Kentucky needs Burkes, Waldschmidt to shake off postseason funk

My personal internal monologue has shared a familiar refrain throughout this historic Kentucky postseason run. The lead-off hitter steps into the box, and I repeat the same three words over and over.

“Come on Waldy. Come one Waldy. Come on WALDY!”

Just like my pleas to the gods of baseball, Ryan Waldschmidt’s bat doesn’t work. In fact, two of the first three batters in the lineup have been absent from the plate since regional play. Now facing elimination in Omaha, Kentucky needs its best players to play like it with the season on the line.

Charleston Southern transfer Ryan Waldschmidt is the top MLB prospect on the Kentucky roster, projected to go in the first round of July’s draft. He ranks first or second on the team in hits (71), runs (64), and batting average (.335). He’s one of the Bat Cats’ best at the plate, but as of late that has not been the case.

Waldschmidt blasted a home run in the top of the ninth inning against Illinois to secure a 6-1 Regional win, capping off a 3 RBI performance. Since that Big Blue Bomb at Kentucky Proud Park, Kentucky’s lead-off batter is 1-for-19 from the plate with four straight hitless performances.

To make matters worse for the Kentucky offense, they aren’t getting any production from the 3-hole either. Catcher Devin Burkes was the Bat Cats’ best player in the postseason a year ago. He was named Most Oustanding Player of the Lexington Regional in 2023 after tallying six hits and two home runs. Kentucky needs that Devin Burkes to resurface in Omaha.

Burkes opened NCAA Tournament play with a pair of hits that resulted in runs against Western Michigan. In the six games since Burkes is just 2-for-18.

While Burkes and Waldo have struggled, the Bat Cats have gotten plenty of help further down the lineup. Ryan Nicholson has been outstanding and Nolan McCarthy has provided some unexpected juice. Pitching, particularly from the bullpen, was somewhat concerning entering the postseason, but that has not gotten Kentucky into serious trouble.

The Bat Cats have done things the Big Blue Nation has never seen before on the diamond. To keep this wonderful postseason run alive, Kentucky needs two of its most reliable hitters to rediscover their swing or they may not live to fight another day.

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