University of UK Baseball News & UK Recruiting | Kentucky.com & Lexington Herald-Leader

UK Baseball

Kentucky returns 2017 SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle.

UK Baseball

2018 UK baseball schedule loaded with tourney foes, including Louisville twice

The Kentucky baseball team will square off twice against in-state rival Louisville next season, the team that knocked it out of last season’s NCAA super regional, as part of a schedule that includes 11 opponents who made the 2017 NCAA Tournament field.

Louisville acting athletics director Vince Tyra lettered in baseball at the University of Kentucky from 1985-88.

Mark Story

Should an ex-UK player running athletics at Louisville be an insult to Cards’ fans?

Now that he is the University of Louisville’s acting athletics director, former Kentucky Wildcats baseball pitcher Vince Tyra seems to feel he has to provide reassurance to Cardinals fans of where his deepest loyalties lie.

Los Angeles Angels starter Alex Meyer delivered a pitch to the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Anaheim, Calif., on July 19, 2017.

Ex-Cats

Angels’ Alex Meyer, former UK pitcher, likely to miss 2018 season

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Alex Meyer, who pitched for the University of Kentucky in college, is likely to miss the 2018 season after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Kentucky baseball head coach Nick Mingione laughs in the dugout in the first inning during the game against the Vanderbilt at Cliff Hagan Stadium on March 31, 2017. Mingione has netted a top 10 recruiting class after his first season at the helm.

UK Baseball

Meet Kentucky baseball’s 2017 recruiting class, which is ranked in nation’s top 10

Kentucky’s 2017 recruiting class was ranked No. 9 in the country by Baseball America, it was announced Tuesday. The lofty ranking is the second-highest ever for the program by the respected publication and comes on the heels of the Wildcats finishing the 2017 season in the top 10 of the national polls after advancing to their first-ever super regional.

Fresno Grizzlies first baseman AJ Reed talked with reporters during media day for the Triple-A baseball team at Chukchansi Park in Fresno on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

Ex-Cats

Former UK star AJ Reed closing in on Triple-A Fresno’s homer record

AJ Reed, the former Kentucky baseball college player of the year and major league prospect for the Houston Astros, is approaching Triple-A Fresno’s season home run record.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Andrew Albers throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, in Seattle.

Ex-Cats

Former Kentucky pitcher Andrew Albers earns 1st MLB win in 4 years

Former University of Kentucky standout Andrew Albers earned his first major league win in four years, pitching five effective innings as the Seattle Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 on Tuesday.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton throws against the New York Mets in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 30, 2017, in Seattle.

Ex-Cats

Former Kentucky pitcher James Paxton first Mariner to go 6-0 in a single month

Former University of Kentucky pitcher James Paxton tossed six scoreless innings, becoming the first Mariners pitcher to win six games in a single month, and Seattle won 9-1 over the New York Mets on Sunday.

An artist’s rendering of the University of Kentucky’s new baseball stadium, scheduled to be completed in the fall of next year.

UK Baseball

Website tracks progress of UK baseball stadium construction

Fans interested in watching the construction of the new University of Kentucky baseball stadium as it develops can track the progress on a website.

Construction is underway on UK’s new baseball stadium on Alumni Drive. This photo was taken Wednesday, July 19.

UK Baseball

UK’s new baseball stadium trades grass for AstroTurf in pursuit of ‘first-class’ playing surface

UK recently announced its intention to hire AstroTurf to install the Diamond Series synthetic field in its new baseball stadium.

Kentucky starting pitcher Justin Lewis delivered a pitch during the game against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at Cliff Hagan Stadium in Lexington. Lewis carried a perfect game into the seventh inning. Kentucky defeated UC Santa Barbara 12-1.

UK Baseball

‘Let’s go!’ UK baseball’s Mingione thrilled at pitcher Justin Lewis’ return

University of Kentucky pitcher Justin Lewis has opted to reject an offer from the Tampa Bay Rays and return to the Cats for his junior season.

Miami shortstop JT Riddle threw to first base during a game against the Cardinals on May 9.

Ex-Cats

Marlins putting faith in former UK star JT Riddle at shortstop

The Miami Marlins have turned to former Western Hills High School and University of Kentucky star JT Riddle as their starting shortstop.

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Alex Meyer delivers to the Boston Red Sox in the second inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Friday, June 23, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola_

Ex-Cats

Ex-Cat Alex Meyer turning height — he’s 6-foot-9 — into an advantage

At 6-foot-9, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Alex Meyer has a lot of moving parts in his delivery. But the former University of Kentucky standout is making his height work to his advantage with an average four-seam fastball velocity of 96 mph.

UK Baseball

Kentucky’s Tristan Pompey picked for college home run derby

Kentucky’s Tristan Pompey has been selected to the roster for the eighth annual College Home Run Derby at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in Omaha, Neb., on July 1

Justin Lewis went 6-4 for the Wildcats as a sophomore in 2017.

UK Baseball

MLB Draft: Day 3 picks include UK’s Lewis, Louisville’s Fitch

Lewis, a 6-foot-7 sophomore right-hander, has the option of signing with the Rays or remaining at Kentucky. Tampa Bay chose Lewis with the fourth pick in Wednesday’s 11th round.

Kentucky Wildcats first basemen Evan White rounds first after hitting a double during the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Jim Patterson Stadium in Louisville, Ky on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

UK Baseball

Kentucky’s Evan White picked No. 17 overall in MLB Draft

The Seattle Mariners took Kentucky first baseman Evan White as the No. 17 overall pick in Monday’s Major League Baseball Draft.

In his first season as Kentucky head coach, Nick Mingione led the Wildcats to an NCAA Tournament super-regional for the first time. However, the Cats were actually closer to making the College World Series once before in their history.

Mark Story

The time UK baseball was one win from making the College World Series

Though 2017 was the first time Kentucky reached an NCAA baseball tournament super regional, the Wildcats were closer — within one victory — to making the College World Series in 1988.

UK Baseball

Despite weekend defeat at Louisville, ‘the future is very bright’ for UK baseball team

The UK baseball team will return many of its best players and welcome a talented recruiting class that should keep Nick Mingione’s momentum going.

Latest News

UK baseball sees a bright future

Kentucky players Riley Mahan and Evan White talk to media after Saturday's 6-2 loss to Louisville ended UK's season.

UK Baseball

Mingione’s emotional final remarks on his first UK baseball team: They changed my life

UK baseball coach Nick Mingione delivered an emotional speech about his team following Saturday’s season-ending loss to Louisville in the NCAA Tournament.