Kentucky's Tyler Bell named to Freshman All-SEC Team

It was announced on Monday that Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell was named to the 2025 Freshman All-SEC Team. He is the first Wildcat to receive the honor in the Nick Mingione era and is Kentucky’s first player selected since right-hander Sean Hjelle in 2016.

Bell, who was selected with the No. 66 pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2024 MLB Draft but did not sign, had one of the greatest freshman campaigns in Kentucky Baseball history this season. The Frankfort, IL native reached base in 49 of Kentucky’s 50 games and became the first freshman to hit double-digit home runs since 1993.

“He’s an amazing competitor first off,” Nick Mingione said about Bell following Kentucky’s 11-5 win over South Carolina earlier this season. “Just a gifted baseball player and he has awareness and feel. Man, has he played well. He’s come up with big hit after big hit and has played great defensively. But he works, he works. If you watch him pregame, it’s of the highest level. Because of that, he has confidence and he should.”

On March 31, Bell became just the second player of the Nick Mingione Era (2017-present) at Kentucky to be named SEC Freshman of the Week (previously just Travis Smith in 2023). Along with the Freshman All-SEC selection, he also looks like a lock to be just Kentucky’s third Freshman All-American selection since 2017. There was one point where the program didn’t even know if he would make it to campus or not, and now he has blossomed into one of the most exciting players in all of College Baseball.

“It’s all about the preparation and taking on a bigger role,” Bell said earlier this season. “If I’m hitting the team’s hitting and just coming through in big spots for the team has been a lot of fun and we’re playing good.”

Heading into postseason play, Bell leads the team in doubles (17), RBI (46) and total bases (117). He is second on the team with a .311 batting average and 10 home runs and totaled four hits in a game TWICE this season. The future is extremely bright for the freshman, who will be back in action on Tuesday as the ‘Cats take on Oklahoma in the First Round of the 2025 SEC Tournament.

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