UK Baseball pitcher Zack Thompson added to National Watch List

[caption id="attachment_260076" align="aligncenter" width="3325"] via UK Athletics[/caption] The UK Baseball team (17-15, 2-10 in the conference) may be struggling so far this season, but one of their top players has just been added to the watchlist for the nation's premier award. The Golden Spikes Award goes to the country's top player, and left-handed pitcher Zack Thompson has been named to its Midseason Watch List. The junior Wildcat currently comes in at No. 15 nationally in strikeouts per nine innings, with 13.41. He's posted a 1.99 earned run average in eight starts while holding opposing hitters to a .189 batting average. Thompson has allowed just 33 hits, 14 walks and one home run, while striking out 74 batters (through 49.2 innings).

We knew we liked our guy. @zack_thompson25 may have just signed the dotted line for @SEC pitcher of the week #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/bmHGc7MidT

— Kentucky Baseball Managers (@UKbaseball_MGRs) March 30, 2019

Thompson's recent success shouldn't come as a huge surprise. At the beginning of the year, he was tabbed as a preseason All-American and All-SEC pitcher. Plus, he's following in the footsteps of two former Wildcats who were named to this same Watch List last season: Luke Heyer and Tristan Pompey. Currently, Thompson is one of just 40 players from across the nation to be added to the Midseason Watch List. Semifinalists will be released on May 15, and the title of America's best collegiate player will be revealed on June 14, presented by USA Baseball. Thompson will be considered a long-shot contender for the award, but you never know what could happen throughout the duration of an entire season. The Wildcats have nearly two-dozen games left on their regular-season schedule, then its off to Hoover, Alabama for the SEC Tournament. Kentucky is actually on the road tonight to face-off against Lipscomb. First pitch was set for 7 p.m., so check back soon for a full recap of all of the action.