Kentucky's next shortstop 'doesn't have to try to be Tyler Bell'

Kentucky will have three players competing for the shortstop job to replace Tyler Bell.

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This is the third story from an interview with Kentucky baseball coach Nick Mingione. Wednesday's story focused on the Wildcats' pitching staff, and Thursday's piece shifted to the offense. Not a subscriber to Bat Cats Central? Just click here.

During the 2020s, Kentucky's run at shortstop could match anyone else's in the Southeastern Conference. Since 2021, the Wildcats have had three shortstops who have started two seasons each: Ryan Ritter, Grant Smith and Tyler Bell.

Ritter was the best pure defender of the group, winning the 2022 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove. His improvement at the plate as a sophomore from a 79 wRC+ in 2021 to 105 wRC+ in 2022 helped him get selected by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round that year. Ritter made his MLB debut in 2025.

Smith, a transfer from Incarnate Word, was also a Gold Glove finalist and was rock-solid in his two years at shortstop as Kentucky reached a super regional and its first College World Series. But after turning down the MLB draft in 2024, Bell came to Kentucky and was the best of the group.

He produced two outstanding offensive seasons, combining to slash .314/.438/.556 with 26 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs and 75 RBIs. Despite an early-season injury his sophomore year, Bell still went No. 10 overall in July to the Rockies.

For all the talk about competition and earning starting jobs – some of which is legitimate, to be sure – Kentucky has gone six straight seasons with a clear shortstop in place entering each fall. That might not be the case this time around.