K-State’s Will Brennan was named Second Team Freshman All-America by the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the association announced Monday.
Brennan earns his second all-America distinction after garnering honors from Collegiate Baseball last week. He becomes the second Wildcat to collect multiple freshman all-America awards, joining pitcher Jake Matthys in 2013.
A native of Stilwell, Kansas, Brennan’s .350 batting average set a new freshman program record, breaking the mark of .346 set by Steve Anson in 1973 and becoming the first freshman to lead K-State in hitting since 1979 (Don Hess). The 6-foot outfielder ended the regular season in the Big 12’s top 10 in hitting, on-base percentage (.453), hits (64) and walks (34). Brennan also finished the regular season as the conference’s toughest hitter to strikeout, averaging 15.3 at-bats for every strikeout.
Earlier this season, Brennan was named to both the Second Team and All-Freshman Team while also being named Newcomer of the Week twice by the Big 12.
The Freshman All-America team is voted upon by the membership of the NCBWA. The 2017 NCBWA National Freshman Player of the Year and National Pitcher of the Year will be announced Tuesday, June 13.
K-State finished the 2017 season with a 29-26 record, its first winning season since 2013.