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2026 position previews: Middle infield

The Wildcats' middle infield duo of shortstop Tyler Bell and second baseman Luke Lawrence started all but one game in 2025.

2026 position previews: Middle infield
Sophomore SS Tyler Bell. Photo by Ethan Rand/UK Athletics

Kentucky baseball returns in 35 days. The Bat Cats Central preview series continues by doubling up on two positions. Kentucky's duo in the middle infield combined to start 56 of the 57 games last season.

Previous previews

Projected starters: Tyler Bell (shortstop) and Luke Lawrence (second base)

Bell and Lawrence started the first 54 games of the season, but Bell hit a foul ball off his leg in his first at-bat against West Virginia in the Clemson Regional. He stayed in the rest of the game, though he was clearly hobbled, but was unable to play against USC Upstate in an elimination game. Bell bounced back to start the final two games of the season.