Rev's Rundown: Fall Ball's Final Questions
Reading between the lines from UK's scrimmage at Indiana on Friday.
Bat Cats Central contributing writer Adam Revelette reads between the lines from UK's scrimmage at Indiana on Friday.
Muddle in the middle
Experimenting with different defensive lineups makes it difficult to establish a rhythm in the field during the fall, but UK knows it will need to narrow its search for a starting middle infield sooner rather than later. Caeden Cloud, Lee Ellis, Ethan Hindle, JP Peltier and Owen Lee have all seen time up the middle. It's hard to stand out defensively in the fall for the aforementioned reasons, but communication and chemistry in those positions is essential, and that's hard to build with all the moving parts. My pick to click at short is Ellis, but he's bounced a few too many throws from the left side to feel great about it so far.
Tharnish adding a tool?
Jayce Tharnish is becoming a complete offensive player, evidenced by a pair of home runs in his first two plate appearances at IU on Friday. He was already an advanced bat-to-ball hitter (.354 batting average and just 82 strikeouts in 142 games), but has looked like a double-digit home run guy so far this fall. If the bottom of UK's order can develop some effective 'fight way on' types, he might be able to put up even more impressive offensive numbers in 2027. I don't see Tharnish moving down in the order much, but if a guy like Alex Kelsey can manage in the leadoff position, he would have even more opportunities for RBIs and increased run production.
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