Tampa Bay Rays select Kentucky second baseman Emilien Pitre in 2024 MLB Draft

Kentucky second baseman Emilien Pitre has been selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Pitre was one of five Wildcats to finish the season batting .300 or better. Match that with his 1.094 OPS, Pitre accounted for 57 runs for the Wildcats this season off 72 hits. While his home run numbers capped at 10, he logged 32 extra base hits this season to go with 58 RBIs.

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Pitre, a native of Repentigny, Quebec, Canada was a star on Canadian provincial teams during his pre-college days, playing on the national junior team. He was highly regarded and ranked as Quebec’s best positional player in the 2021 cycle.

Committing to Nick Mingione and Kentucky, Pitre made brief appearances for the Wildcats as a true freshman. However, in the years since Pitre became a catalyst for Mingione’s unique style of offense. He provided Kentucky with an added aggressiveness on base-stealing attempts.

Defensively, Pitre is a strong second baseman who can cover a lot of ground in the middle of the infield. His arm strength isn’t where it needs to be just yet, which could hinder him from being moved around the infield in a sort of utility role during his professional career.

He is the only Kentucky player from this past season to appear and play in all 62 games in 2024.

“Pitre has a mature approach, working deep counts and concentrating on making all-fields contact so he can get on base,” Pitre’s MLB scouting report reads. “He’s pulling more pitches and producing solid exit velocities in 2024, but he still has a flat left-handed swing that generates a lot of grounders and cuts into his power production. He struggled with wood bats in the Cape Cod League and may top out at 10 homers per season in pro ball.”

Pitre still has college eligibility remaining, but whether or not he takes his talents to the professional level — Pitre can hang his hat knowing he played a massive role in the Wildcats’ historic season this past spring. Kentucky ultimately finished 46-16, logging the most wins in UK baseball program history and included a 22-8 conference record and the first-ever SEC regular season championship in program history. Of course, the team’s season ended in Omaha at the College World Series for the first time ever.