Nolan McCarthy announces transfer to Georgia

Former Kentucky outfielder Nolan McCarthy is transferring to Georgia, he announced on Monday.

Former Kentucky outfielder Nolan McCarthy is following Nick Ammirati to Georgia, he announced via IG. pic.twitter.com/Hm18tfOCt3

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) July 22, 2024

McCarthy, who entered the Transfer Portal on July 2nd, played in 58 of Kentucky’s 62 games last season. The Kalamazoo, MI native hit for a .288 batting average with 12 doubles, eight home runs, and 41 RBI as one of the most important pieces on Kentucky’s first ever Men’s College World Series team.

“Thank you Kentucky,” McCarthy said on Instagram. “Can’t say enough good things about this place and program. Extremely lucky to be surrounded by great people every day and in forever grateful for that. Met my best friends for life and got to be around a bunch of ballplayers that left it all out there. Left me better than you found me and I’ll always be in debt to the BBN for letting me be a cat. Championships and memories like this never expire, thank you. Super excited for my next chapter….”

The center fielder played three seasons in Lexington, where he boasted a career .279 batting average with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, and 78 RBI. He also made one of the most memorable plays in program history, when he scored the game-winning run from second base on a passed ball in the second game of the Lexington Super Regional against Oregon State.

“I saw it squeak by,” McCarthy said of the pitch. “I was running to third. I immediately saw their pitcher wasn’t covering. I think I ran through a stop sign, but it ended up working out. No one was covering home, so might as well take what they’re going to give you.”

The play even caught the attention of baseball legend Pete Rose, as McCarthy’s headfirst dive home was Rose-esque.

“Tell him to keep having fun,” Rose texted Kentucky Baseball legend Doug Flynn. “However, the only way to have fun is to win. Everybody’s in a better mood when you win. You can’t win every game but you should want to. Field, hit, be a good baserunner. Don’t care who you are. Three-for-10 and you’re having a good day. Play some good defense and have fun.”

McCarthy joins former assistant coach Nick Ammirati as two of Georgia Baseball’s latest additions.

Nolan is one of 12 players to transfer from last season’s team, and is surely its biggest loss. He has one year of eligibility remaining.