Get To Know Kentucky Baseball's Four New Transfer Additions

After a successful 2023 campaign, Nick Mingione is already reloading for the 2024 season.

As of June 23rd, the Bat ‘Cats have lost four players to the transfer portal but added four more. Junior outfielder Kendal Ewell, redshirt freshman LHP Reed Gannon, redshirt freshman OF Tanner Kim, and junior RHP Seth Logue all announced that they would be entering the portal last week. In response, coach Mingione has brought in some big-time pieces.

Third baseman Trey Paige from Delaware State was the first to announce his transfer to Kentucky nearly a month ago back on May 25th. Paige had a great 2023 season on an otherwise disappointing Hornets team. The mighty junior led Delaware State in nearly every major statistic, including batting average (.372), home runs (14), RBI (53), and OPS (1.159). He was named to the 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-Region Second Team for the East Region and will be participating in the upcoming 2023 MLB Draft Combine. He however was not listed among Future Star Series’ Top 600 2023 MLB Draft Prospects.

After a 24-day gap, Kentucky snatched up its second transfer in Western Kentucky redshirt junior outfielder Ty Crittenberger. Crittenberger, a three-year starter at WKU, is familiar with the Bat ‘Cats. Crittenberger led off and started in CF in last season’s nail-biting 10-8 victory over the Hilltoppers. The Florida native went 1-4 with a walk and a run scored. Kentucky will be Crittenberger’s fourth and final stop (UCF, Polk State, WKU). Last season, he batted .314 with four home runs, 31 RBI, and was 20-23 on stolen bases. Former teammate and ABCA All-Region outfielder Jackson Gray, who made a grand impression during his one season in Lexington, gave Crittenberger a rousing endorsement on Twitter.

BBN, ya’ll got an absolute dog heading to Lexington!!! Let’s go!🔥 https://t.co/PVeVoWVBul

— Jackson (@jacksongray23) June 18, 2023

Following Crittenberger’s commitment, things really got rolling for the ‘Cats. Just one day later, senior College of Charleston RHP Trey Pooser announced his intention to play at Kentucky next season. Pooser had himself a prolific career at Charleston, racking up 2023 CAA All-Tournament Team, 2021 CAA All-Second Team, and 2021 CAA All-Rookie Team honors over his four-year career as a Cougar. Pooser was an absolute innings-eater, leading the team in innings pitched (86.1) last season. He started 15 games, boasting a 7-3 record with a 3.65 ERA. He was second on the team in strikeouts (75) and was just one of two starters to start 11+ games. Pooser will bring some leadership to a young Kentucky starting pitching rotation next season consisting of Travis Smith and Mason Moore.

Finally, Texas INF Mitchell Daly announced his transfer to Kentucky on Friday. Daly may just be the most interesting piece from the incoming transfer class. As a freshman, he was named First Team All-Big 12 and was selected to the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America second team after batting .316 with 15 doubles and 31 RBI in his first season in Austin. Since then, things haven’t quite gone his way. Daly has failed to hit over .240 in his last two seasons but has remained elite defensively. The addition of Daly and his career .974 fielding percentage might make the Wildcat infield one of the best in the country in 2024. The trio of Daly, Gold Glove Finalist Grant Smith, and Second Team All-SEC Émilien Pitre will make life hard for opposing batters.

Mingione and his staff are nowhere near finished — they brought in 12 transfers last offseason. Look for the ‘Cats to make adding more relief pitching and another outfielder a priority.