Takeaways and Observations from Kentucky Baseball's Sunday Scrimmage

Kentucky Baseball traveled up to Mason, OH on Sunday for its first of two fall scrimmages.

The Wildcats played two seven-inning games against the Wright State Raiders at Prasco Park, which is about 50 minutes away from the Wright State campus and an hour and a half away from Lexington. The event was apart of the 2024 Prasco Fall Festival, which surrounded the park.

I was present for game one, in which Kentucky and Wright State finished with a 6-6 tie. The Cats made zero offensive substitutions and employed four different pitchers.

Kentucky vs. Wright State Unofficial Stats

1. 2B Luke Lawrence: 0-2, 2 BB, R, SB
2. DH Cole Hage: 0-4, 3 K
3. 1B Dylan Koontz: 1-2, 2 BB, R
4. 3B Patrick Herrera: 1-2, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB, HBP, SB, K
5. RF Shaun Montoya: 0-2, 2 BB, K
6. CF Will Marcy: 1-1, 2B, RBI, 2 HBP, BB
7. LF Eli Small: 1-4, 2B, R, K
8. DH Ethan Hindle: 0-3, 2 K
9. SS Tyler Bell: 1-2, 2B, RBI, HBP

Devin Burkes started at catcher, but did not bat.

Pitching Stats

LHP Ethan Walker: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 K, 2 BB
RHP Scott Rouse: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K, HBP
LHP Jackson Nove: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, HBP
RHP James McCoy: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 K

Takeaway No. 1: Tyler Bell is the Future

Freshman shortstop Tyler Bell got the start for the Cats on Sunday, where he received his first taste of college baseball action. Bell, a supremely talented infielder who was selected with the No. 66 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres, decided to forgo the pros in order to attend Kentucky. In three at-bats on Sunday, Bell delivered an RBI sac-fly, a double down the third base line, and was hit by a pitch. Bell has beaten out Kyuss Gargett and Landon Franklin for the starting spot, as the coaching staff has extremely high expectations for the future pro at the position.

Takeaway No. 2: Could Patrick Herrera be this year’s Breakout Star?

Last season, Ryan Waldschmidt blossomed from an average college baseball player into a First-Round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Patrick Herrera, who is entering his third and final season at Kentucky, could be the next potential player to breakout in Lexington.

Herrera, who is a Swiss-army knife that has been used in both the infield and outfield over the past two seasons, started at third base for Kentucky on Sunday. The Mesa, AZ native had a big day, as he went 1-2 at the plate (four at-bats) with a three-run home run, a walk, and a hit by pitch. Slotted in the four hole, Herrera has gained trust as a guy who can come through, clear the bases, and drive in some runs for the Bat Cats.

Takeaway No. 3: Jackson Nove; Still Really Good

Left-hander Jackson Nove opened his senior season on Sunday with two really solid innings out of the bullpen. Nove held the Raiders hitless with four strikeouts, two walks, and a hit by pitch. A Wright State run scored, but it was unearned as the batter he walked scored on a misplayed foul ball by Eli Small in left field.

As a junior in 2024, Nove posted a 6.16 ERA in 30 2/3 innings pitched (28 appearances) with 42 strikeouts. Nove, along with senior right-hander Robert Hogan and redshirt senior left-hander Evan Byers, returns to anchor the Wildcat bullpen. Right-hander/right fielder James McCoy also saw an inning of action on the bump Sunday, where he sat the Raider offense down in order to preserve the tie.

Takeaway No. 4: Slow Start for the Transfer Class

Seven of the 14 players that saw game action for Kentucky in game one on Sunday came to Lexington this offseason through the Transfer Portal.

It however wasn’t the best introduction to the Big Blue Nation, as the five offensive players (Lawrence, Hate, Koontz, Montoya, Marcy) combined to go 2-11 at the plate while the two pitchers (Walker & Rouse) allowed five earned runs and seven hits in four combined innings. There’s no cause for concern however, as it is ONLY October. By the time the regular season opens in February, these guys will have had nearly three and a half more months to get settled in.

Kentucky has one more Fall scrimmage remaining at home against Morehead State on October 27.