With the college baseball season starting in just over three weeks, many publications that cover the sport have begun releasing preseason top 25 polls.
This is a highly-anticipated season for the Kentucky baseball program. After making it to the College World Series in 2024 for the first time in program history and following that with another NCAA Tournament appearance – the first time the school has ever gone to three straight NCAA Tournaments in baseball – expectations are high for the 2026 season.
What does the national media think of the Wildcats?
To date, D1Baseball.com is the highest on what this season could bring Kentucky fans. The Wildcats come in at No. 18 to start the season. Nine SEC teams rank above Kentucky, which once again shows the conference's strength, but it's a preseason ranking that suggests it's not far-fetched to think it could be in the mix for a second SEC regular-season championship in the past three years.
In all, Kentucky will play 20 games against teams ranked in D1Baseball's preseason top 25.
Still, it appears D1Baseball is the outlier in its rankings. Baseball America, Perfect Game and Prospects Live did not have Kentucky as a preseason top 25 team. Perfect Game ranked the Wildcats No. 37 to begin the season, which is close to where Kentucky started in last season's rankings.
On paper, there are some things in play that would typically help an SEC program earn a fairly high ranking. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Bell is regarded as one of the top position players in the sport and could wind up being selected in the first round of this summer's MLB draft. Junior lefty Ben Cleaver returns after putting together one of the best seasons in the conference last year. The Wildcats' rotation is rounded out with returning starter Nate Harris, who has the chance to take a big leap as a sophomore, and Houston transfer Jaxon Jelkin. Jelkin hasn't logged many innings in his college career, but he's been around a while and is a two-time MLB draft pick. It could be one of the best rotations the Wildcats have had in recent years.
Add in returning right fielder Ryan Schwartz, second baseman Luke Lawrence, first baseman Hudson Brown and a nice collection of pieces from the transfer portal, and I expected more publications to line up with D1Baseball's rankings.
Still, even the people who put these rankings together will say the preseason polls mean nothing. Teams will be adjusted accordingly once the games are played.
New Kentucky football coach Will Stein discusses two-sport signee Matt Ponatoski
Matt Ponatoski, Kentucky's top-ranked recruit in football and baseball, still signed with the Wildcats last month despite a coaching change with the football program. Long-time head coach Mark Stoops was fired just days before the early signing period began, but Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein was hired within 24 hours. Because of a prior relationship with Stein, Ponatoski felt comfortable enough to sign.
On Monday, Stein held his first press conference at the Kroger Field media room. He was asked by Lexington Herald Leader football beat writer Jon Hale about how much of a concern the MLB draft is with Ponatoski.
"Everything he's said to me that he's said to me is that he wants to be a big-time college football player," Stein said. "Is it concerning? No. I'm just really grateful to have the chance to coach Matt. I think his best years are to come in football. He's obviously an outstanding baseball player. We'd love to get him on the diamond here at Kentucky too and let's do this thing together."
Ponatoski is currently ranked in the top 50 among draft prospects by Baseball America. Last summer, I spoke with Prep Baseball Report Ohio Scouting Director Kyle Weldon to discuss what Kentucky was getting in Ponatoski. Read that story below.
Derek Terry
Kentucky signees invited to Super 60 Pro Showcase
The 24th annual Super 60 Pro Showcase is set to take place on Feb. 1 in McCook, Illinois. This is a prestigious event that typically has at least a few Kentucky signees attend each year.
Four 2026 signees are listed on the roster for this year: catcher Carson May, outfielder Kaden Powell, infielder Robert Omidi and right-handed pitcher Aiden Smith.
May, Powell and Omidi are all ranked in the top 100 by at least one scouting service, and Smith is ranked in the top 175 by PBR. Learn more about each prospect, courtesy of the Bat Cats Central recruiting page.
Carson May
Position: Catcher
Measurables: 6-2, 220 pounds
School: Olathe East
Hometown: Olathe, Kansas
Scouting report: A potential catcher or first baseman down the road, May has been considered one of the better power-hitting prospects over the past year out of Kansas. Listed at a stout 6-2, 220 pounds, May has recorded a max exit velo of nearly 103 miles per hour per PBR. May is ranked among the top 250 players nationally by both PBR and Perfect Game. He’s from Olathe, the same hometown as former Kentucky basketball All-American Willie Cauley-Stein.
Robert Omidi
Position: Infielder
Measurables: 6-1, 185 pounds
School: St. Martin
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Scouting report: Considered to have an advanced feel at the plate by some scouts, Omidi could be next in the line of successful Canadians in the Kentucky baseball program. He’s ranked as the top prospect in Ontario by PBR and projects as a middle infielder at the next level. Omidi has a sweet swing from the left side, topping out at 103.8 mph with his exit velo at a PBR event. He’s spent the 2025 summer playing with Canada’s Junior National Team (U18).
Kaden Powell
Position: 1B/OF
Measurables: 6-4, 250 pounds
School: Beech
Hometown: Henderson, Tennessee
Scouting report: Perhaps no other Kentucky commitment had a better individual season than Powell. He was named First Team TBCA in Class AAAA after hitting .414 with 10 doubles, 13 homers and 36 RBIs. According to MaxPreps, Powell’s 13 homers tied for 13th nationally. Also a high school quarterback, Powell has impressive athleticism for his size and has been clocked running a 6.9 60-yard dash.
Aiden Smith
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Measurables: 6-3, 180 pounds
School: Shelbyville
Hometown: Shelbyville, Indiana
Scouting report: A tall, athletic right-hander, Smith sits in the low 90s with his fastball for now and also shows a slider and changeup. He went 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 44 innings as a junior at Shelbyville High School. Though he projects as a pitcher at the next level, Smith homered seven times and hit .413 this past season. Smith also plays tennis at Shelbyville High School.
