Five Kentucky Baseball Players Named in 2023 MLB Draft Top Prospects List

With Kentucky Baseball’s incredible season finally in the books, we now turn our attention towards the 2024 campaign, where Nick Mingione looks to build on the momentum of this year and take the program to its first-ever College World Series. After coming oh so close this season, the ‘Cats are just a few pieces away.

Roster shakeup has already begun in Lexington. Four Wildcats have already entered the transfer portal (Kendal Ewell, Reed Gannon, Tanner Kim, and Seth Logue) while Trey Paige from Delaware State announced his transfer to Kentucky back on May 25th, becoming the first incoming transfer on next year’s squad. The 2024 Bat ‘Cats roster will look drastically different.

These next few weeks will be crucial for Mingione, as he’ll have to navigate both the transfer portal and the 2023 MLB Draft, which is set for July 9th. Five Wildcats were named among Future Star Series’ Top 600 2023 MLB Draft Prospects, which came out on June 11th. RHP Austin Strickland (257), C Devin Burkes (272), LHP Magdiel Cotto (407), LHP Ryan Hagenow (410), and RF James McCoy (483) were among the Top 600. Former Wildcat RHP Wyatt Hudepohl, who transferred to Charlotte following the 2022 season, is ranked at 195.

Five Kentucky Baseball players were named in Future Stars Series’ 2023 MLB Draft Top 600 Prospects list:

257. RHP Austin Strickland
272. C Devin Burkes
407. LHP Magdiel Cotto
410. LHP Ryan Hagenow
483. RF James McCoy

Interesting… pic.twitter.com/xjZbgamFzK

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) June 17, 2023

Cotto and RHP Logan Martin will both be participating in the 2023 MLB Draft Combine. Cotto was heralded by many outlets heading into the 2023 season, but the 6’4, 250-pound lefty never seemed to get it going. He finished with a 6.00 ERA over just 18 innings pitched.

Strickland is Kentucky’s highest-rated prospect among active Wildcats. The junior righty really got it going towards the end of the season, throwing absolute gems against Florida and West Virginia to close out the season. Strickland just missed out on a starting job to begin the season but cemented himself as one of their go-to guys next season if he were to return.

Burkes is the most important piece prone to being drafted in a few weeks. A fan favorite, his stellar play in the Lexington Regional earned him Most Outstanding Player honors. Burkes finished the season with hits in 15 of Kentucky’s final 17 games, raising his average to .291. Devo finished the season with a team-high 18 doubles, 53 RBI (second-most), and nine home runs (second-most). His return behind the backstop next season is instrumental, as losing Burkes’ leadership would be a detrimental blow.

Hagenow and McCoy were the final two ‘Cats named on the list. Hagenow was dominant to begin the season, earning himself Perfect Game Midseason All-American honors. He had a brutal SEC stretch however, raising his ERA to 3.91 ERA over 25.1 innings pitched. The junior righty made just five appearances over the final two months of the season. McCoy had himself an interesting season as well, never seeming to get things going. The redshirt freshman played in 37 games, batting a lowly .228 with a whopping 60 strikeouts. MLB scouts must see some potential there.

Big Blue Nation will just have to wait until July 9th to see who’s going pro and who’s coming back.