SEC Baseball: Preseason power rankings for 2023 season

By Matt Melton | Feb 14, 2023

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - MAY 15: Enrique Bradfield #51 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs to third base during the third and final game of a series against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field on May 15, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores won 5-0, taking the series 2-1. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3 of 15

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Nick Mingione (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

13. Kentucky Wildcats

Coming in at No. 13 to begin the season is Kentucky, as the Wildcats enter the spring tasked with replacing a few key names.

Led by head coach Nick Mingione, Kentucky is coming off a 2022 season in which they finished with a 33-26 overall record, as well as a 12-18 record in SEC play. Even despite missing the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats did however make a deep run in the SEC Tournament owning a 3-2 overall record in Hoover, with Kentucky falling to eventual conference champion Tennessee.

The Wildcats, as mentioned previously, will be tasked with replacing a few noteworthy names, with arguably the biggest being that of relief pitcher Tyler Guilfoil, a First Team All-SEC selection who was arguably SEC baseball’s top reliever a year ago. Also included in that group was shortstop Ryan Ritter, who was a fourth round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.

As for this season’s roster, the Wildcats added a key transfer in catcher Chase Stanke, adding to a team that will feature numerous other transfers this spring. Also included in that group of transfers are Kendal Ewell, Ryder Giles, and Patrick Herrera, each of which could be among Kentucky’s top players in 2023.

Overall, Kentucky will certainly be a newer looking team in 2023, one that is certainly one to watch for as we enter the year.

Home/SEC Baseball