Compared to a year ago, Kentucky's coaching staff can feel much better about its pitching situation entering the season. Following the 2024 College World Series run, the Wildcats did not return a weekend start entering the 2025 season.
But there's better news entering this season. Head coach Nick Mingione said at media day that Kentucky returns 29 pitching starts and 142 innings pitched in SEC play. The bullpen also returns several players, and the transfer class was set to include eight new pitchers. However, Belmont right-hander Will Pryor, a projected reliever in SEC play, tore his ACL in the fall and will miss the 2026 season.
With a pair of weekend starters returning and some familiar faces in the bullpen, pitching coach Dan Roszel hopes to hit the ground running once the season begins.
The time has come for Bat Cats Central to project this year's pitching staff. This intel comes from talking to sources throughout the fall and preseason, along with my own observations and those of other members of the BCC staff to this point. As we've seen in the past, roles will evolve throughout the season. This is our best guess at how things will shake out once the season begins.
Additional reading
Bat Cats Central Staff
Derek Terry
Weekend rotation
Starting pitchers: RHP Jaxon Jelkin, LHP Ben Cleaver, RHP Nate Harris
Outlook: When Jelkin withdrew from the MLB draft on July 8, the prevailing thought was that he'd join Cleaver and Harris in the rotation. That remains the case as first pitch nears.