A look at where former 'Cats opened the 2025 MLB season

The 2025 MLB season is officially underway, and many former Kentucky players litter the majors and minor leagues.

25 total former ‘Cats are currently playing professional baseball, while three are playing at the Major League level. Here’s a look at all 25 guys, including nine from the 2024 Kentucky Baseball team that made its first ever appearance in the College World Series.

Major League Baseball

• Toronto Blue Jays RHP Zach Pop (2014-17): Pop is currently still a member of the Toronto Blue Jays roster, but he was designated for assignment on March 27. He has pitched for both the Miami Marlins and the Blue Jays over his four-year career, boasting a career 4.45 ERA in 155 2/3 innings.
• Cincinnati Reds LHP Taylor Rogers (2010-12): Rogers, who just began his 10th year on a Major League roster, was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on January 29, 2025. The 1x MLB All-Star has now pitched for five teams over that span and boasts a career 3.33 ERA with 573 strikeouts in 491 1/3 innings.
• St. Louis Cardinals LHP Zack Thompson (2016-19): The 2017 Perfect Game/Rawlings First-Team Freshman All-American opened the 2025 season on the 15-day injured list due to a left shoulder strain. In three seasons of pro experience (all with the Cardinals), Thompson has pitched to a 4.50 ERA in 118 innings.

Triple-A Baseball

• Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders RHP Carson Coleman (2017-20): Coleman has bounced around all over the New York Yankees system over the past few seasons, but currently sits on the 60-day injured list as a member of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
• Sacramento River Cats RHP Sean Hjelle (2015-18): Hjelle, who pitched three seasons at Kentucky and was named SEC Pitcher of the Year in 2017, was optioned to the Sacramento River Cats by the San Francisco Giants just days before their season opener. The right-hander has pitched 134 2/3 innings over the past three seasons for the Giants, boasting a 6-7 record with a 4.81 ERA and 134 strikeouts.
• Albuquerque Isotopes SS Ryan Ritter (2020-22): Ritter, who is currently the No. 13 ranked prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization, is one level away from making his Major League Baseball debut. He’ll open the season with AAA Albuquerque after spending Spring Training with the Rockies. Over three minor league seasons, Ritter boasts a .277 average with 46 doubles, 33 home runs and 122 RBI. He was named the Fresno Grizzlies (Single-A) Most Valuable Player in 2023.

Double-A Baseball

• Corpus Christi Hooks RHP Tyler Guilfoil (2020-22): The former First Team All-SEC arm continues his march to the Major Leagues, as he’ll open the 2025 season with Houston Astros AA affiliate Corpus Christi Hooks. It will be Guilfoil’s fourth season in the minors, where he boasts a career 3.86 ERA in 219 1/3 innings.
• Springfield Cardinals RHP Sean Harney (2020-22): Harney has bounced all around the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets minor league systems, but has yet to break through to the Majors. He’ll however now open the 2025 season with the Springfield Cardinals after being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on March 25. In 124 1/3 career innings in the minors, Harney boasts a 3.90 ERA.
• Reading Fightin Phils RHP Daniel Harper (2017-22): Harper spent five seasons at Kentucky, compiling a whopping 171 1/3 innings. He will now embark on his fourth season in the minor leagues with the Reading Fightin Phils, a AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. He has compiled a 3.97 ERA in 93 innings over three seasons in the Phillies system.
• Rocket City Trash Pandas 1B Ryan Nicholson (2023-24): Nicholson spent just one season at Kentucky, but made the most of it. He slugged 23 home runs (T-most in Mingione era) and helped propel the ‘Cats to the College World Series in 2024. He is flying through the notoriously fast moving Los Angeles Angels system, and will open the 2025 season in Double-A with the Trash Pandas. He hit for a .280 average with four home runs over 33 minor league games last season.
• Tulsa Drillers OF John Rhodes (2019-21): Rhodes, who was the 2020 Collegiate Baseball News National co-Freshman of the Year at Kentucky, will now embark on a new journey with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization after being selected in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft. Rhodes is a minor league veteran at this point, as he’s totaled 1,183 at-bats over four seasons. He boasts a career .225 average with 60 doubles, 32 home runs and 183 RBI.
• Rocket City Trash Pandas 1B Evan White (2014-17): Ryan Nicholson will be mentored by former ‘Cat Evan White this season in AA Rocket City. White, who has played 84 games in the Major Leagues, was relegated from Triple-A to Double-A just before the start of the 2025 season. The 2016 Second-Team All-SEC selection hit for just a .165 average with 10 home runs and 24 RBI in two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.

