Storylines for Kentucky's scrimmage against Cincinnati
Kentucky travels to Mason, Ohio, on Sunday to face Cincinnati in its first exhibition of the fall.
Kentucky travels to Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio, on Sunday for its first of four exhibitions in October. Nick Mingione's team will face nearby Cincinnati. Typically, there are two seven-inning games with an intermission in between.
The Bearcats have a quality program out of the Big 12. They reached the NCAA Tournament in 2026 and defeated Louisiana in their opening-round game of the Starkville Regional before losing the next two games to finish the season 38-22. Cincinnati coach Jordan Bischel has led the Bearcats to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, which had never happened before in program history. Cincinnati's 103 wins in his first three seasons are the most ever in a three-year span.
It should be a good first test for the 2027 Kentucky baseball team. Before looking at three storylines for Sunday, I wanted to make a few quick notes about Wednesday's intrasquad. We weren't able to get anyone there (and won't on Friday, either), but here are a few things I heard:
- Fifth-year outfielder Jayce Tharnish hit a long homer that went approximately 440 feet. He hit a 104 mile per hour double last Sunday, and homered the Sunday before in the pitcher-hitter session that took place a few days before the intrasquads began. After hitting .351 last season with 32 stolen bases, could Tharnish be tapping into more power in his final season of college?
- Wright State transfer JP Peltier also homered. Peltier, who was an outfielder with the Raiders, is being moved all around the infield so far during fall practice. He made a nice barehanded play at third base on a bunt from Tennessee Tech transfer Owen Lee during Sunday's scrimmage.
- Quite a few young pitchers throw on Wednesdays. It sounded like Will Coleman, Sammy Swank and Cole McLean had quality outings. Junior Cam Owens, who's been playing outfield this fall but pitched his first two seasons in the program, also got some time on the mound.
Now, onto some of the storylines to follow on Sunday.
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