Nick Mingione provides update on Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell
Bell has been out indefinitely since injuring his shoulder in the season-opener. "He's progressing along," Kentucky coach Nick Mingione said on Wednesday.
Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell injured his left shoulder during the Wildcats' 13-2 season-opening win over UNC Greensboro on Feb. 13. Since then, Bell has been considered "out indefinitely" as he underwent tests and met with doctors a few days after sustaining the injury.
While he has not yet returned to action – and no timetable has been set for a return – Kentucky coach Nick Mingione gave a promising update to the UK Sports Network before Wednesday's game against Western Kentucky University.
"He's progressing along," Mingione said. "Feels like he's getting better and stronger, so he's taking his ground balls and he's taking BP now, so he's just moving right along. We take it one day at a time, but seems that he's progressing well so far."
Nick Mingione with a (positive) update on Tyler Bell via the UK Sports Network pic.twitter.com/9TO5xwh8iQ
— Big Blue Insider (@bigblueinsider1) February 25, 2026
A preseason All-American selection, Bell came into his sophomore season as one of the faces of the SEC. A former No. 66 overall draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2024 MLB Draft, Bell chose to enroll at Kentucky and earned numerous post-season awards after slashing .296/.385/.522 with 17 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and a team-leading 46 runs batted in. He has been widely projected as a first-round draft pick for the MLB draft in July.
In his only appearance this season, Bell went 1-4 with an RBI single and a walk.
"It hurts him so bad not to be able to play," Mingione said after an 8-6 loss to Morehead State on Feb. 17. "This is one of the toughest guys I've ever coached. If you ask him, he could play right now. But he's super tough. It's hard on him. It's hard on our team. He's a really good player. We'll just wait and see what the future holds."
