Kentucky outfielder Tristan Pompey smiles for the camera during a fall scrimmage at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Saturday, October 7, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country).
Now that we have turned the page to a new calendar year, the 2018 Kentucky baseball season is quickly approaching. Coach Mingione will be in year two as the Wildcats skipper and will be tasked with replacing a number of key players.
The Wildcats will replace Evan White, Riley Mahan, Zach Reks, Connor Heady, Zach Logue, Marcus Carson, Logan Sallow, and Tyler Marshall, who were all starters for the Regional Champion Wildcats.
Even with the loss of so many key players, Kentucky will still be a top team. The Wildcats are set to return elite talent in the field and on the mound, led by outfielder Tristan Pompey and right-handed pitcher Sean Hjelle, both considered to be top 50 MLB draft prospects.
Pompey is fresh off a sophomore season where he hit leadoff for the Wildcats. The switch-hitting outfielder had a breakout season in 2017, owning a line of .361/.464/.541.
Pompey started all 66 games for Kentucky in 2017 and his 96 hits ranked second nationally. Additionally, he was 5th nationally in runs scored (70), 28th in walks (46), and laced 18 doubles and 10 home runs while driving in 46 from the leadoff spot.
The UK outfielder garnered conference and national honors for his play. He was named Baseball America Third Team All-America, Perfect Game/Rawlings Third-Team All-America, Collegiate Baseball Third-Team All-America, ABCA South All-Region First-Team, First Team All-SEC, and was a Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year Semifinalist.
At this point, Pompey sits at No. 29 on the MLB.com Top 50 prospects list heading into his junior season. Expect him to climb that list with a strong junior season.
In addition to Pompey, Sean Hjelle is also listed among the best MLB draft prospects. The right-hander is listed at No. 34 on the MLB.com Top 50 prospects list.
Hjelle, the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year, was the Friday starter for the Wildcats last season, where he went 11-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 18 appearances. Opponents hit just .243 against him and he struck out 102 batters while only surrendering 33 walks.
In addition to being Kentucky’s first SEC Pitcher of the Year winner, Hjelle was named a Collegiate Baseball Second-Team All-American, ABCA South All-Region Second Team, and First-Team All-SEC.
Pompey and Hjelle will look to build on last seasons Super Regional Appearance. Kentucky starts the season at Wofford on Friday, February 16th.