Single-A Baseball

• Inland Empire 66ers 2B Mitchell Daly (2023-24): Daly was an integral part of the 2024 Kentucky Baseball team, which made the College World Series for the first time. He even hit a walk-off home run in their opening game against NC State to hand the ‘Cats their first ever win in the event. He signed with the Los Angeles Angels as an undrafted free agent and will open the 2025 season in Single-A with the Inland Empire 66ers. In 29 games with the 66ers last season, Daly hit for a .181 average with two doubles, two home runs and 18 RBI.
• Lakeland Flying Tigers RHP Zack Lee (2019-23): Lee played all four of his College Baseball seasons at Kentucky before signing with the Detroit Tigers as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Over the span of a year, Lee has risen from High-A ball to Single-A ball. Over 86 2/3 career minor league innings (17 starts), Lee boasts a 3.43 ERA with 92 strikeouts.
• Columbia Fireflies RHP Logan Martin (2022-23): Martin, who was apart of Kentucky’s starting rotation in 2023, spent the entire 2024 season with the Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals affiliate). In 102 innings (17 starts), Martin posted a 3.62 ERA with 97 strikeouts. He’ll open the 2025 season in Columbia as well.
• Kannapolis Cannon Ballers RHP Mason Moore (2021-24): The Morehead, KY native was a major cog in the Kentucky pitching staff that hosted back-to-back Regionals in 2023/24. He signed with the Chicago White Sox as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and will open the 2025 season with the AA Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (what an awesome name). He pitched just 2 1/3 innings with the Cannon Ballers last season, where he allowed six hits and five earned runs (19.29 ERA).
• Carolina Mudcats RHP Travis Smith (2022-24): Smith made 26 appearances over two seasons at Kentucky, including 9 starts. After being selected in the 15th Round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, he’ll open the 2025 season with Single-A Carolina. He has yet to pitch in the minors.
• Visalia Rawhide OF Ryan Waldschmidt (2022-24): Waldschmidt became the seventh Wildcat in program history to be selected in the First Round of the 2024 MLB Draft after being the best player on Kentucky’s 2024 College World Series team. Waldschmidt, who is the No. 6 ranked prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, will open the 2025 season with Single-A Visalia Rawhide. In 14 games with the Rawhide last season, he hit for a .273 average with two doubles and seven RBI.

High-A Baseball

• Bowling Green Hot Rods RHP Seth Chavez (2022-23): Chavez spent just one season at Kentucky after transferring from East Tennessee State, where he pitched just 10 1/3 innings. He however signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an undrafted free agent and is currently in High-A ball, where he currently sits on the 60-day injured list.
• Greensboro Grasshoppers LHP Magdiel Cotto (2021-23): Cotto is slowly making his way through the Pittsburgh Pirates system after being drafted in the 11th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Last season, Cotto posted a 7-4 record with a 3.27 ERA over 55 innings for the Grasshoppers.
• Beloit Sky Carp RHP Holt Jones (2020-21): Jones, who spent just one season at Kentucky after transferring from Clemson, will pitch his third season with the High-A Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins affiliate) in 2025. In four total years in the minors, Jones has a career 5.41 ERA with 164 strikeouts over 148 innings.
• Bowling Green Hot Rods 2B Émilien Pitre (2021-24): Pitre, who was selected in the Second Round of the 2024 MLB Draft, will open the 2025 season as a member of the Bowling Green Hot Rods alongside former Kentucky teammate Seth Chavez. In 21 games with the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs last season, Pitre hit for a .299 average. He’ll likely move through High-A ball rather quickly this season.

Rookie Baseball

• Florida Complex League Rays LHP Dominic Niman (2023-24): Niman was apart of the Kentucky starting rotation that made the College World Series in 2024. He’ll open the 2025 season with the FCL Rays and has yet to pitch against minor league competition.
• Florida Complex League Rays RHP Trey Pooser (2023-24): Niman isn’t the only member of the 2024 Kentucky starting rotation to open the 2025 season with the FCL Rays, as he’s joined by former teammate Trey Pooser. Pooser has also yet to pitch against minor league competition.
• Arizona Complex League White Sox SS Grant Smith (2022-24): After signing with the Chicago White Sox as an undrafted free agent, one of the best defensive shortstops in Kentucky Baseball history will open the 2025 season with the ACL White Sox. He has yet to see minor league action.