Transfer Spotlight: Carson Hansen
As a new era of Kentucky Baseball emerges, it’s time to take a look at some new faces making their way to Lexington from the Transfer Portal this offseason.
Outfielder/DH Carson Hansen, who will be a junior next season, announced that he would be transferring to Kentucky from Milwaukee on July 19. He originally committed to Arkansas, but the Cats were able to reel him in from Fayetteville.
The Pewaukee, WI native spent two seasons at Milwaukee, where he was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2023 and the Horizon All-League First Team in 2024. In 78 career games, Hansen boasts a career .312 batting average with 26 doubles, 11 home runs, and 74 RBI. Hansen played ball this summer with the Green Bay Rockers (Northwoods League), where he hit for a .190 average (19 games) with two home runs and 12 RBI.
This past season, Hansen hit for a .315 batting average with 25 doubles (T-7th in NCAA), 11 home runs, and 63 RBI. He made 54 starts at DH and right field.
“I’m so pumped,” an excited Hansen said. “I just can’t wait to get down there and start grinding with the guys. Just took my visit last weekend, and it just feels like home. The staff and players I’ve met have been awesome, and the warm welcome has been sweet.”
The 2024 Horizon League First-Teamer almost settled down in Fayetteville, but it wasn’t until after the 2024 MLB Draft that he decided his future would shine brighter in Lexington.
“The process at Arkansas was fairly mutual,” Hansen said. “I was pretty aware of some of the guys that needed to be drafted to give me a shot to play, and post-draft the staff and I decided it was no longer the opportunity they had promised me. My first phone call after decommiting was to Kentucky and it was just the best possible fit. A true blessing in disguise, I never even had to hear from a different school. I knew I wanted to be a Wildcat right away.”
With the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the conference this offseason, the Southeastern Conference bolstered its already loaded talent pool entering the 2025 season. A total of 98 players from SEC schools were selected during the 2024 MLB Draft, more than any other conference.
“Especially going into my draft year, I want to go out and prove myself against the best of the best in college baseball, which year in and year out is the SEC,” said Hansen. “I think thats part of just being a competitor, you want to play the best and you want to beat them.”
The Pewaukee native may be replacing Ryan Waldschmidt in right field, who was selected with the No. 31 pick (Arizona Diamondbacks) in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Big shoes to fill.
“Given how hard of a sport baseball is I try to stay away from numbers and stats,” said Hansen. “But I do know that if I stay true to my routine, and own my process day in and day out the results will come. Although going into the off-season I’d like to make a few tweaks in my swing, and develop some of my outfield play a bit more.”
Heading into his junior season, Hansen is positioning himself as one of the biggest impact transfers in not only the SEC, but all of college baseball.
“Man, I just know I’m going to play the brand of baseball they have been used to,” said the Milwaukee transfer. “Just a ton of energy, fire, and passion for the guys and winning. I’m leaving it all on the field every single night. Just can’t wait to get down to Lexington, UK is my family now.”
Hansen is one of 15 incoming transfers (so far) for Nick Mingione’s Wildcats, joining new assistant coach Chase Slone (Wright State) in making the jump from the Horizon League to the SEC. Stay tuned to KSR’s 2025 Kentucky Baseball Roster Tracker for all updates on the offseason and next season’s squad.
Prior installments in the Transfer Spotlight series:
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