Ryan Ritter listed as top-200 MLB Draft prospect

The NCAA Tournament got off to a hot start this weekend as there were many thrilling games played with a ton of runs scored. Unfortunately, Kentucky was sitting at home watching the action as the Wildcats did not receive an at-large bid. For Nick Mingione’s squad, it’s decision-making time as players must make draft decisions.

That call could be an easy one for shortstop Ryan Ritter.

The junior out of Metro Chicago is draft-eligible and is the top prospect off of Kentucky’s 2022 squad. MLB.com has rankings for the top-200 prospects published, and Ritter checks in at No. 168 overall.

A 33rd-round pick by the Cubs out of an Illinois high school in 2019, Ritter attracted more scouting attention the following year at John A. Logan (Ill.) CC but went unpicked in the shortened five-round Draft. He transferred to Kentucky and became one of the top defensive shortstops in the Southeastern Conference last spring. His glove alone might land him in the top three rounds in 2022, though persistent questions about his bat could knock him down a bit.

MLB.com

This past season, Ryan Ritter was both named to the All-SEC defensive team and SEC All-Tournament team as the 6-foot-2 infielder is one of the best defensive players in college baseball. However, the bat is the big question as Ritter did not take a big leap this season.

In 262 plate appearances for Kentucky, Ryan Ritter hit .283 with an OPS of .838. The right-handed swinger flashed some good pop at the plate with 24 extra-base knocks, but the strikeout rate (25.9%) was high and that will be something Ritter must continue to work on.

The 2022 MLB Draft begins on July 17, and Ritter appears to be the clear top prospect from Kentucky as the former junior college transfer should come off of the board sometime in the first three rounds.