Kentucky OF John Thrasher named Preseason All-American

Ryan Ritter will not be the only Preseason All-American taking the field at Kentucky Proud Park this year.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association tabbed Kentucky senior outfielder John Thrasher as a Third-Team Preseason All-American on Thursday. The 6-foot-2 graduate student is the second Wildcat to earn All-American honors, joining Wildcat junior shortstop Ritter, who was named to the D1Baseball.com All-American Third-Team earlier this week.

After being named the 2021 America East Player of the Year for Hartford, Thrasher transferred to Kentucky in the summer.

.@john_thrasher22 was honored by the @NCBWA before the 2022 season!#WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/700d0ZjqlK

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) February 3, 2022

Thrashing at the plate

In 141 career games across four seasons for the Hawks, Thrasher hit .287, amassing 129 hits and a .381 OBP, highlighted by 23 doubles, 13 home runs and 69 RBI.

In 2021, he was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Northeast Region Second-Team. He enjoyed a career year thanks to a .369 average and .680 slugging percentage.

Slick in the field; Quick on the pads

With his glove, he owns a .991 career fielding percentage and nine outfield assists.

In addition to flashing the leather, he’s a consistent threat on the base paths. The all-time leader in steals for Hartford, he swiped 69 bags for the Hawks, including 37 in his 2021 season, a school single-season record.

Thrasher’s speed will fit right in Lexington. The Wildcats finished second in the SEC in stolen bases last season with 78 steals.

Kentucky will begin its 2022 campaign in just over two weeks, traveling to Alabama for a three-game set with Jacksonville State from Feb 18-20. The Wildcats will make their home debut on Feb. 22 against Southeast Missouri State, kicking off a 14-game homestand.

Behind Thrasher and Ritter, head coach Nick Mingione has crafted one of the deeper Kentucky teams in recent memory.