GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After dazzling with sensational performances on both sides of the baseball during a weekend series win at Oklahoma, Florida Gators right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Caden McDonald received a pair of national honors on Tuesday. McDonald was named the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week by the College Baseball Foundation on top of being the two-way player on Baseball America’s National Team of the Week.
 
For McDonald, Tuesday’s news marks back-to-back appearances on Baseball America’s National Team of the Week. This is his first time being announced as the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week.
 
Starting all three games of Florida’s series at Oklahoma at designated hitter, McDonald delivered one of the most incredible, single-game performances in recent memory in game two. Finishing 4-for-5 at the plate with 12 total bases, two home runs, two doubles, six RBI and three runs, McDonald pitched three shutout, one-hit innings of relief to register the victory. Setting single-game career highs in every offensive statistic, he allowed just one walk while striking out four Sooners. All four of his extra-base hits had an exit velocity over 110 mph.
 
All told, McDonald batted .462/.500/1.077 while going 6-for-13 during the three-game set with 14 total bases, two home runs, two doubles, six RBI, five runs scored and one walk. The Tampa, Fla. native paced Florida in hits, total bases, batting average, slugging percentage, homers, doubles, RBI and runs on top of logging the series-evening win on the mound on Saturday.

As a result, McDonald is now slashing .394/.444/.848 on the season with four home runs, three doubles, 11 RBI and seven runs while working to a 4-1 record, 3.24 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, .258 batting average against and 32-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 33 1/3 innings pitched. All four of his home runs have come in Florida’s last six SEC games.

 

McDonald and the Gators open a four-game homestand on Tuesday night against North Florida. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.

 

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