'The King of Work' Devin Burkes' Postseason Heroics Emphasized With MVP Award
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky catcher Devin Burkes continues to shine in postseason play.
After leading the Wildcats on a deep run in the 2022 SEC Tournament, the redshirt sophomore provided a six-hit Lexington Regional in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, belting two home runs while driving in seven runs.
He started a sixth-inning rally in Kentucky's 4-2 win over Indiana on Monday night, striping a double down the left-field line to lead off the frame, leading to the Cats scoring the final two runs of the game.
As a result, he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Regional. Burkes was one of seven Cats tabbed to the team:
- C Devin Burkes, Kentucky (MVP)
- 1B Hunter Gilliam, Kentucky
- 2B JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia
- SS Phillip Glasser, Indiana
- 3B Jase Felker, Kentucky
- LF Ryan Waldschmidt, Kentucky
- CF Bobby Whalen, Indiana
- RF Nolan McCarthy, Kentucky
- DH Carter Mathison, Indiana
- P Austin Strickland, Kentucky
- P Mason Moore, Kentucky
All Burkes could chalk his postseason success up to was living for the moment:
"You just got to put it all out there, man. It's my favorite time of the year. Make it or break it. You don't have time to sit there and think about stuff, just go out everyday and play."
Head coach Nick Mingione sees more than that, however. He's seen the work that the Bradenton, Fla. native has put in, whether it be in the batting cages, behind the plate, or simply as a human.
It's a combination of those parts that help Burkes shine, in the eyes of his coach. Mingione told a story dating back to before the beginning of the season, where he asked for a little more out of Burkes the human:
"He's a warrior ... we basically explained to him that he had won the catching job and that we would still catch two catchers. We would want him to be fresh for late in the year. Hey, look, there's a chance you could lose that job, but as of today -- and one thing we asked him to do, hey, when we come back in the spring, Devin, I think it would be a really good idea for you to just swing by and pop in the offices every day just to say hi."
Burkes obliged. Not just for the start of the season, either.
"That guy's come by our office every day. Every day that guy comes in and I hear him at the end of the hallway and he lights up the office with his, 'hey, what's up?,' Mingione said. "He makes his way. He stops at all the offices and he stops in my office and we spend time together every day. I've learned so much about him. Personally this guy, this guy is different."
Nothing changed on Monday, either. Burkes, just a few hours away from the biggest game of his entire baseball career, entered the building and made his normal rounds, though his mom did tag along this time.
The UK catcher is the opposite of braggadocious. Any question that is accompanied with a compliment about how well he may be playing is quickly deflected and shrugged to the wayside, only to be replaced with compliments by him about his teammates.
As he found out he was named Most Outstanding Player on the podium, being shaken at the shoulders and showered with congrats by Hunter Gilliam, Burkes could've finally soaked it in and talked about how he's worked on his game and lived and died for moments like the one he just experienced.
But no, he's never been one for self praise or ego-boosting behavior. It's all about the team, and it always has been. Through the strong start in non-conference play, to the slump in the middle of the SEC slate, to the electric postseason performances over the weekend, the goal has remained the same:
"I'm just trying to come through for my team, that's all it is."
Gilliam, like Mingione, won't hesitate to brag on one of the leaders of the historical Cats that clinched a Super Regional berth for only the second in program history.
"You put in so much time and you put in so much work," Gilliam said. "Devo is is the king of work, and we get after it, I think that good things happen to good people."
Burkes and Kentucky now have a chance to continue their magical run, which leads them to Baton Rouge for a best-of-three series vs. LSU, the No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Super Regionals will take place from June 9-12.
A game recap can be found HERE.
Game recap of Kentucky's 4-0 win over Ball State can be found HERE.
Game recap of Indiana's 5-3 win over the Wildcats can be found HERE.
Game recap of Kentucky's 10-0 win over West Virginia can be found HERE.
Game recap of Kentucky's 16-6 win over Indiana can be found HERE.
- For a complete preview of the action this weekend in Lexington, click HERE.
- For some UK baseball postseason lore, click HERE.
- Everything Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said about the draw HERE.
- More on Mingione HERE.
- More on Kentucky's pitching staff heading into the postseason HERE.
- Find out which Kentuckians are returning to their home state to play HERE.
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