Kentucky Baseball Things To Know
Kentucky Proud Park is open this weekend for Kentucky Baseball‘s first three-game home series of the 2023 schedule. Coming up at 4 p.m. today, the Wildcats host the Wright State Raiders in Game 1 of 3 in Lexington followed by 1 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday. Read a series preview here.
If you are able, you should consider attending a game to support the Cats (3-1) as the new season gets going and because it’s a beautiful stadium with fun for the whole family. KSR made the trip over to campus earlier in the week when Kentucky Proud Park began a new year with a one-game stand against Evansville. Below you will find some of what we learned about the experience, the stadium, and the team as you consider your own day at the ballpark.
Beer!
New to Kentucky Baseball games this season, an ice-cold beer is available to the general public at Kentucky Proud Park’s concession stands. UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced the big news the day Kentucky opened its season at Elon, saying, “After careful consideration of these factors, we concluded that the time is right to implement a pilot program at baseball and softball games this season so that we can learn more.”
Of-age fans have three choices for an adult beverage:
16 oz. canned Bud Light: $9
12 oz. canned Bud Light Seltzers: $9
16 oz. bottled Michelob Ultra: $10
Drink responsibly.
Parking
Worried about parking? It can a nightmare around campus, but Kentucky Baseball has open parking areas available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning four hours before the first pitch each game. You can find spots at the following locations:
— College Way lots immediately adjacent to Kentucky Proud Park
— Purple Lots by The Bell Complex/John Cropp Stadium
— Kroger Field Blue Lot
— Kroger Field Green Lot
— The Greg Page- Blue overflow lot
Shuttles will be available on an as-need basis. Full details at UKAthletics.com.
I recommend turning in by the Purple Lot sign for a short, uphill walk from behind left field.
Five Fun Kentucky Proud Park Facts
In case you’re ever in a situation where you need some Kentucky Proud Park facts–maybe during a pitching change while at a game or meeting someone for the first time and they’re really into stadium designs in college athletics–here are five things to know about Kentucky’s baseball complex.
1. The newest athletics venue on campus, the 49-million-dollar Kentucky Proud Park hosted its first Kentucky Baseball season in 2019, replacing Cliff Hagan Stadium as the home field in Lexington.
2. Kentucky Proud Park has permanent seating for 2,500 fans with additional space to accommodate as many as 5,000 people for regular season games. For NCAA Tournament games, temporary bleachers can be installed beyond the outfield wall to bring seating capacity north of 7,000.
3. Kentucky Proud Park’s field dimensions are 335-375-400-365-320.
4. The video board is the eighth-largest in college baseball at 48 feet wide and 30 feet tall.
5. Kentucky Baseball is 73-42 (.635) all-time at home at KPP.
Five Players To Know In 2023
1. Tyler Bosma, LHP: A grad transfer from Miami-Ohio, Bosma started 10 games at Kentucky last season, his first in Lexington. Now a fifth-year senior, he is a crucial piece in the pitching rotation.
2. Devin Burkes, C: An All-SEC Tournament selection a year ago, Burkes is back behind the plate for his sophomore season. He batted .378 in 37 AB with four doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and 13 runs in 20 games as a freshman.
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3. Darren Williams, RHP: Mason County’s own Darren Williams is back for another year on the mound after playing four years at Eastern Kentucky and then last season as a graduate transfer at UK. In 2022, he was 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA until injuries and Tommy John surgery cut his season short.
4. Ryder Giles, IF/RHP: New to Kentucky this season, Ryder Giles already played 185 career games with 158 starts in four seasons at Eastern Carolina, where he was First Team All-American Conference in 2022.
5. Emilien Pitre, 2B: The surprise through four games this season has been sophomore second baseman Émilien Pitre and his .412 batting average. Pitre has seven hits in his last 10 at-bats.
Read a more thorough season preview here.
Upcoming Home Schedule
If you’re interested in seeing a game, the Wildcats can be seen at home over the next three weeks on the following dates:
Today: WRIGHT STATE, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25: WRIGHT STATE, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 26: WRIGHT STATE, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 28: MOREHEAD STATE, 4 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 3: INDIANA STATE, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 4: INDIANA STATE, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 5: INDIANA STATE, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 7: MURRAY STATE, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 8: OHIO, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 14: INDIANA, 6:30 p.m.
How To Get Tickets
Now that you’re informed, it’s time to buy a ticket and get to a game. The UK Athletics ticket office and website will handle it from here with single-game tickets starting at five dollars for general admission.
Get in there.
KSR at Opening Day
Earlier this week, Kentucky Sports Radio was at Opening Day to watch the Wildcats beat Evansville in the first home game of the season, 6-3. See some of the sights and sounds from Kentucky Proud Park’s first game of 2023 in this video highlight reel of the afternoon:
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