While Kentucky hoops and football both begin to wind down their respective offseasons ahead of fall competition, Nick Mingione and the Bat Cats are just heating up in the transfer portal. After a bitter end to an undeniably disappointing season, Coach Mingione is working to redeem his team ahead of time.
Up to now, the bullpen has been a major focus of Kentucky's recruiting efforts, with the Wildcats landing a handful of solid rotation guys in that regard. Yet, with the commitment of Houston Cougars catcher Riley Jackson (per his own Instagram), Mingione is shifting gears in a major way.
Jackson isn't the first catcher that Kentucky has landed this offseason - Indiana transfer Brayden Ricketts is one of the latest new Cats - but ranked as a top 20 player in the transfer portal, Jackson may end up as Mingione's biggest fish of the current cycle.
The senior slasher is at the height of his potential, and what he brings to Kentucky Proud Park as a veteran leader may make the exact kind of difference this past season's Wildcats squad was missing.
Riley Jackson Can Make All the Difference for Kentucky
Jackson started his career with two straight seasons with the Florida State Seminoles. After getting his collegiate feet under him, Jackson transferred to Houston last season, where he had a real statistical breakout that would eventually make him one of the most desired transfers in the pool.
The catcher slashed .271/387/.512, adding nine home runs and 29 RBIs in a campaign that lends itself to what should be an even better run as a senior. Now, of course, that'll be Kentucky's benefit.
Jackson also slammed 13 doubles in 52 games as a junior. Get real familiar with this guy, Big Blue Nation; he'll likely be a primary option for the Bat Cats when next spring finally rolls around.
Securing an Early Win
To that point, Jackson's commitment is another early win for Mingione in an offseason that's really just getting started. As big names drop off the board, Jackson included, making your case and building a team early on can go a long way in "having your pick," if you wil.
I think it's safe to say that, so far, Mingione has had his pick among the sea of available players in the portal. Things will get more complicated as we inch closer to the fall, but for the time being, Cats fans should be more than satisfied with the coach's recruiting rebound thus far.
Rough year aside, the Bat Cats appear to be very much on the rise.
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