Grayson Willoughby to attend Kentucky

Kentucky's top commit in the 2026 class is making it to school.

Trinity righthanded pitcher Grayson Willoughby confirmed to Bat Cats Central that he withdrew from the draft and will attend Kentucky this fall. Willoughby was recognized as the National Player of the Year by MaxPreps, and was also named Mr. Baseball in Kentucky and the Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year.

Willoughby is ranked No. 31 overall in the class by Perfect Game and is also in the top 50 at Prep Baseball Report. He entered the draft as a top 250 prospect by numerous services, including MLB.com, ESPN and Baseball America.

A 6-foot-2, 195-pounder, Willoughby will be eligible for the draft again in 2028 as he will be 21 during his sophomore season.

MLB.com had the following scouting report on Willoughby:

Willoughby's fastball sits at 93-95 mph and tops out at 97 with armside run in short stints, though he works more in the low 90s when he ventures deeper into games. He displays advanced feel for a mid-80s changeup with fade and sink, and his cambio could become a plus pitch. He trusts it more than an upper-70s slider that features promising sweep but needs more power.

Willoughby has a clean three-quarters delivery that translates into strikes with all three of his offerings. He already can spot his fastball to both sides of the plate and should add more velocity as he fills out his 6-foot-2 frame. He might blossom into a mid-rotation starter if he can refine a harder, more reliable slider.

It was a second big development for Kentucky, which saw starting center fielder Jayce Tharnish announce a return to school earlier in the day. Kentucky is still awaiting news on junior infielder Ethan Hindle.

Thus far, only two Kentucky commitments have been selected. Heartland Community College shortstop Jimmy Anderson was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth round and prep infielder Robert Omidi went to the Detroit Tigers in the eighth round. The draft will be completed later tonight.