Kentucky sophomore centerfielder Austin Cousino has been named one of three outfielders to win the 2013 Rawlings Gold Glove, given annually to nine of the top defenders at their positions in the NCAA, announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association on Wednesday.

Cousino is the second consecutive UK player to win the prestigious Gold Glove trophy, as Corey Littrell was honored as the NCAA's top defensive pitcher in 2012 after leading the Southeastern Conference in pickoffs. In 2008, UK's Ryan Wilkes became the first player in program history to win the Rawlings Gold Glove trophy after fielding a percent 1.000 as the everyday second baseman.

A native of Dublin, Ohio, the Rawlings Gold Glove trophy is actually the second of Cousino's career, as the former Baseball America first-team High School All-America honoree won the award while starring at Dublin Coffman. Cousino also finished 2013 as a member of the SEC All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year.

A 5-foot-10, 180-pound left-handed hitter, Cousino has dazzled in centerfield since arriving on campus for UK's school-record 45 win season. He earned freshman All-America honors and became the first player in program history to win SEC Freshman of the Year, before leading the USA Collegiate National Team in hitting during the summer.

As a freshman, Cousino broke UK's record for outfield putouts (142), leading the team with eight outfield assists. He also hit a team-leading .319 with 20 doubles, two triples, nine homers, 41 RBI and 15 steals. In 2013, Cousino started 55 games in centerfield, batting .249 with 12 doubles, one triple, six homers and 27 RBI, stealing 14 bases. In his decorated two-year career, Cousino has hit .288 with 32 doubles, three triples, 15 homers and 68 RBI, stealing 29 bags.

Joining Cousino in the decorated defensive outfielder on the Gold Glove team are Buffalo senior Jason Kanzler and North Carolina State's Brett Williams. Ole Miss catcher Stuart Turner and Alabama second baseman Kyle Overstreet were also named to the team.

Cousino's summer will once again be spent with the USA Collegiate National Team, becoming the first player in Kentucky history to earn invites to the USA team in multiple years. USA will begin training on Friday, before kicking off its season with games throughout late June and early July. The club will travel to Matsuyama, Japan and Tokyo for five games with the Japan National Team. The summer for the USA club will conclude with five unique games against the Cuban National Team from July 18-23.

 

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The Kentucky football team added a three-star prospect (per 247Sports) on Tuesday evening.

Derrick Kelly is a 6-6, 285-pound lineman from Havana, Florida.

Kelly plays both ways at East Gadsden High School.

Rivals does not have Kelly rated, so Kentucky's position in the rankings is still no. 2.

Rivals Top Ten
2014 Recruiting Classes

1. Texas
2. KENTUCKY
3. Tennessee
4. Texas A&M
5. Alabama
6. Notre Dame
7. Michigan
8. Clemson
9. Florida State
10. Baylor

 

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The Kentucky football is on the door step of the no. 1 recruiting class for 2014. However, this afternoon Rivals added a commit to Kentucky's class by mistake, which moved UK into the top spot.

But the error remained on the website long enough for guys like Kentucky commit, Drew Barker to notice via Twitter.

"UK now has the #1 recruiting class in the NATION!!! #BBN TURN UP!!!"

Once the mistake was corrected, Kentucky found themselves at no. 2 trailing only Texas.

 

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The Kentucky football recruiting class for 2014 is no. 2 in the country, according to Rivals.com.

This coming after the Wildcats received a verbal commitment from South Warren defensive tackle, Adrian Middleton.

At 6-4, 275-pounds, Middleton is considered a three-star DT that pushed that Cats past Tennessee in the latest 2014 recruiting rankings (Texas A&M is no. 1).

Offensive coordinator, Neal Brown tweeted the following message shortly after Middleton's commitment:

"Must keep the BEST players at home! Great day in My Old Kentucky Home. #BBN"

The Bowling Green product picked Kentucky over Missouri and Louisville.

