Kentucky first baseman Ryan Nicholson and right-handed pitcher Trey Pooser were selected in the 10th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday, bringing UK’s total draftees to four this season.
Draft Details
- Ryan Nicholson: Selected 292nd overall by the Los Angeles Angels.
- Trey Pooser: Selected 306th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays.
UK Draftees
- Emilien Pitre: Taken in the second round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
- Ryan Waldschmidt: UK’s seventh first-rounder in history, taken by Arizona.
Kentucky also had a pair of transfer commitments selected on Day Two, leaving their future plans in flux. The draft’s final day, rounds 11-20, continue Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET on MLB.com.
Player Highlights
Ryan Nicholson
- Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
- 2024 Season:
- Hit 23 home runs, tying the school’s single-season record.
- Hit .306 with 47 runs, 10 doubles, 23 homers, 63 RBI, and a 1.094 OPS.
- Multiple home runs in the same game five times.
- Notable Performance: Ninth-inning, game-tying home run in the Men’s College World Series against NC State.
- Achievements: His 63 RBI rank among the top 10 single seasons at UK, and his .689 slugging percentage is the second highest in the coach Nick Mingione era.
Trey Pooser
- Hometown: Hanahan, South Carolina
- 2024 Season:
- Became the Wildcats’ de facto ace, transitioning from a reliever to a Friday night starter.
- Record: 7-1 with a 3.50 ERA in 90 innings.
- Stats: Allowed 70 hits, struck out 82, and held opponents to a .211 batting average.
- Postseason Performance: Had a win in the SEC Tournament against Arkansas ace Hagen Smith, two more wins in the Regional and Super Regional, and a no decision in the MCWS. Allowed just four runs in 25.2 postseason innings.
Notable Achievements
- Both Nicholson and Pooser starred at the Men’s College World Series in Omaha.
- Both players had breakout 2024 seasons, shining in the toughest conference in America.
Conclusion
Monday’s selections marked the culmination of two standout collegiate careers for Nicholson and Pooser, who both transferred to Kentucky and believed in themselves, resulting in exceptional 2024 seasons and significant contributions to UK’s success.
