Kentucky baseball’s 2025 season ends in collapse, but hope remains for the future
As Kentucky baseball’s 2025 campaign comes to a close, the season will be remembered as a maddening rollercoaster—one filled with early promise, frustrating inconsistency, and ultimately, heartbreak. The Wildcats finished 31-25 overall (13-17 SEC), showing flashes of brilliance but falling short of their postseason ambitions in stunning fashion with a 13-12 loss to West Virginia in the Clemson Regional final.
Kentucky held two separate five-run leads in Sunday’s win-or-go-home contest, going up 6-1 early and then 12-7 entering the bottom of the eighth. But in what’s become a recurring nightmare over the past two seasons, the bullpen collapsed. A six-run inning by West Virginia—most of it with two outs—doomed the Wildcats and sent them packing. Once again, walks, poor bullpen execution, and questionable late-game management proved fatal.
Here’s a full breakdown of Kentucky’s season across three key categories:
Pitching: C
Kentucky’s pitching staff had its moments, but control issues and late-game meltdowns dragged down a unit that showed potential. The team posted a 4.48 ERA—respectable in the hitter-heavy SEC—and struck out 497 batters across 482 innings (9.29 K/9). Ben Cleaver (6-3, 3.25 ERA, 92 K in 83 IP) was the ace, while Nic McCay (5-0, 4.50 ERA) added valuable depth.
James McCoy (1.84 ERA) and Jackson Nove (54 K in 38 IP) were among the bullpen’s bright spots. However, the group lacked consistency. Nile Adcock (7.02 ERA), Robert Hogan (9.82 ERA), and others struggled in high-leverage moments, a pattern that haunted the Cats in tight games. Kentucky issued 218 walks and allowed 50 home runs—numbers that speak to the staff’s volatility.
The Wildcats managed four shutouts and a few clutch wins, like the 15-inning marathon over Texas. But the inability to close—exemplified in losses like 9-8 and 8-7 to Vanderbilt, or Sunday’s 13-12 collapse—caps the ceiling for this group. If Kentucky hopes to contend in 2026, the bullpen has to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Batting: B+
Offense was a clear strength for this team. Kentucky hit .267 as a group, with 472 hits, 53 home runs, 92 doubles, and 367 runs scored (6.67/game). This was a lineup that could erupt, as evidenced by the 24-3 rout of Evansville and a 30-run exhibition against Morehead State.
Cole Hage (.318 AVG, 12 HR, 40 RBI) and Tyler Bell (.301 AVG, 10 HR, 46 RBI) led the charge. Hage’s .578 slugging percentage and Bell’s 17 doubles highlighted the duo’s production. Luke Lawrence (.301, 35 RBI) and others added quality depth. Though not listed here, two-sport athlete Andrew Carr provided additional value.
Kentucky also wreaked havoc on the basepaths, stealing 128 bases in 156 attempts (82%). A team OBP of .390 kept pressure on opposing pitchers. Still, the offense had its flaws: 414 strikeouts and 426 runners left on base meant too many missed chances, especially in tight losses like 5-4 to South Carolina and 7-8 to Auburn.
This group could mash with anyone, shown in sweeps of Oklahoma (4-3, 8-5, 7-2) and big wins over ranked teams like No. 2 Tennessee. But inconsistency in clutch situations kept them from being elite.
Overall: B-
Kentucky’s 2025 season earns a solid B- —a campaign that saw the Wildcats outperform preseason expectations, but ultimately fall short of a breakthrough. The team started hot at 12-3 in non-conference play and picked up impressive SEC series wins over Texas (2-1), Oklahoma (3-0), and South Carolina (2-1). They went 19-10 at home and 11-13 on the road.
In the postseason, the Cats blitzed host Clemson 16-4 and looked poised for a Super Regional bid. But the final game against West Virginia summed up the season: high-powered offense, erratic pitching, and another devastating finish.
Kentucky finished with seven one-run losses and several blowouts, including a 17-10 loss to Georgia and 14-4 to Mississippi State. Defensively, the Wildcats were steady with a .978 fielding percentage and 29 double plays, but 43 errors and 42 stolen bases allowed leave room for improvement.
Nick Mingione’s team showed heart, talent, and competitive fire. But their 13-17 SEC record and early exit reveal a team still maturing. If the bullpen is overhauled and the bats stay hot, the foundation is there for a deeper postseason push in 2026.
Looking ahead
As the Wildcats return to Lexington, the sting of what could have been will linger. Blowing two separate five-run leads in the final game is a bitter pill—but also a wake-up call. The offense is ready. The defense is close. The pitching, especially the bullpen, remains the puzzle piece Mingione must solve.
With a core returning and young talent on the rise, Kentucky baseball isn’t far off. But to make real noise in 2026, the time for excuses is over. The time for answers—and accountability—starts now.