 

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While the Kentucky football is rising to the top of the rankings (no. 3 in the country) for recruiting the class of 2014, Coach Stoops and company are also looking further into the future.
Earlier this week, at a Kentucky football camp, Stoops offered sophomore to-be, Landon Young a scholarship.
"It's unbelievable," Young said. "It's a big shock that they offered me this young. You never hear about it, just on rare occasions. I was just lost for words."
Young, a 6-7, 250-pound lineman at Lafayette High School gave Coach Stoops his verbal commitment on Friday afternoon.
"It takes a lot of stress off my shoulders," Young admitted about committing. "Now all I have to worry about is getting better and better."
And the coaches are already giving Young feedback as to what he needs to work on moving forward.
"One of the coaches said, 'Landon you're not going make your money on defense, you're going to make your money as an offensive tackle, so come practice with us today,'" Young recalled from his interaction with offensive line coach, John Schlarman at camp.
That's not the only route that could provide a bright future for Young, though.
As a freshman at Lafayette, Young finished runner-up in the State Wrestling Tournament (285 lb. division) and he's ranked 2nd in the nation in discus and 8th in the nation in shot put among freshman.
"Coach Stoops was really impressed with his wrestling," Landon's father, Randall stated. "He encourages kids to wrestle if they can."
Stoops and the Kentucky staff is also encouraging Young to pursue track and field when he arrives at Kentucky -- something that helped make Young's decision to commit that much easier.
"College is going to open up a wide variety of things," Young explained. "If I'm really good at football, I can pursue football. If I keep excelling in track, when I'm out of college football we can see what those opportunities for the Olympics could be. I'm still keeping that in my mind as a goal."
Young will be spending the rest of his summer at a variety of football camps and track events, including the Junior Olympics.

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Kentucky assistant coach Orlando Antigua has been named the head coach of the Dominican National Team it was announced by the Dominican Federation on Thursday.

Antigua has spent the past two seasons serving as an assistant to John Calipari for the Dominican team which fell one win shy of advancing to the nation's first Olympic appearance in 2012.

"I'm extremely excited to have this opportunity," Antigua said. "Anytime you can coach and be a participant of a national team, it's very special. For Coach Calipari and (UK Athletics Director) Mitch Barnhart to allow me to take part in this opportunity means a lot, on a personal level as well as professionally.

"I'm also thankful to the Dominican Federation, (Federation GM) Eduardo Najri and (Federation President) Rafael Uribe for their confidence in entrusting this program and team to me," Antigua said. "It is my goal to build upon the recent success we've enjoyed and continue to make this a program the Dominican Republic can be proud of."

A native of the Dominican Republic, Antigua suited up for the national team in 1994-95 and 1997-98. Antigua then served as an assistant coach with Calipari and helped lead the Dominicans to the finals of an Olympic qualifying tournament before losing to Nigeria. The loss prevented the Dominican Republic from reaching its first Olympic games.

Antigua will remain as an assistant at UK after having helped lead Kentucky to a national championship in 2012. Since arriving at UK, the Wildcats have advanced to a pair of Final Fours and reached the Elite Eight three of four years. Antigua serves as Kentucky's lead recruiter and he has helped UK haul in five-straight No. 1 rated recruiting classes.

"I'm happy for Orlando and this opportunity to lead the Dominican Republic national team," Calipari said. "I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish over the past two years, getting this country to the brink of its first-ever Olympic appearance. I'm confident with the experience he has that Orlando will build on the team's success and take it to new heights."

The Dominican Republic will report to training camp at the beginning of August before taking the floor for a pair of exhibition contests against Puerto Rico on Aug. 14 and Aug. 16. Antigua will then lead the Dominicans into competition at the Jenaro "Tuto" Marchand Continental Cup from Aug. 22-26 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

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The nation's no. 1 all-purpose back in the class of 2014 has committed to play football for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Stanley Williams, a 5-8, 186-pound running back does it all for George Walton Academy in Bethlehem, GA.  An all-purpose back is an every-down type of back who can catch the ball out of the backfield as well as he can run the ball and is reliable in the pass protect.

Rivals ranks Williams as a four-star prospect and the no. 1 player at his position -- Kentucky has never landed a no. 1 player at any position since Rivals began ranking them in 2002.

The Wildcats now have the no. 3 recruiting class in the country, trailing only Texas A&M and Tennessee.

