Kentucky's pitching staff wants to build off of last year's success

The 2024 Kentucky Baseball pitching staff pitched to a 5.10 team ERA (7th in SEC) and allowed just a .239 opposing batting average (5th in SEC), leading to the Wildcats’ first ever Men’s College World Series appearance. Nick Mingione wants his team and staff to build off of that success this season.

However, the staff took a bit of a hit over the offseason. Six of Kentucky’s eight arms that hit the 30 inning mark last season are no longer on the team, leaving seniors right-hander Robert Hogan and left-hander Jackson Nove to lead the staff into a new era.

“We want to build off of last year’s success,” Mingione said about the pitching staff at Tuesday’s Media Day. “We do return eight pitchers and return just one start on the mound (Cooper Robinson). So, it’s not alot but there are alot of opportunities for some new people.”

When it comes to new faces, one that Mingione specifically brought up was sophomore right-handed pitcher Ben Cleaver. Cleaver, who was tabbed to open last season at Kentucky’s mid-week starter, could not due to lingering injuries. However, this seems to be the breakout year for the righty.

“Ben Cleaver has been our guy that if you asked ‘Coach Minge, what returning pitcher’s made the biggest jump?’ I’d tell you it’s been Ben Cleaver. He’s throwing the ball as well as anybody right now. Three and four pitches for a strike so I’m excited to see what he brings.”

As a freshman, Cleaver pitched 6 1/3 innings to a 4.26 ERA with 11 strikeouts and three walks. He was a hero in Kentucky’s win over Florida on May 12, 2024, striking out a Gator batter on three pitches with the tying runs in scoring position to clinch the series for the Cats.

Along with the returning Cleaver, the veterans have really taken a step forward in replacing leaders on the staff such as Ryan Hagenow, Cameron O’Brien, and Johnny Hummel.

“Jackson Nove, Evan Byers, they’ve been the voice along with Nic McCay. Those guys have been the voice of the pitching staff and they’ve done an awesome job leading our guys. Thankful for them, and Robert Hogan is another returner that’s back. He started the ninth inning of the Super Regional game of the clinching one and got some key outs for us so those three guys have done good.”

It will be a challenge for the staff to get back to those numbers and production this season (especially with the addition of two more extremely talented teams in Oklahoma and Texas), but the numbers over the last two seasons speak for themselves. Coach Mingione and pitching coach Dan Roszel have gotten the best out of guys and we’ll have to wait and see if that continues this season.

Kentucky opens its season on the road at Lipscomb on February 14.