis' record of 14 set 21 years ago.
Others have taken notice of McConnell's breakout season. D1Baseball.com, a leading media authority on college baseball, lists McConnell as "the most exciting player" in this weekend's Lubbock Regional at Texas Tech.
When McConnell steps to the plate tonight in Florida's NCAA Tournament opener against Dallas Baptist, he will do so as a likely high-round pick in the upcoming MLB amateur draft. Following the Gators' practice on Thursday, FloridaGators.com caught up with McConnell for a Q&A:
Q: What is your first impression of the ballpark here for the Lubbock Regional?
A: It's a really nice stadium. I like it a lot. The outfield is kind of big. That's our first impression. But a super nice stadium.
Brady McConnell is one of the Gators who will be playing in their first NCAA Tournament game on Friday night in the Lubbock Regional. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Q: What does it mean for you to get to play in your first NCAA Tournament game?
A: Obviously these games are going to mean more than they have all year. I mean, it's exciting. I'm ready to come out and play hard. I think we got a good draw and we have a chance to make a run. I'm excited to get it started.
Q: When you look at this team, what needs to happen for you guys to make a run?
A: I think if our pitchers can pitch a little bit better – they don't have to pitch lights out – I think we'll be alright. Our offense, if we keep swinging it, it's going to be hard to stop us, I think. And our defense has been good lately.
Q: When you reflect on how far you've come from a year ago at this time, what comes to mind?
A: It was definitely a rough year for me last year being hurt. I hurt myself the first game and played a few more games after that. Obviously, I was looking to have a good freshman year last year and it got taken away from me. I knew I would come back strong this year and I'm just glad I was able to help contribute to the team and be a leader.
Q: Did you always know you had this kind of power in you?
A: Yeah, I've always seen it in batting practice, even in high school. It didn't really translate to games yet. I made some swing changes over Christmas break that I think are the reason that I'm hitting the way I am.
Q: What was that biggest change you made in your swing?
A: One thing that I changed was my stance. It's a lot different than it was last year. I was more wide open and more tense. Now I have a more open stance with a more relaxed approach. I think that has definitely helped me.
Q: How would you describe your mindset as draft approaches?
A: That is something that is obviously in the back of my head. But like I said, we've got a chance to be in the regional so I'm focused on that and to win as many games as we can and the draft will happen by itself.