Rivals Top Ten
2014 Recruiting Classes

1. Texas A&M
2. Tennessee
3. KENTUCKY
4. Texas
5. Notre Dame
6. Michigan
7. Clemson
8. Baylor
9. Alabama
10. Miami (FL)

 

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The NCAA released its Academic Progress Rate report Tuesday, showing that all 22 of the University of Kentucky sports teams surpassed the NCAA cut score and that 15 of the 22 squads exceeded the national average for public universities in their sports.

The women's golf team and men's golf team led the way, each with a perfect 1,000 score, followed by men's cross country (994), baseball (987), men's tennis (987), women's cross country (987) and women's soccer (987).

The marks are a four-year composite, covering the 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years, that measures academic eligibility and retention of student-athletes. The NCAA cut score for each sport is 930.

The 15 Wildcat teams that exceeded the national average among public universities in their sports included the seven teams listed above, along with men's basketball (963), women's basketball (976), rifle (982), softball (976), women's tennis (984), women's indoor track (984), women's outdoor track (986), and volleyball (985).

Another highlight of the report was 10 UK teams that notched a perfect 1,000 score for the 2011-12 school year - men's cross country, women's cross country, men's golf, women's golf, gymnastics, women's soccer, men's tennis, women's indoor track, women's outdoor track and rifle.

"Achieving the APR is an annual challenge," said Mitch Barnhart, UK Director of Athletics. "Our coaches and support personnel have done well in adjusting to the requirements and I'm proud of our student-athletes for their work in posting strong scores."

With each team exceeding the NCAA target score, no Wildcat squads are subject to penalties, such as scholarship reductions or postseason restrictions. None of UK's 22 teams have incurred a penalty during the nine-year history of the APR.

 

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The United States Track and Field Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named eight Kentucky track and field Wildcats All-Americans Monday.

Raymond Dykstra (javelin throw), Andrew Evans (discus throw) and Keith Hayes (110-meter hurdles) earned First-Team All-American Honors.

Evans and Dykstra were both First-Team All-Americans in 2012. Hayes, who did not compete during the 2012 season, is now a four time All-American.

Evans claimed the bronze medal in the discus, Hayes was fourth in the 110m hurdles and Dykstra placed fifth in the javelin at the NCAA Championships last weekend. All three of them produced season-best performances at the NCAA Championships.

Evans threw a new collegiate-best mark (62.78 meters / 206 feet) by nearly 10 feet at the NCAA Championships.

Matt Hillenbrand, Luis Orta, Kayla Parker, Bradley Szypka and Keilah Tyson picked up Second-Team All-America accolades for the first time in each of their careers.

First-team USTFCCCA All-America honors are awarded to those who earn any portion of a team point at the national championships, or reach an eight-entrant final. Second-team All-America honors are handed out to those who finish between ninth and 16th place at the NCAA Meet.

Those who participated at the final site but did not place in the meet's top 16 were listed as honorable mention for the All-America award.

Chelsea Oswald and Rebecca Famurewa were awarded honorable mention All-America status.

Kentucky had two All-Americans, and one honorable-mention All-America selection last season.

2013 USTFCCCA First-Team All-Americans

Raymond Dykstra: Javelin Throw

Andrew Evans: Discus Throw

Keith Hayes: 110-Meter Hurdles

 

2013 Second-Team All-Americans

Matt Hillenbrand: 1,500 Meters

Luis Orta: 3,000-Meter Steeplechase

Kayla Parker: 100-Meter Hurdles

Bradley Szypka: Shot Put

Keilah Tyson: 100 Meters

 

2013 Honorable Mention All-Americans

Rebecca Famurewa : Discus Throw

Chelsea Oswald: 5,000 Meters and 10,000 Meters

 

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A day after receiving their 12th commit, the Kentucky football team adds number 13 -- Mike Edwards, a three-star safety from Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, OH, is the seventh commit from the Buckeye state.
Last season, Edwards had five interceptions and 56 tackles. He also played some wide receiver and returned kickoffs.
The no. 33 safety according to Rivals had offers from Louisville, Missouri, Nebraska, West Virginia and Wisconsin among others.
Edwards' commitment moves Kentucky's 2014 class into the top ten.

