Fedko’s stock continues to rise at Connecticut
On Monday, Kyler and Christian Fedko were back in the lab, otherwise known as the batting cages of the University of Connecticut baseball facility. Only one week had passed since UConn’s 2021 season concluded with a loss in the third round of the NCAA tournament, but in reality, there wasn’t anywhere else the brothers would rather be.
After all, Kyler and Christian practically grew up in a batting cage dating back to the time their father John Fedko, a former longtime beloved sportscaster for WPXI, built one in the family basement when the boys were toddlers. Then came another batting cage in the backyard at 12-yearsold, where they’d spend day after day getting off swings and refining their technique. To this day, whether it’s at their childhood home in Gibsonia or 500 miles north in Storrs, Conn., the Fedko brothers are byproducts of countless hours in “the cages.”
More often than not, you’ll find them there. Together.
“We literally just came from the cages,” said Christian, the older of the two by 14 months. “I was trying to get Kyler to leave but he was like, ‘Nah, three more rounds.’ Whatever he does, it’s 100%. That’s why he’s a special kid.”
Only defining Kyler as special almost doesn’t do him complete justice.
The redshirt sophomore took collegiate baseball by storm in his three years with the UConn program. Last month, he garnered Big East Player of the Year and the Big East Championship’s Most Outstanding Player honor after leading the Huskies (34-19) to a conference title and third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. His .398 batting average, which ranked No. 1 in the conference and No. 15 in the country, was the highest from a UConn player since 2001. He also led the Big East in runs scored (57), hits (78), on-base percentage (.438) and total bases (132).
There’s more, though. He compiled six hits and homered in three of the four games in a series sweep against Seton Hall that decided the Big East regularseason championship. He totaled a team- high 24 multi-hit games with 16 multi-RBI games over 50plus outings. And most recently, he received the National College Baseball Writers Association’s District 2 Player of the Year — joining the likes of top MLB prospects Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter from Vanderbilt in the list of recipients.
“He has innate gifts,” UConn coach Jim Penders told the Hartford Courant. “He’s a very confident player. You can get on him, and it’s not going to mess his confidence up. I think the thing that separates Kyler from most guys his age is that he’s so willing to work on his craft.”
College baseball
Oh, and don’t forget about March 15, when Kyler’s home run-robbing catch in the sixth inning of a one-run game against Texas Tech garnered the No. 2 slot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Week. Coupled with a 5-for-5 performance at the plate, the catch was the highlight of what he considers “the game of his life.”
“The ball was completely sliced off the bat,” he said. “I knew it was going to go deep. He hit it well in leftcenter, a little bit to the gap. I don’t know how I did it. My former basketball skills played a role there. Timed up the rebound and went and got it.”
Just like you did at Vincentian Academy?
“Yes, exactly,” he said with a laugh. “I was just getting a board in the WPIAL championship game.”
Kyler was special long before UConn. In addition to leading Vincentian to a pair of PIAA baseball championships in 2016 and 2018, he also starred in basketball — becoming only the third WPIAL player ever to start on both baseball and basketball title teams in the same season (2018). He was special long before he arrived on the WPIAL circuit as well, largely due to a culture of competitiveness within the Fedko household. Kyler “lost in everything” to Christian when they were young, compelling him to play above his age group on the Beaver Valley youth travel baseball team in order to match his older brother.
“I still remember like it was yesterday,” said their father, John Fedko. “Kyler was 8 and Christian was 9, and Kyler really held his own on that team. We were down in Myrtle Beach playing a team from Florida named ‘Mizuno’s Glory.’ I think all those kids are playing at Power Five schools now, just all these 9-year-old stars. We got to play them in the semifinals and played the game of our lives.
“Christian hit a walk-off double to beat them and it was like we won the world series. I know they were 9year-olds, but I really think playing in that kind of environment against really good teams when they were young helped them weather the pressure in college. Kyler was playing up — not just in the local league, but on the national level.”
Then, when Kyler was 12, he hit four grand slams in a travel tournament at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. — including two in the same inning — to set a tournament record that still holds to this day. Two years beforehand, Christian was selected to compete in the same tournament’s home run derby, but Kyler wasn’t allowed to join because he didn’t meet the age requirement. Christian finished second as his brother eagerly watched from the stands.
