Kentucky Wildcats baseball
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Wildcats baseball team represents the University of Kentucky
in NCAA Division I college baseball
and competes in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference
. The current head coach of the Wildcats is Gary Henderson
.
, LSU
, Mississippi State
, and South Carolina
, regular-season success was rarely rewarded with a postseason berth. In 28 years, Madison was only able to lead the Wildcats to two NCAA Tournaments, in 1988 and 1993.
Wildcats baseball hit bottom at the turn of the 21st century, with only one winning season from 1997 through 2004, and five straight last-place finishes in the SEC East from 2001 through 2005. In 2003, after Madison's retirement, Kentucky hired Florida assistant John Cohen
as head coach. Cohen was able to lead the Cats to a winning overall season in 2005, despite another SEC cellar finish.
Few could have expected the Cinderella
season the Cats would have in 2006. They literally went from worst to first in the SEC, winning a regular-season conference title for the first time in three decades, and being ranked as high as fourth in the country by one major baseball poll during the season. However, the newly energized Kentucky baseball faithful saw the Cats crash out of the SEC tournament early and fail to make it out of the regionals of the NCAA tournament at home
.
There were high hopes for the 2007 team and for the most part they delivered. They started the season 19–0 before falling to Arkansas
. They then fell into a tailspin but rebounded at the end of the year to just miss the SEC playoffs after a Tennessee Volunteers
win. They finished with a 37–19 record. Jason Kipnis
, who was an outfielder for that team, is now a second baseman for the Cleveland Indians
.
In 2008, Kentucky started off strong posting a 19–0 record and being ranked as high as #4 in the nation. The Wildcats rolled into conference play and began to struggle after being swept by eventual College World Series
runner-up Georgia
and College World Series
participant LSU
. The Wildcats finished the season strong and made it into the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats would end up losing to Arizona
in the regional final in Ann Arbor, Michigan
. The Wildcats finished the season with a 44–19 record, the most wins in school history. They finished 25th in the final ESPN/USA Today poll.
The Wildcats slumped back to the SEC's second division in 2009, though they finished two games over .500 overall. Cohen left for Mississippi State after the season, and pitching coach Gary Henderson
was named his successor.
, although a new stadium construction is being planned by the university.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in NCAA Division I college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
and competes in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
. The current head coach of the Wildcats is Gary Henderson
Gary Henderson
-Playing career:Henderson pitched one year at Linfield College before transferring to San Diego State University, compiling a 19-5 career record at the two schools.-Coaching career:...
.
History
The baseball program, partly hampered by being the northernmost school in the heavily warm-weather SEC, has historically achieved only modest success at best. Under longtime coach Keith Madison (1975–2003), the Wildcats had some good teams. However, due to playing in the same league as national powers AlabamaAlabama Crimson Tide baseball
The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Alabama athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. The team plays its home games on campus at...
, LSU
LSU Tigers baseball
The LSU baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball.Along with the other LSU athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the West division of the Southeastern Conference...
, Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball
The Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team represents Mississippi State University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the West division of the Southeastern Conference. They are currently coached by head coach John Cohen. They play home games in Dudy Noble Field,...
, and South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks baseball
The South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college baseball. South Carolina has perennially been one of the best teams in college baseball since 1970, posting 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 College World Series berths, and two...
, regular-season success was rarely rewarded with a postseason berth. In 28 years, Madison was only able to lead the Wildcats to two NCAA Tournaments, in 1988 and 1993.
Wildcats baseball hit bottom at the turn of the 21st century, with only one winning season from 1997 through 2004, and five straight last-place finishes in the SEC East from 2001 through 2005. In 2003, after Madison's retirement, Kentucky hired Florida assistant John Cohen
John Cohen (baseball coach)
-External links:*...
as head coach. Cohen was able to lead the Cats to a winning overall season in 2005, despite another SEC cellar finish.
Few could have expected the Cinderella
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
season the Cats would have in 2006. They literally went from worst to first in the SEC, winning a regular-season conference title for the first time in three decades, and being ranked as high as fourth in the country by one major baseball poll during the season. However, the newly energized Kentucky baseball faithful saw the Cats crash out of the SEC tournament early and fail to make it out of the regionals of the NCAA tournament at home
Cliff Hagan Stadium
Cliff Hagan Stadium is a baseball stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. It is the home field of the University of Kentucky Wildcats college baseball team. The stadium, which currently holds 3,000, opened in 1969 as part of the Bernie A...
.
