Nate Harris, top-250 baseball prospect, commits to Kentucky

Nate Harris, one of the top baseball prospects in Illinois in the 2024 class, committed to Nick Mingione and the Kentucky baseball program on Wednesday night. Harris is ranked as the sixth-best prospect in Illinois and the No. 213 prospect overall by Perfect Game, giving the Wildcats their fifth top-300 prospect in the 2024 class.

A Northwestern decommitment, Harris visited Lexington on Sunday and committed to the coaching staff on Wednesday. Listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds by Prep Baseball Report, Harris brings legitimate two-way potential as a pitcher or infielder to Lexington. Harris mostly sits in the 88-90 mph range with his fastball but touched 92 mph this summer. Per PBR, his top exit velocity at the plate was 97.5 mph. 

Nate Harris (‘24, Yorkville,IL) came out of the gates hot for @ESPRed2024! Harris recorded 10 K’s, allowing 4 H’s over 5 IP.

🔥FB reached 92 mph, sitting 88-90🔥

There a ton of physical presence on the mound and lots of feel for the zone. Huge upside for Harris. Northwestern… pic.twitter.com/LGL9WAWRSz

— Perfect Game Iowa (@IowaPG) June 30, 2023

Harris is the fifth prospect in the 2024 class to commit since recruiting coordinator Austin Cousino was hired in June. In that time, he landed two of Illinois’ best prospects. Shortstop Tyler Bell, who was previously committed to Pittsburgh and could project as the best draft prospect in Kentucky’s class, is ranked as the second-best prospect in Illinois and No. 51 overall by PBR. Georgia prep shortstop Aidan Larkin was another summer commitment whose stock has risen since his commitment to Kentucky. Larkin went from unranked by Perfect Game to No. 420 nationally. 

Still, Kentucky is looking to add to its 2024 class. Former Missouri commitment Drew Dickerson remains at the top of the board and could aim for an October decision. Dickerson is ranked as the No. 98 player nationally by PBR and No. 184 by Perfect Game. In all, Kentucky’s 2024 class has nine prospects who are ranked in the top 500 nationally by Perfect Game or PBR. 

KENTUCKY’S 2024 CLASS

• Tyler Bell – Infielder (Frankfort, Illinois)
• Bradley Ferrell – RHP (Laporte, Indiana)
• England Bryan – RHP (Hillsboro, Tennessee)
• Nate Harris – RHP/INF (Yorkville, Illinois)
• Leighton Harris – LHP (Lexington, Kentucky) 
• Zak Spurrier – RHP (Elizabethtown, Kentucky)
• Sam Bradley – 1B (Hoschton, Georgia)
• Aidan Larkin – Infielder (Cartersville, Georgia)
• Logan Grubb – LHP (Lawrenceburg, Kentucky)
• Tristan Hunter – RHP (Forsyth, Missouri)
• Hayden Mains – RHP/OF (Morehead, Kentucky)
• Zach Moss – RHP (Hopkinsville, Kentucky)
• Khaleel Pratt – OF (Evans, Georgia)