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Kentucky Baseball 2025

I have updated the front with what I found that I am missing, but if someone/anyone sees anything that is incorrect, please point it out so I can correct it.

Also, if there is any more information that you might like let me know and I'll see what I can cobble together with my limited knowledge.
 
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Sucks that McCarthy is gone.

Very tough loss in my opinion. McCarthy could have possibly gone pro and I would have expected that more than a transfer. He was kind of a heart and soul type guy in my opinion and that will be extremely hard to replace. Also has the experience of a CWS and he'll take that to another team the same way Daly brought that experience to us this past year. Wish him the best of luck, but wish he would have stuck with UK.
 
Nolan's decision is just a product of today's landscape. All of his best friends are going to be gone. The coach he was closest to is gone. He just reached baseball mecca. He's graduated. It makes sense if you look at it from his perspective (and let me be clear, this is a GUESS).

The way the portal/free agency/draft is set up now the reasons for leaving, generally, are.

1. Playing time.

If that's not an issue, it's likely:
*Not getting enough NIL and think you can (or do) get more elsewhere
*Coach leaves
*Leverage in draft (to get teams to pay you).
*Grass is always greener (human nature)

Rarely is it:
The program is on fire

Kentucky has a pretty darn good track record in the portal in terms of talent/fit. I'd guess it'll end up being just fine.
 
Rarely is it:
The program is on fire

Very good point. I certainly don't think this is an on fire situation. Just stinks for us. We are already losing a large core of our CWS team and it would be really good to have some continuity. McCarthy looked to be one that could provide that along with a lot of the other intangibles he brings. I don't blame him for looking elsewhere. Certainly not mad at him for doing what is best for him and wish him the best of luck.
 
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Very good point. I certainly don't think this is an on fire situation. Just stinks for us. We are already losing a large core of our CWS team and it would be really good to have some continuity. McCarthy looked to be one that could provide that along with a lot of the other intangibles he brings. I don't blame him for looking elsewhere. Certainly not mad at him for doing what is best for him and wish him the best of luck.
No doubt. And that wasn't directed at anyone in particular. Just an out loud thought (with limited knowledge) on the gloom and doom that tends to take place in situations like this.

My bigger worry is IF we take a step back next year (which was a legit question BEFORE the 2024 run) that fans will say I told you so and jump off the wagon.
 
No doubt. And that wasn't directed at anyone in particular. Just an out loud thought (with limited knowledge) on the gloom and doom that tends to take place in situations like this.

My bigger worry is IF we take a step back next year (which was a legit question BEFORE the 2024 run) that fans will say I told you so and jump off the wagon.
I believe CNM can pull together a good team for next year. It just won't like this year.

I was really looking forward to seeing Nolan play next year. This one hurts...bad.
 
No doubt. And that wasn't directed at anyone in particular. Just an out loud thought (with limited knowledge) on the gloom and doom that tends to take place in situations like this.

My bigger worry is IF we take a step back next year (which was a legit question BEFORE the 2024 run) that fans will say I told you so and jump off the wagon.

Ohh, I know. Just wanted to address your good point.

You know I was a detractor and Mingione has made me eat the crow I deserve. At this point, he's earned patience. I said that the key for me was consistency. I want to consistently see us be a contender (by this, I mean NCAA tournament berths), but the more success you have in a given year, the more, IMO, a down year can be accepted. We went to the Supers and then went immediately to the CWS. If we have a down year or two then I think that is understandable and I don't think it should scare off anyone. It will scare off some of the bandwagon fans that jumped on this year, but that is probably to be expected. I don't think anyone, even with a step back next year, should consider this a flash in the pan. If we are 3-4 years down the road and we still haven't made the NCAA tournament again then we can revisit that discussion, but I think Mingione has found the right receipe with the transfer portal and guys fitting his formula that we won't be looking at a situation like that. If we have those naysayers next year with a step back then I'll be here to set them straight. 😜
 
Ohh, I know. Just wanted to address your good point.

You know I was a detractor and Mingione has made me eat the crow I deserve. At this point, he's earned patience. I said that the key for me was consistency. I want to consistently see us be a contender (by this, I mean NCAA tournament berths), but the more success you have in a given year, the more, IMO, a down year can be accepted. We went to the Supers and then went immediately to the CWS. If we have a down year or two then I think that is understandable and I don't think it should scare off anyone. It will scare off some of the bandwagon fans that jumped on this year, but that is probably to be expected. I don't think anyone, even with a step back next year, should consider this a flash in the pan. If we are 3-4 years down the road and we still haven't made the NCAA tournament again then we can revisit that discussion, but I think Mingione has found the right receipe with the transfer portal and guys fitting his formula that we won't be looking at a situation like that. If we have those naysayers next year with a step back then I'll be here to set them straight. 😜
If people jump off the ship it will at least make the game threads more bearable.
 
I’m all in on CNM I think the portal is his thing and IMO that’s the way to go. Go find kids that played elsewhere that have 2/3 years experience playing D1 baseball
He’s got the last 2 years to recruit on plus he showed a good culture that kids will want to come to
Just got to make good evaluations and hope for the best
 
This kid's perfect game lists him as a C/1B, 3B, OF, RHP, UT. That is a heck of a lot of versatility and leads me to think that he will be hard to keep off the field in some capacity next Spring.

