Kentucky Wildcat News: UK Baseball Transfer Portal Tracker
Article excerpt
Kentucky baseball has made significant moves in the transfer portal during the offseason, bringing in new talent to bolster the Wildcats' roster. The program has focused on acquiring experienced players to strengthen key positions and depth. Coach Connelly's team appears well-positioned heading into the upcoming season. The transfers represent part of a broader strategy to compete at a high level in the SEC. Portal acquisitions have become a standard part of college baseball's recruiting landscape, allowing established programs like Kentucky to quickly upgrade their rosters.
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 17: Head coach Nick Mingione of the Kentucky Wildcats before a game between the Morehead State Eagles and the Kentucky Wildcats on February 17, 2026, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, KY. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, BBN!
The focus of the last few days has been the introduction of the new AD, J Blatt, alongside the start of offseason practice for Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats. All the while, Nick Mingione and the Kentucky Baseball team have built a solid incoming transfer class.
Headlined by RHP PJ Craig and OF Alex Kelsey, the team looks to remake itself and bounce back after a rough ending to the 2026 season. Craig and Kelsey will help do just that.
Craig, a 6-foot-4 righty transfer from Rider, is a two-time All-MAAC selection. Posting a 4.72 ERA in four seasons, seems to slot into the weekend rotation for the Cats next season. Potentially joining Jaxon Jelkin and Nate Harris, Craig looks to help add some depth to the rotation as they head back into a tough SEC conference schedule.
Kelsey, a 5-foot-11 OF from St. Joes, picked Kentucky over Clemson and looks like a potential replacement for Jayce Tharnish in CF for the Cats if he heads to the MLB this summer. A First-Team A-10 selection this past year, Kelsey brings speed and good slashing numbers as Mingione looks to keep the Kentucky offense moving forward.
Also in the transfer class are:
Brody Chrisman (OF from Akron)
JP Peltier (IF/OF from Wright State)
Logan Hastings (RHP from Maryland)
Kale Hammer (LHP from Seattle)
Owen Lee (INF from Tennessee Tech)\
Mason Snyder (RHP from Western Carolina)
Here’s to hoping Mingione and Co. can continue adding to this haul and put the Bat Cats back in position to make a College World Series run in 2027.
Tweet of the Day
Let it fly all the time, @MilanMomcilovi5 🔥🎯 pic.twitter.com/GBrH8LdXFD
, Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 15, 2026
Beautiful.
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