Kentucky righthanded pitcher Will Pryor is expected to miss the 2026 season after sustaining a knee injury, a source confirmed to Bat Cats Central. Pryor transferred to Kentucky from Belmont this summer.
A 6-2, 205-pound redshirt junior from Whitwell, Tennessee, Pryor was expected to compete for a spot out of the bullpen on the Wildcats' 2026 team. He was a weekend starter the past two seasons for Belmont, though he only made five starts in 2025 because of an extensor strain. In three years with the Bruins, Pryor posted a career 4.94 ERA over 36 appearances and struck out 146 batters while walking 77. Pryor made 20 starts while at Belmont.
“My fastball and splitter are my two best pitches," Pryor told Bat Cats Central following his Kentucky commitment. "That’s my bread and butter and what I usually live on. And the slider has ticked up this year. The curveball has always been something that I can throw and land for a strike or get a chase with. Having four pitches was really helpful as a starter. That’s what I’ve done at Belmont is be the Friday night starter there. I really enjoy it, but I love coming out of the bullpen. I got to do it a few times at Belmont and I think I’m really good out of the pen. I think it’s something that I almost have a natural feeling for. Just coming out of the pen with high energy, I’m a high-energy guy when I’m out there. That kind of suits me really well.”
Pryor said he chose Kentucky over Oregon State, Cincinnati and Baylor. While he was impressed with the facilities, he credited the people at Kentucky for ultimately earning his commitment.
"The coaching staff, the players I talked to, everybody around, they were just awesome, awesome people," Pryor said. "They seemed super focused on the relationship with God. It plays a big role in my life, and to see people have God at the center of their heart and are striving for the same things that I want out of my college career, that was a big thing for me.”
Pryor was one of seven righthanded pitching transfers brought in this offseason.
Derek Terry is the founder of Bat Cats Central, a leading source for University of Kentucky baseball coverage. Before leaving full-time sportswriting, Derek worked for The Cats' Pause (2017-22) and Cats Illustrated (2015-17).
Derek Terry