Schwartz is a good get. The upside of having so many open roster spots at the moment is UK can land a decommitment like this while many schools don’t have money for a freshman, even really good ones. He’s physical enough to have a shot to play early depending on what else happens with the roster. He’s a guy that, while not an elite runner, certainly runs well enough to have position flexibility if he shows he can hit
 
UK Player Portal Rankings:
(currently no UK player inside the top 100)
(over 5100 in the portal)

Cole Hage (DH).....105
Ryan Verdugo (P).....110
Raphael Pelletier (C).....136
Luke Lawrence (INF).....175
Jackson Lawrence (OF).....180
Nic McCay (P).....198
Scott Rouse (P).....243
Oliver Boone (P).....267
Trent Youngblood (UTL).....291
Chase Alderman (P)......471

FYI:
Travis Smith .....19
Nolan McCarthy.....226
 
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Disappointing to lose McCarthy. Especially with all the heart and intangibles he brings. Solid hitter for about average down the lineup, too.
 
I agree, but signing the OF from SDSU makes me think it's doubtful.

I think we still need OF help if we don't get McCarthy back. Right now we have Montoya who will pencil in as a starter in either left or center. McCoy is still penciled into right, but I would imagine that his spot is certainly up for grabs given that he has not lived up to expectations. Strong is a, well, strong candidate to start if he makes it to campus. However, I would imagine that at this point UK is not expecting him to make it to campus and they're exploring options. Youngblood could play outfield as the transfer from Transy, but I still think they'd prefer to find someone they won't be teaching the position to in the fall. So, I think there is still room for McCarthy to return, but I have to imagine that if he's already got a foot out the door that he's not expected to return.

There are some interesting portal options still available that I really hope we are able to grab. Not going to mention any names at this point.
 
Just added SP Matthew Watson from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Added him to the front page as well.

DT says he could be a weekend candidate.

2024 (Redshirt Junior)
Made 11 starts on 13 appearances... 3.74 ERA over 65 innings.... 74 strikeouts... Struck-out nine batters against Maryland on 2/23/24... SLC Second-Team All-Conference Starting Pitcher

6'5 220 looks real nice. Wonder if he might have had a little bit of an injury last year and that is why he didn't start 15 games?
 
I think we still need OF help if we don't get McCarthy back. Right now we have Montoya who will pencil in as a starter in either left or center. McCoy is still penciled into right, but I would imagine that his spot is certainly up for grabs given that he has not lived up to expectations. Strong is a, well, strong candidate to start if he makes it to campus. However, I would imagine that at this point UK is not expecting him to make it to campus and they're exploring options. Youngblood could play outfield as the transfer from Transy, but I still think they'd prefer to find someone they won't be teaching the position to in the fall. So, I think there is still room for McCarthy to return, but I have to imagine that if he's already got a foot out the door that he's not expected to return.

There are some interesting portal options still available that I really hope we are able to grab. Not going to mention any names at this point.
Definitely need an OF with some pop in his bat.
 
Definitely need an OF with some pop in his bat.

I guess it has been mentioned by DT, so I will mention it here... apparently this guy has some interest in UK and he'd be a wet dream for me if he can produce numbers like he did in 2023. .336 with 20 home runs and 31 stolen bases. Even in a down year this year he hit .244 with 8 home runs and stole 17 bases. He's the perfect guy to play RF, IMO and an amazing combination of power to go with chaos on the bases.

 
I guess it has been mentioned by DT, so I will mention it here... apparently this guy has some interest in UK and he'd be a wet dream for me if he can produce numbers like he did in 2023. .336 with 20 home runs and 31 stolen bases. Even in a down year this year he hit .244 with 8 home runs and stole 17 bases. He's the perfect guy to play RF, IMO and an amazing combination of power to go with chaos on the bases.

Would be a huge get. I’m curious to see what the plan is at 1B. Don’t have clear starter there right now.
 
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Would be a huge get. I’m curious to see what the plan is at 1B. Don’t have clear starter there right now.
It will be interesting, but there are a ton of options over there. If Schwartz swings it like it seems like he will he’s the logical fit. Hage also has some experience over there and his bat will be impossible to keep out of the lineup. I assume he will be the DH though. I also could McCoy putting a mitt on if needed.
 
It will be interesting, but there are a ton of options over there. If Schwartz swings it like it seems like he will he’s the logical fit. Hage also has some experience over there and his bat will be impossible to keep out of the lineup. I assume he will be the DH though. I also could McCoy putting a mitt on if needed.
McCoy has a great arm for OF, but if he doesn’t start hitting I could see him not playing much.
 
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Found no UK players on Cape Cod rosters, what's up with that? Cape's not the "know all, be all" of collegiate summer leagues, know there are many fine leagues but still expect some sort of participation in the Cape.
 
Found no UK players on Cape Cod rosters, what's up with that? Cape's not the "know all, be all" of collegiate summer leagues, know there are many fine leagues but still expect some sort of participation in the Cape.
I'd guess that part of the problem was that we don't really return many established players and when they were doing contracts in the fall the cape teams may not have has as much interest in some of the lesser known ones.
 
Patrick has been discussed here and he’s a big want, but does anybody have any intel on Kozeal from Vandy? Terry mentioned him in the article the other day and he seems like a massive get to me.
 
If they don’t lose Verdugo or Hogan to the draft I like what they’ve done with the pitching staff. A lot of depth with P’s who’ve had success in college but Verdugo is your Fri. night guy and Hogan the closer so those are big draft decisions
 
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