Kentucky’s Luke Heyer Named SEC Player of the Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky senior infielder/outfielder Luke Heyer was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday, the second time this season he has received the honor.
Heyer, who hails from Lithia, Florida, had another week where he battered baseballs. He hit .500 with five runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI and slugged 1.286 for the week. None was more important than his clutch two-run, game-tying ninth inning home run in the series opener against No. 9 Auburn as the Wildcats scored three times for a walk-off win.
Heyer began his week with a pair of home runs on the road at Xavier before his rocket against Auburn. All three of his blasts went to the opposite field, as he continued to show powers to all fields. His five RBI at Xavier set a new career-high.
This is the second time Heyer has been named SEC Player of the Week. He also won the award on Mar. 5 after he turned Minute Maid Park into his personal fun house during the Shriners Hospitals for Children Shriners Classic in Houston. That performance also earned National Player of the Week honors from Perfect Game/Rawlings, the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.
UK now has had a player named SEC Player of the Week three times in the first six weeks of the season, as senior catcher/first baseman Troy Squires took home the honor on Mar. 12 while also earning National Player of the Week.
In 23 games this season, Heyer is batting .386 with 26 runs scored and 32 hits. He leads, or is tied for the team lead, in doubles (nine), home runs (11), RBI (32), steals (six) and slugging percentage (.867). His 11 home runs ranks fourth nationally and he’s 12th nationally in RBI.
