8 players that could determine Lexington Regional

Postseason baseball will make its return to Lexington this weekend. Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and Ball State will all be playing for an opportunity to advance to the round of 32 in the super regionals next weekend. The road to Omaha starts now.

We should expect plenty of drama in the handful of high-stakes playoff baseball games that will be played at Kentucky Proud Park over the weekend. The No. 12 seed Kentucky will be the favorite to advance thanks to home field advantage and the region’s most well-rounded roster. However, there will be plenty of challenges beginning on Friday’s opening round game against Ball State.

Every team in this region has stars, and those players could make the difference this weekend. After digging into the numbers this week, eight players stick out as individuals to watch this weekend. Each team will need its best players to deliver when the chips are on the line in an elimination setting.

Kentucky

• Jackson Gray: .363/.514/.580, 1.094 OPS (leads team), 5 home runs, 32 RBI, 26 extra-base hits (leads team), 19 steals (leads team)
• Hunter Gilliam: .330/.432/.567, 0.999 OPS, 11 home runs (leads team), 63 RBI (leads team) 23 extra-base hits

WKU transfer Jackson Gray has manned centerfield for Kentucky this season and become the team’s top offensive weapon at the top of the lineup. The lefty hitter leads the team in multiple offensive categories while providing strong defense. If Kentucky’s offense gets hot, Gray is usually in the middle of it.

Longwood transfer Hunter Gilliam is in the middle of the lineup to provide some power. The super senior leads the team in home runs and RBI by a wide margin. The 6-foot-2 first baseman has provided numerous clutch knocks for the team this season and has played stellar defense in the field.

West Virginia

• JJ Wetherholt: .443/.512/.778/1.290, 15 home runs (leads team), 56 RBI (leads team), 39 extra-base hits (leads team), 35 steals (leads team)
• Blaine Traxel: 15 appearances, 14 starts, 7-5, 3.79 ERA, 99.2 innings, 1.13 WHIP, 71 strikeouts, 30 walks/hit by pitch, 17 home runs allowed

JJ Wetherholt is the best player in the Lexington region. There is no denying that. The sophomore left-handed hitter is crushing the baseball this season and paces a strong WVU offense that ranks No. 21 in on-base percentage. Every pitching staff must be very careful with how they handle Wetherholt. His speed on the bases is a huge weapon. The second baseman never stops putting pressure on an opposing defense.

HE IS SO BACK!!

GRAND SLAM JJ WETHERHOLT!!!#HailWV | @jj_wetherholt pic.twitter.com/6Ueu0WQwN2

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) April 25, 2023

Cal State Northridge transfer Blaine Traxel has stepped in and immediately become the best pitcher on head coach Randy Mazey’s staff. The super senior came to Morgantown with a career 3.43 ERA and has given WVU some solid production this season.

The right-handed pitcher is 7-5 and leads the staff in innings pitched (99.2) with a 3.79 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts. However, he has allowed 17 home runs. Oklahoma and Texas produced a combined 13 runs in two of Traxel’s final starts. West Virginia needs their top pitcher to go deep in starts to pace a pitching staff that ranks No. 24 in ERA (4.35). That has happened a ton as Traxel has five complete games this season.

Indiana Hoosiers

• Brock Tibbitts: .372/.465/.605, 1.070 OPS, 10 home runs, 66 RBI (leads team), 29 extra-base hits
• Ryan Kraft: 19 appearances, 1 start, 6-1, 5 saves, 2.51 ERA, 57.1 innings, 1.33 WHIP, 49 strikeouts, 28 walks/hit by pitch, 2 home runs allowed

Indiana might have the best true freshman in college baseball. Starting catcher Brock Tibbitts has quickly become a legitimate threat at the player for the Hoosiers. The Ohio native has one of the highest OPS numbers in the Lexington region and hits with power at a high rate.

The offense typically wins games for Indiana, but Ryan Kraft can come out of the bullpen and take over late. The left-handed pitcher typically works for multiple innings (second on the team in innings pitched) and keeps the ball in play. It’s hard to take the ball out of the park against the sophomore. This relier pitcher has a lot to do with Indiana wins and will play a critical role this weekend at Kentucky Proud Park.

Ball State Cardinals

• Ryan Peltier: .351/.432/.654, 15 home runs (leads team), 54 RBI (leads team), 36 extra-base hits (leads team), 12 steals
• Trennor O’Donnell: 15 appearances, 14 starts, 5-3, 2.98 ERA, 84.2 innings, 1.17 WHIP, 92 strikeouts, 36 walks/hit by pitch, 19 extra-base hits allowed

Ball State enters this region with the worst offense on paper. The Cardinals need their top guys to produce to have a chance. Third baseman Ryan Peltier hits leadoff for the MAC champs and is this team’s best offensive weapon. Peltier has some real power and will have a big say if Ball State can put some crooked numbers up on the scoreboard.

A case can be made that Ball State has the best starting pitcher in this pod. Trennor O’Donnell has a low ERA, good strikeout numbers, and does not give up a ton of big hits. If Ball State makes a run, they have to win O’Donnell’s start. Kentucky could face quite the challenge to open the tournament on Friday afternoon.