Ryan Nicholson excelling for Single-A Inland Empire

Kentucky Baseball legend Ryan Nicholson is excelling for the Los Angeles Angels’ Single-A Inland Empire through his first 11 professional games.

Nicholson, who was selected with the 292nd overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Angels, is slashing .389/.532/.583 with four doubles, a long ball, and 11 RBI.

His one home run was a grand slam to break a 0-0 tie in the fourth inning of Inland Empire’s 11-1 victory over the Modesto Nuts on August 1.

Ryan Nicholson had a 1.094 OPS and 23 homers for @UKBaseball this season.

Now the @Angels' 10th-round pick has his first pro homer … and it's a grand slam for Single-A @66ersBaseball! pic.twitter.com/RRWXq7rPvK

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 2, 2024

Since the addition of Nicholson and former teammate Mitch Daly to the 66ers on July 31, Inland Empire is 9-3 overall. Daly is slashing .225/.296/.265 with two doubles and five RBI in 12 games.

Nicholson (Cincinnati) played just one season at Kentucky after transferring in prior to the 2024 season, but was a major piece on the greatest Wildcat squad in program history.

The first baseman hit for a .306 batting average with 10 doubles, 23 home runs, and 63 RBI en route to being named Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 Lexington Regional.

His 23 home runs tied the single-season record at Kentucky (John Wilson, Jeff Abbott, AJ Reed), and his game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning of Kentucky’s Men’s College World Series game against NC State set up the iconic Daly walk-off home run an inning later.

It took Tennessee standout Christian Moore just two games of play for the 66ers before he was promoted to Double-A, so Nicholson is surely on the fast track to pro ball with his recent level of play as well.