Baseball America ranks UK No. 25 in preseason

[Derek Terry]

Press release courtesy of UK:

LEXINGTON, Ky. --Kentucky has been ranked No. 25 in the preseason, it was announcedon Monday morning by Baseball America.

It marks just the second time in UK history that the Wildcats have appeared in the widely respected Baseball America preseason top-25, including a school-record No. 11 preseason spot in 2013. UK has been ranked in the preseason just five times in its history, including three times under Coach Gary Henderson. Preseason polls have been acquired back to 1999.

The Wildcats check in as seven Southeastern Conference teams in the Baseball America top-25, including Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss

Kentucky has now been ranked in two preseason polls in 2016, checking in No. 29 in the Collegiate Baseball poll.

As part of its season preview, Baseball America has ranked the top 100 college prospects available for the 2016 MLB Draft, including UK junior righty Zack Brown (No. 30) and senior right-hander Kyle Cody (No. 33). D1baseball has also ranked the top 300 college prospects available for the 2016 MLB Draft, including Brown (No. 40), Cody (No. 45), UK junior third baseman JaVon Shelby (No. 75) and senior righty Dustin Beggs (No. 275).

In addition to the aforementioned preseason honorees, the Wildcats return standout Evan White, who was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team first baseman in his collegiate debut. UK also returns junior outfielders Storm Wilson and Marcus Carson, in addition to senior catcher Zach Arnold. UK’s bullpen is boosted by the return of senior righties Bo Wilson and Zach Strecker and left-handed workhorse Logan Salow. UK sophomore lefty Zach Logue and sophomore infielder Riley Mahan are coming off all-star summers in their collegiate leagues, with Logue earning pitcher of the year honors in the circuit.

Kentucky will open its 2016 season on Feb. 19 at Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Thanks for the write-up DT!

I think that the Baseball America poll is probably one of the more accurate polls. Would be nice if it holds true this time. By the way, Louisville is ranked No.2 in their poll.

 

[Derek Terry]

Thanks for the write-up DT!

I think that the Baseball America poll is probably one of the more accurate polls. Would be nice if it holds true this time. By the way, Louisville is ranked No.2 in their poll.

Writeup is actually courtesy of UK, should've specified that.

Think this is the year UL makes it back to Omaha. Thought they'd win the whole thing last year.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Derek, have they set the bracketts for the Tony Gwynn classic in San Diego, I know we play UCSB in the opener, just was curious who else is in our side of the brackett.

 

[Derek Terry]

Derek, have they set the bracketts for the Tony Gwynn classic in San Diego, I know we play UCSB in the opener, just was curious who else is in our side of the brackett.

Bryant and San Diego State are the other two teams on UK's side.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Bryant and San Diego State are the other two teams on UK's side.

OK thanks, so it looks like UK, UCSB, Bryant, and San Diego State in one 4 team brackett.

 

[Derek Terry]

OK thanks, so it looks like UK, UCSB, Bryant, and San Diego State in one 4 team brackett.

And then Nebraska vs. San Diego and Arizona vs. Tulane on the other side.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Not to thread jack here, but @Derek Terry I'm curious what your thoughts are on UK not getting the approval to build the new baseball stadium.

 

[Derek Terry]

Not to thread jack here, but @Derek Terry I'm curious what your thoughts are on UK not getting the approval to build the new baseball stadium.

I need to look more into it because there seems to be a lot of confusion on whether it's actually being put on hold or not. If they do indeed push it back even more then it's obviously not a good thing. Baseball program has been ignored for a long time. Really need to do some upgrades.