Meyer’s Career in Pictures | Meyer’s Stat Breakdown
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After tossing a complete-game shutout in a 2-0 win over No. 1 Vanderbilt on Friday, Kentucky junior right-hander Alex Meyer has been named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
A native of Greensburg, Ind., Meyer tossed yet another gem in a pitching duel with Vanderbilt ace right-hander Sonny Gray. In a matchup that was considered as the two top starting pitchers in college baseball, Meyer turned in the best start of his career, going the full nine innings, allowing only five singles and one walk, striking out five.
The complete-game was Meyer’s SEC-leading fourth of the year and was his second complete-game shutout of the season. A 6-foot-9, 220-pounder, Meyer pitched UK to the win over top-ranked VU, the first win over a No. 1-ranked team since UK upset David Price, Casey Weathers and Pedro Alvarez-led Commodores in Lexington in 2007. Meyer shut down the blistering-hot Dores, who entered the series leading the SEC in batting average, average in SEC games and on-base percentage, ranking second in runs scored.
Meyer, who leads the SEC with 96 strikeouts, needed just 110 pitches for the complete game, with Vandy not getting a runner to second base until the seventh frame. Meyer threw 72 strikes and tossed first-pitch strikes to 17 hitters. He faced only four batters above the minimum and faced the minimum through his first six frames. Meyer allowed only five singles in the game in the first shutout surrendered by the Dores since 2010 vs. South Carolina.
On the year, Meyer has struck out an SEC-leading 96 in 87.2 innings, owning a 2.98 ERA in 12 starts, allowing only 66 hits and a .220 opponent batting average. Of the 66 hits he has allowed, only 11 have come as extra-base knocks. The gem was his eighth quality start of the year for Meyer, who owns a 1.71 ERA in his eight quality starts and a 1.67 ERA in his last four outings. In his three-year career, Meyer ranks sixth in UK annals with 239 strikeouts in 197.1 innings.
The honor is the second SEC Pitcher of the Week accolade for the junior, as he was honored after tossing a complete-game in a win over No. 12 Arkansas earlier in the year. Arkansas slugging freshman first baseman Dominic Ficocciello was named SEC Freshman of the Week after pacing the Razorbacks to a series win over No. 5 Florida, and Ole Miss catcher Miles Hamblin earned SEC Player of the Week after a series victory over No. 1 South Carolina.
Kentucky (21-27, 5-19 Southeastern Conference) will return to action on Tuesday, hosting Indiana at 6:30 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game will be televised live on the Big Blue Sports Network, with Dick Gabriel (play-by-play), MLB Gold Glover Doug Flynn (color) and Ryan Lemond (sideline) calling the action. The telecast can be found on FSN South (Insight-Lexington channel 52) and in Central Kentucky on CWKYT-TV (Insight-Lexington channel 5). The game will also be broadcast live on BBSN, with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, calling the action. Fans in Central Kentucky can hear the game live on WLAP 630-AM, in Louisville on WKJK 1080-AM and online at UKathletics.com.