There were high hopes for the 2007 team and for the most part they delivered. They started the season 19–0 before falling to Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
. They then fell into a tailspin but rebounded at the end of the year to just miss the SEC playoffs after a Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
win. They finished with a 37–19 record. Jason Kipnis
Jason Kipnis
Jason Michael Kipnis is an American baseball player who plays second base for the Cleveland Indians. He was called up from the minor leagues to the Indians on July 22, 2011....
, who was an outfielder for that team, is now a second baseman for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
In 2008, Kentucky started off strong posting a 19–0 record and being ranked as high as #4 in the nation. The Wildcats rolled into conference play and began to struggle after being swept by eventual College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
runner-up Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
and College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
participant LSU
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
. The Wildcats finished the season strong and made it into the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats would end up losing to Arizona
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
in the regional final in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. The Wildcats finished the season with a 44–19 record, the most wins in school history. They finished 25th in the final ESPN/USA Today poll.
The Wildcats slumped back to the SEC's second division in 2009, though they finished two games over .500 overall. Cohen left for Mississippi State after the season, and pitching coach Gary Henderson
Gary Henderson
-Playing career:Henderson pitched one year at Linfield College before transferring to San Diego State University, compiling a 19-5 career record at the two schools.-Coaching career:...
was named his successor.
Stadium
The Wildcats play their home games on campus in Cliff Hagan StadiumCliff Hagan Stadium
Cliff Hagan Stadium is a baseball stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. It is the home field of the University of Kentucky Wildcats college baseball team. The stadium, which currently holds 3,000, opened in 1969 as part of the Bernie A...
, although a new stadium construction is being planned by the university.
Former players
- Jeff AbbottJeff Abbott (baseball)Jeffrey William Abbott is a retired professional baseball player who played outfielder in the major leagues from -. He played for the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins.-External links:...
- Joe BlantonJoe BlantonJoseph Matthew Blanton is a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
- Collin CowgillCollin CowgillCollin Brannen Cowgill is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft from the University of Kentucky....
- Scott DownsScott DownsScott Jeremy Downs is an American professional baseball relief pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays...
- Doug FlynnDoug FlynnRobert Douglas Flynn Jr. is a former Major League Baseball infielder from -. He is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
- Marv FoleyMarv FoleyMarvis Edwin Foley is a former Major League Baseball catcher and coach, former minor league baseball coach and manager, and current minor league baseball instructor. In the majors, he played all or part of five seasons, between 1978 and 1984, for the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers...
- Andy GreenAndy Green (baseball)Andrew Mulligan Green is a Major League Baseball infielder who is currently a free agent.He is a versatile fielder, who has the ability to play in almost all of the positions in baseball...
- Rod HendersonRod HendersonRodney Wood Henderson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Henderson attended Glasgow High School in Glasgow, Kentucky and the University of Kentucky, where he pitched for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team....
- Paul KilgusPaul KilgusPaul Kilgus , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987–1991 and 1993.-Fast Facts:* Kilgus won a career high 12 games for the Texas Rangers in...
- Jason KipnisJason KipnisJason Michael Kipnis is an American baseball player who plays second base for the Cleveland Indians. He was called up from the minor leagues to the Indians on July 22, 2011....
- Jim LeyritzJim LeyritzJames Joseph Leyritz is a former catcher and infielder in Major League Baseball.-Early years:Leyritz attended Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Middle Georgia Jr...
- Larry LuebbersLarry LuebbersLarry Christopher Luebbers is a former Major League Baseball player who played with the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals. He made his major league debut on July 3, 1993 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and gve up 3 earned runs in 5 2/3 of an inning...
- Cotton NashCotton NashCharles Francis "Cotton" Nash is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and National Basketball Association forward....
- Jeff ParrettJeff ParrettJeffrey Dale Parrett was a pitcher for the Montreal Expos , Philadelphia Phillies , Atlanta Braves , Oakland Athletics , Colorado Rockies and St...
- Jack SavageJack SavageJohn Joseph "Jack" Savage is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1987 and the Minnesota Twins in 1990. He was born on April 22, 1964 in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville, and he went on to attend the University of...
- Terry ShumpertTerry ShumpertTerrance Darnell Shumpert is a former Major League Baseball utility player. He is an alumnus of the University of Kentucky....
- Ryan StriebyRyan StriebyRyan Kristoffer Strieby is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball....
- Mark ThompsonMark Thompson (baseball)Mark Radford Thompson is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He graduated from Logan County High School in Russellville, Kentucky and he then attended the University of Kentucky....
- William Van LandinghamWilliam Van LandinghamWilliam Joseph Van Landingham is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire Major League career with the San Francisco Giants.-Career:...
- Brandon WebbBrandon WebbBrandon Tyler Webb is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner.-High school:Webb attended Paul G...
All-Americans
The following is a list of Kentucky's All-Americans:
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