SEC Baseball: Preseason power rankings for 2022 season

By Matt Melton | Feb 15, 2022

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 30: Luke Hancock #20 of the Mississippi St. reacts after tagging out Parker Noland #25 of the Vanderbilt in a double play in the bottom of the first inning during game three of the College World Series Championship at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on June 30, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

11. Kentucky Wildcats

One of the biggest unknowns in SEC Baseball entering the 2022 season could be Kentucky.

Coming off a 2021 season that saw the Wildcats go 29-23 overall and 12-18 in the SEC, Kentucky missed the postseason a year ago, as well as lost multiple key names from that team such as Coltyn Kessler, Austin Schultz, TJ Collett, and John Rhodes.

For a Kentucky team that lost a notable amount of production from their lineup, the Wildcats do however return a few pieces of their lineup headlined by shortstop Ryan Ritter, as well as the pitching trio of Cole Stupp, Zack Lee, and Sean Harney alongside the returning southpaw Mason Hazelwood.

Kentucky has the pieces to make some noise in the SEC this season, but you could certainly argue that their success, or lack there of, depends on the numerous transfer additions by the Wildcats. The outfield trio of Adam Fogel, Hunter Jump, and John Thrasher will all be impact additions to the lineup, while an already strong bullpen is strengthened even more with the likes of Tyler Bosma, Darren Williams, and Tyler Guilfoil.

The Wildcats already had some key pieces returning in 2022, and have added numerous impact transfers. If everything clicks for this Kentucky team, the Wildcats could very easily return to postseason play in 2022.

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