Nick Mingione says freshman superstar Tyler Bell's talent is matched only by his work ethic

Shortstop Tyler Bell is the first Kentucky Baseball player to be named to the Freshman All-SEC Team in the Nick Mingione era. The Frankfort, IL native is also just the ninth player in program history to be invited to USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team Training Camp this summer. Ahead of Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament run, Mingione said that Bell’s talent is matched only by his work ethic.

Last summer, Bell was selected No. 66 in the MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays but did not sign, making him the highest-ranked draft pick to attend college this year. Mingione said that Bell was voted the hardest worker on the team by his teammates in the fall, even as a first-semester freshman. Since then, he’s put together an epic freshman campaign, reaching base in 51 of his 53 games and leading the team with 17 doubles and 29 extra-base hits. With 10 homers, he’s the first Kentucky freshman to hit double-digit home runs since 1993.

“I really believe this, and I’m going to share this with our team today, there are two pains in life, and there’s the pain of discipline and the pain of regret or disappointment,” Mingione said on Tuesday. “And I can tell you right now that Tyler Bell is the hardest worker on our team. But isn’t that weird, how he’s also the most talented? So, the most talented guy is the hardest worker on the team.”

Mingione got another example of Bell’s relentless drive a few days ago.

“I’m up here the other night in the office. It’s 10:30 at night, and I hear something in the lobby. I think I’m the only one here, and it’s Tyler Bell sitting out here. He got locked out of the locker room because he was downstairs in the batting cages hitting, and he had left his ID in the locker room, and I had closed all the doors behind him, not knowing earlier. So he’s down there, and he’s like, ‘Oh, Coach, you saved me. Can I get in the locker room?’ I’m like, ‘Come on, T. Bell, of course, but it’s 10:35 at night, and the guy’s in here hitting.”

That was also the case on Monday night, when Bell was still in the batting cages when Mingione left the facility at 8 p.m.

“He is the hardest worker on our team. So when the most talented guy is also the hardest worker on the team, like Tyler Bell, he can rest in his preparation, because he knows how hard he works. So I’m not surprised, and I would tell you that I don’t think any of the players are surprised by the amount of success he has, because not only talented, but like he’s actually working.”

Bell will get his first swing at the NCAA Tournament on Friday when Kentucky opens play vs. West Virginia in the Clemson Regional (12 p.m. ET, ESPNU); I have a feeling he’ll make it count.

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NCAA Tournament Clemson Regional Schedule

If you’d like to cheer Kentucky on in the Clemson Regional, tickets are now on sale. Kentucky’s open practice takes place Thursday afternoon from 1-2:15 p.m. ET at Doug Kinsmore Stadium.

Friday, May 30

• Game 1: Kentucky vs West Virginia – 12:00 p.m.
  • Watch (ESPNU)
• Game 2: USC Upstate vs Clemson – 6:00 p.m.
  • Watch (ACC Network)

Saturday, May 31

• Game 3: Game 1 Loser vs Game 2 Loser – 12:00 p.m.
• Game 4: Game 1 Winner vs Game 2 Winner – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 1

• Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs Game 4 Loser – 12:00 p.m.
• Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs Game 5 Winner – 6:00 p.m.

Monday, June 2 (if necessary)

• Game 7, if necessary – TBA