Returning player spotlight: Leighton Harris

Next up in the returning player spotlight series is sophomore lefthanded pitcher Leighton Harris.

Previous player spotlights:

• Hudson Brown
• Ben Cleaver
• Ethan Hindle
• Nate Harris
• Carson Hansen

Background

Ranked as a top-250 player by Perfect Game nationally and the No. 2 player in the state of Kentucky, Harris was the Wildcats' first commitment in the 2024 recruiting class. He committed to the program in September of 2021 when he was a high school sophomore.

“I started getting recruited by UK and Louisville in the beginning of eighth grade and I had just decided where I was going to high school a few months before," Harris told Bat Cats Central in 2024. "Just talking to (the coaches) I was starstruck. Talking to UK, being a UK fan all my life, it was so surreal. Being able to commit there eventually and from there on, them just having the success they’ve had has been so cool to see. I can’t wait to get on campus and be a part of it.” 

Harris attended Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington and missed his junior season after tearing his ACL during the basketball season. But he returned as a senior and went 7-2 with a 0.76 earned run average and 102 strikeouts. Harris was runner-up in the Lexington Herald-Leader all-city player of the year award in 2024 – which was voted on by nine high school coaches in Lexington – as he was just beat out by future UK teammate Owen Jenkins.