“I know when Christian was in that home run derby, Kyler wanted to do it but couldn’t because you’ve got to play with your age group
there,” said John. “So then he went back [to the tournament] by himself when he was 12-years-old and hit four grand slams. I think after Christian’s exploits as a little kid, Kyler would try to top them.”
As Kyler and Christian grew older, the brotherly competitiveness among them evolved into a steadfast brotherly love — a “my brother’s keeper” bond that ultimately blossomed at UConn. Christian played a large role in Kyler’s decision to commit to the Huskies as a high school freshman, despite only having one other offer (Miami, Ohio) at the time. Soon after he got there, it became apparent that going under the radar of the country’s Power Five programs was a blessing in disguise.
“They gave me the opportunity when no one else would,” Kyler said. “At UConn, the full mentality is that you’ve been overlooked. Most of the guys who come here are those kids. This is ‘the grind’ university where you’ve got to start from the gutter and work your way to the top. I fit in the mold here perfectly. A lot of gritty kids come to this program. Everyone’s cut from the same cloth.”
But following breakout performances in his freshman and sophomore (COVID-shortened) campaigns, Kyler experienced his first true collegiate battle with adversity. Named the Big East’s Preseason Player of the Year, he entered Year 3 with riding momentum and sky high expectations surrounding his name. However, a nagging oblique strain a week before preseason prevented him from readying himself. He tried to rush his recovery, but pulled it again — and ultimately entered UConn’s seasonopening series against Virginia behind the eight-ball. He batted an uncharacteristic 3 for 13 over the three games.
“It was just premier fastball after premier fastball coming from that [UVA pitching staff],” said Kyler. “The results showed. I struggled a ton. I just wasn’t ready for that velocity two weeks out of the shoot.
“That was a mental flush. I was like “All right, this isn’t me.’”
After striking out 12 times over his first six games, Kyler emerged from the slump against elite pitching from No. 7 Texas Tech. He went 12 for 19 in the series with five doubles in a seemingly return to form.
“He did the work, he got in the cages, and he looks like Kyler Fedko again,” Penders told reporters after
the series. “His swing flattened out, he looked a little more confident. I could do without the celebrations on the base paths, he’s gotten base hits before, but he’s an exuberant player and I’m just happy to see him have fun again.”
From that point on, the Kyler Fedko of old was back, which in addition to getting healthy, he attributes to constant words of encouragement in his ear from the person who knows him best — even if they weren’t always what he wanted to hear. Nonetheless, Christian was the first person Kyler hugged seconds after UConn won the Big East championship.
“By me knowing him as well as I do, I know how tough he is and how well he can take criticism,” said Christian. “He wouldn’t listen to anyone else if they said the type of stuff I say to him. ...I know he knew he was better than that the whole time, but sometimes I’ve got to be the guy to remind him. He didn’t always like it, but I always knew he could handle it.”
Kyler confirmed that his days at UConn are likely over, with his focus now locked on pursuing a professional career. He is viewed as a legitimate MLB prospect among scouts for the upcoming 2021 draft on July 11. Until then, he’ll be playing in the Cape Cod summer baseball league. The center fielder’s goal is to one day develop into a “super utility guy” who can play any position on the field on any given day. And the inspiration behind those intentions stems from an unusual suspect.
“Defensively alone, you look at [former Pirate] Sean Rodriguez,” he said. “I remember I went to a game in high school and saw him make a diving play at third [base], shortstop and second all in the same game. I remember thinking, ‘I want to be this guy one day.’ where I can play every position. I want to be the best defender at every position on the field.”
Kyler said he won’t be channeling his inner-Rodriguez by punching a Gatorade cooler in frustration anytime soon, but isn’t opposed to the occasional helmet slam. There’s not much to be frustrated about, however. How his story unfolds still remains to be seen, but there’s at least one person willing to bet the house on an exceedingly bright future.
“I may be a little biased, but no one’s going to work harder and no one’s going to have the mentality he has,” said Christian. “I think it’s going to be quick and I think he’s going to adjust fast. He’s going to make it real soon.”