Returning player spotlight: Eli Small

The returning player spotlight series rolls on with sophomore Eli Small.

Previous player spotlights:

• RHP Robert Hogan
• INF Ethan Hindle
• LHP Ben Cleaver
• RHP Cooper Robinson
• OF/RHP James McCoy
• INF Kyuss Gargett
• LHP Jackson Nove
• C Devin Burkes
• UTIL Patrick Herrera
• LHP Evan Byers

Background

Small played his prep career at Elkhorn South High School in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the second highest-ranked player in Kentucky’s 2023 class according to Perfect Game, coming in at No. 290 nationally and No. 4 overall in Nebraska. He was also ranked in the top 500 by Prep Baseball Report. Both sides listed him as a catcher. Kentucky worked him at catcher some as a freshman, but he also played in the outfield.

Small played in 12 contests — most of them before SEC play — and had 17 plate appearances. He hit .273/.471/.636 with three hits, one double, one home run and three RBI while drawing three walks and reaching base via HBP. Small looked comfortable offensively during a small sample size and delivered a couple of big at-bats.