Mason Moore – Syndication Server

MLB Draft concludes with seven Kentucky players selected

Kentucky had seven total players from its 2024 team that were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

Three Kentucky players were selected on the final day of the annual Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday, bringing the total number of players drafted from the Wildcats’ 2024 team to seven.

The three players drafted were all pitchers. Right-handers Mason Moore and Travis Smith were each selected in the 15th round. Moore went No. 439 overall to the Chicago White Sox while Smith was selected No. 455 overall by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Left-hander Dominic Niman was an 18th-round selection (No. 546 overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays ended up drafting three Wildcats players after taking second baseman Emilien Pitre (second-round, No. 58 overall) and right-hander Trey Pooser (fifth round, No. No. 306 overall) on Day 2 Monday.

Outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt was the first Kentucky player chosen at No. 31 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks. In addition to Pitre and Pooser being taken on Day 2, the Los Angeles Angels selected first baseman Ryan Nicholson in the 10th round (No. 292 overall).

Of Tuesday’s selections, Moore was 9-4 with a 5.05 ERA in 92 2/3 innings for the Wildcats in 2024. He made 18 starts and struck out 83 batters while walking 54. Smith made 13 appearances (six starts) and was 3-4 with a 6.21 ERA. He struck out 33 and walked 22 in 37 2/3 innings.

Niman started 16 games in 2024 and was 8-5 with a 6.85 ERA in 71 innings. The left-hander struck out 67 batters and walked 25.

Kentucky baseball completes sweep over Ole Miss with blowout win

Kentucky baseball completed the sweep over Ole Miss on Sunday

The Kentucky Wildcats baseball team completed a weekend sweep over the Ole Miss Rebels on Sunday, and did so in spectacular fashion, winning 15 – 1 in the series finale.

The Wildcats scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back in this one. They added five runs in the fourth to break it wide open, and plated four more in the seventh, and the game was called via the run rule.

After a four-hit day on Saturday, James McCoy had three more on Sunday. He, Ryan Nicholson, and Grant Smith each had three RBIs on the day. McCoy and Smith each had a homerun.

On the mound, Mason Moore got his sixth win of the season. He went five innings and gave up just the one run.

Kentucky totaled 12 hits on the game. They also drew eight walks, while only striking out four times. Over the course of the three-game series, the Cats scored 37 runs to the Rebels 13.

Up next for the Wildcats is a Tuesday game versus the Louisville Cardinals. Then they play a weekend series against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game against Louisville can be seen on the SEC Network.

Kentucky baseball wins on Sunday, but loses series to Kennesaw State

The Kentucky baseball team dropped their weekend series to Kennesaw State

The Kentucky Wildcats baseball team started the year just about as well as it could have. They won 12 of their first 13 games and sat just outside of the top 25. They were looking to continue the run in a series with Kennesaw State.

In game one on Friday, the Owls jumped out early, scoring four runs in the third inning. Kentucky scored a run in the fifth, but Kennesaw State scored again the seventh, and then exploded for eight runs in the eighth and won 13 – 1.

The second game of the series was more of the same. Kennesaw State scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Kentucky bats were silent again as well, and the Owls won 10 – 2.

Things got better on Sunday. Emilien Pitre went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Mason Moore pitched seven innings, holding the Owls to one hit and one run. Kentucky won the finale 5 – 2.

It was a tough weekend for Wildcats baseball, but they did end on a positive note. Next, they’ll host Murray State for a Tuesday game, then the Georgia Bulldogs come to town for a weekend series.

Kentucky Completes Sweep of Lipscomb

Kentucky baseball looked to complete the sweet of Lipscomb on Sunday

The Kentucky Wildcats baseball team completed their sweep of Lipscomb with a 9-1 victory over the Bisons on Sunday. UK is off to a 10-1 start to this season, which is tied for the second best start ever with the 2022 team, just behind the 12-1 start by the 2018 team.

Mason Moore started the game for the Wildcats, pitching a solid five innings for them, allowing only one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out seven. The Wildcats bullpen finished off the game with four scoreless innings, raising their scoreless inning streak to 18 innings. Evan Byers, Cameron O’Brien, and Colby Frieda pitched the four innings, striking out six.

The offense was strong again for the Wildcats, finishing the day with 16 hits. Émilien Pitre helped lead the Wildcats bats, putting up three hits for the second straight game, along with two RBIs and a run scored. DH Ryan Waldschmidt had a huge day for the Wildcats, going three for five with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.

The Wildcats now move on to a two game home and home series against Eastern Kentucky this week. Kentucky will play EKU at home on Tuesday, March 5 at 4 p.m. EST. The game will be available to watch on SECN+ and can be listened to the UK Sports Network on UKathletics.com and 98.5 FM.