Conor Essenburg weighs upcoming MLB draft decision

Essenburg said the MLB draft will be "one of the hardest decisions that I’ll probably ever have to make in my life."

Photo courtesy of Conor Essenburg.

Conor Essenburg, one of the highest-ranked players in Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class, was in Lexington on Tuesday for his freshman orientation. Whether or not he ends up on campus at the University of Kentucky, however, will be decided in the coming weeks.

Essenburg could be one of a few prospects in the Wildcats’ class to be selected during the MLB draft, which is set to take place on July 13 and 14. A two-way star out of Lincoln-Way West High School in Illinois, Essenburg hit .464 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 49 RBIs as a senior outfielder, and struck out 94 batters over 44.2 innings with a 0.94 ERA on the mound. Those stats helped earn numerous Player of the Year awards and All-State honors.

A former Kansas State commit, Essenburg joined Kentucky’s class last fall as an impressive final addition. He’s ranked in the top 100 by Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report, and his name has consistently been listed in draft rankings this spring. All of that has helped set the stage for a decision on his future.

“The decision has to be made in my best interest,” Essenburg told Bat Cats Central on Monday night. “I have to do what’s best for me at the end of the day, but probably one of the biggest things is just from a developmental standpoint.