Mason Moore returning to Kentucky Baseball for junior season

Another breakout star of Kentucky Baseball’s 2023 season is running it back. The program just announced that right-handed pitcher Mason Moore is returning for his junior season. The Morehead, Kentucky native was eligible for this year’s MLB Draft but not selected.

Moore came out of the bullpen to pitch 10 scoreless innings of relief in Kentucky’s regional in Lexington, including 5.0 perfect innings against Ball State in the region opener and 5.0 in the region final vs. Indiana. In the two games, he allowed just four hits, walked only one batter, and struck out seven. For his performance, Moore was named to the All-Lexington Regional Team. In the Super Regional vs. LSU, he pitched an additional 4.1 scoreless innings.

“He’s special,” Nick Mingione said of Moore after Kentucky’s win over Indiana. “And if you were to go back and look at our season, he’s right in the middle of a lot of our wins. He’s super talented.”

Now, Moore can build off a big season to show scouts he’s got what it takes to be a weekend starter in the SEC. Sounds like a win-win for both sides.

𝐌𝐨' 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧!

Our draft eligible postseason breakout star is staying home for at least one more season!@masonmoore_20 | #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/R47CKXQzR1

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) July 24, 2023

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Devin Burkes, Grant Smith also returning for 2024 season

Moore is not the only Wildcat running it back. Over the weekend, the program announced that star catcher Devin Burkes and shortstop Grant Smith will return for the 2024 season. Burkes will be a redshirt junior, while Smith, who transferred to Kentucky from Incarnate Word prior to the 2023 season, will use his final year of eligibility.

Burkes was the face of Kentucky’s postseason run, earning Lexington Regional Most Outstanding Player honors after going 6-of-13 (.462) with four extra-base hits and seven RBI. The Florida native played in 61 games for Kentucky last season slashing .291/.423/.502 with 28 extra-base hits (9 home runs), and 53 RBI in 223 at-bats.

Smith was one of three finalists for this year’s Gold Glove Award and was credited with just three errors in 244 chances. The Albuquerque, NM native also helped create 34 double plays for the Cats in 2023. On offense, he hit .281 on the season across 61 games played (all starts). He registered 58 hits and eight home runs. 

Kentucky lost four players to the MLB Draft: RHP Austin Strickland (8th round), LHP Magdiel Cotto (11th round), RHP Logan Martin (12th round), and incoming transfer Trey Paige (17th round). However, with Moore, Burkes, and Smith all coming back and nine new players added to the rotation, including Central Connecticut State starting pitcher Dominic Niman and Cincinnati first baseman Ryan Nicholson, the future is bright for Nick Mingione’s squad.