Devin Burkes has already started 132 games. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky baseball opens its season Friday and former UK coach Keith Madison believes having Devin Burkes back for another year is huge for the Cats coming off their first College World Series appearance.
He started 59 of UK’s 60 games last season, scored 49 runs and drove in 35 runs. He was hit by pitches a team-high 17 times and also walked 30 times. Burkes also fit perfectly into Mingione’s offense with seven sacrifice bunts and six sacrifice flies. He had 12 multi-hit games and a 15-game hitting streak.
Madison, an analyst for the UK Radio Network, says numbers don’t measure what Burkes, who has started 132 career games, means to Kentucky.
“Just from a leadership standpoint alone, having him back for another year is huge,” Madison said. “He is a tremendous guy to have back to lead the team. Every time you are around him it makes you feel better. He has so much energy and is so positive all the time.
“He loves people and loves the game. He is a true leader. He did not put up the offensive number last year he put up the previous year but I think part of that was due to minor injuries and he was catching about every inning of every game. He was a little fatigued.
“In 2023 he really turned it on at the end offensively, so I know the coaches are looking at him for more offense this year and I think he will give it to them.”
