With just two weeks remaining in the 2025 regular reason, four Kentucky players were named in D1Baseball’s Week 12 Player Rankings.
Firstly, freshman shortstop Tyler Bell was ranked the highest at his position. In his first season of college baseball in the nation’s premier conference, Bell was ranked as the 17th best overall shortstop and best freshman shortstop in the country.
Bell, who has played and started in all 45 of Kentucky’s games, is hitting for a .315 batting average with 17 doubles, seven home runs and 42 RBI. He was named SEC Freshman of the Week earlier in the season and hit the second most doubles by a freshman in the country. He made a risky decision by bypassing Major League Baseball to play two seasons at Kentucky, but he is surely making the most of it and is likely increasing his draft stock for the 2026 Draft by the game.
Next, Kentucky had two of its three starting pitchers named among the top 60 starters in the country. Sophomore left-hander Ben Cleaver was ranked at No. 32 and senior right-hander Nic McCay was ranked at No. 59. Kentucky’s Saturday and Sunday starters have excelled this season, boasting a combined 3.49 ERA in 123 2/3 innings of work this season.
McCay turned in one of the best starts in Kentucky Baseball history earlier this season, as held No. 4 Tennessee to two hits and no runs with 12 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. He was named SEC Pitcher of the Week for his efforts, becoming just the seventh in the Mingione era to win the Award.
Cleaver was stellar this season as well, as his 3.46 ERA ranks 10th in the SEC. He took the sophomore leap in his second season of college baseball and became an extremely reliable start for his team, as the ‘Cats have won in seven of his 12 starts.
Finally, senior outfielder Cole Hage was ranked as the 40th best outfielder in all of college baseball. Although his best play may have come earlier in the season, Hage is still hitting for a .314 average with a team-leading 10 home runs and 33 RBI. Hage, who transferred from Columbia for his final season of eligibility, has been Kentucky’s most effective Transfer Portal pickup.
These four players will be back in action in a must-win series against No. 17 Oklahoma this weekend. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST at Kentucky Proud Park.
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