The recognition continues to flood in for junior second baseman Kody Clemens. After being named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and securing several All-American honors this season, the American Baseball Coaches Association named the Longhorns' slugger its 2018 NCAA Division I Co-Player of the Year. Clemens is the first player in Texas baseball history to take home the prestigious title, which is given annually to one position player and one pitcher. The American Baseball Coaches Association Players of the Year are selected in all nine divisions in the sport—NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division and high school—and are chosen by the ABCA All-America committees in each respective division.

It should come as no surprise that Clemens has racked up a lot of honors for his performance throughout his third and final season playing for the Longhorns. The son of legendary University of Texas and Major League Baseball pitcher, Roger Clemens, led the Longhorns with a team-high .351 batting average and an impressive 72 RBIs as a junior. Clemens finished the season ranked No. 2 in all of College Baseball with 24 home runs, and was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year.

The latest award comes just one day after Clemens announced his intentions to forgo his remaining college eligibility and sign with the Detroit Tigers after he was selected with the first pick of the third round in the 2018 MLB Draft.

“Man, I don’t know where to start,” Clemens said of his decision to leave Texas. “The past three years at the University of Texas were the best three years of my life. I fell in love with a city, and I made friendships that will last forever. The decision was a lot harder than most people think, but I have decided to move forward with my baseball career and sign with the Detroit Tigers. To my family and friends, I want to say thank you. I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without you guys. To the fans, you guys packed the Disch and created the best atmosphere in College Baseball. Thank y’all. I will forever be a Longhorn and always know the HORNS GO UP!”

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Clemens' season with the Longhorns came to an end in the College World Series after Texas dropped its first two games of the tournament to Arkansas and Florida. Clemens came up big for the Longhorns throughout his junior year as he racked up 87 hits, including 15 doubles and 3 triples, and finished the season with a .444 on base percentage.