1. Texas A&M
2. Tennessee
3. Texas
4. Michigan
5. Notre Dame
6. Clemson
7. KENTUCKY
8. Alabama
9. Miami (FL)
10. Baylor

 

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Denzel Ware (Crestview, Fla.) was initially Kentucky's first football commit from the 2014 class.

Ware withdrew his commitment in April only to re-commit on Sunday, June 9.

Depending on what scouting service you look at, Ware is ranked as the no. 45 to 80 prospect in the country.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end is the highest-ranked player (no. 45 according to 247Sports.com) among Kentucky's commits.

Ware's first commitment was to Florida State before switching to Kentucky when Mark Stoops and D.J. Eliot (defensive coordinator) moved from Tallahassee to Lexington.

Ware, UK's 12th commit from the 2014 class, also has offers from Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas among others.

 

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Kentucky junior infielder J.T. Riddle has been picked in the 13th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins, going No. 382 overall, it was announced on Saturday afternoon from the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, N.J.

Riddle now gives UK four players picked in the first 15 rounds of the 2013 MLB Draft, a year removed from a school-record nine players picked in the 2012 MLB Draft, the second-most in the NCAA.

Riddle joins Corey Littrell, Trevor Gott and Jerad Grundy was UK draft selections. Littrell was picked in the fifth round (No. 143) by the Boston Red Sox, Gott was picked in the sixth round (No. 178) by the San Diego Padres and Grundy was picked in the 10th round (No. 311) by the San Diego Padres.

Riddle, a native of Frankfort, Ky., has been a three-year starter for the Wildcats after earning Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball honors out of Western Hills in 2010. As a junior, Riddle started all 55 games for UK at second base, batting .283 with seven doubles, two triples, one homer and 20 RBI, stealing six bases and sporting a 22-14 walk-strikeout ratio.

Known as a dynamic defender with a great infield arm and an ability to make game-changing plays, Riddle fielded .983 in 2013 while leading all Southeastern Conference second baseman in defensive assists. During his 2012 summer in the Cape Cod League, Riddle led the circuit in assists while manning second base. Spanning his 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Wildcats, Riddle ran up a stretch of 358.1 consecutive innings without making an error, despite playing in the middle infield for 121 consecutive starts.

In his three-year career, Riddle has played in 168 games with 161 starts, batting .283 with 28 doubles, three triples, nine homers and 83 RBI, stealing 16 bases. As a sophomore, Riddle batting .279 with 12 doubles, one triple, five homers and 38 RBI. During his freshman season in 2011, Riddle hit .288 with nine doubles, three homers and 25 RBI, stealing seven bases.

The 2013 MLB Draft will conclude with rounds 11-40 on Saturday, with complete coverage on MLB.com.

 

 

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Keith Hayes took one step closer to solidifying his place as one of the top hurdlers in Kentucky track and field history on Thursday at Hayward Field.

Hayes ran the fifth fastest time of the 110-meter hurdles NCAA Semifinal Heats, crossing the finish line in 13.32 seconds with a +3.0 meters per second tailwind to advance to the NCAA Championship Final. He broke two-time Olympian Mikel Thomas' all-conditions 100m hurdles school-record (13.57w).

"The cool thing about Keith Hayes is the more the tension rises the more he focuses," head coach Edrick Floreal said. "With some people the more the tension rises, the more they lose sight of what's important. His warm up was spectacular. I think he enjoys being the underdog and having to do something great.

"A lot of people try to shy away from it. If you really think about it if you've never been here and expect to do well it's difficult. He just likes it, he really likes it. Hopefully he can get one more on Saturday and we will be okay."

Hayes will race in the NCAA 110m hurdles final at 6:16 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 8.

Three other Wildcats competed on Thursday, but none reached the final of their events.

Kayla Parker tied the all-conditions school-record in the 100-meter hurdles as she crossed the finish line in 13.16 with a +2.8 wind at her back. Shonna Johnson ran the same time in Gainesville during the 1998 season.

"We have not performed up to our expectations as a team thus far," Floreal said. "The school records and Keith Hayes' advancement to the final were a much needed boost for our team. We will regroup and prepare for a strong finish on Friday and Saturday."

Matt Hillenbrand finished his 1,500m semifinal with a 14th place time of 3:44.48 just .18 seconds of his collegiate best performance. Hillenbrand did not advance to the final, meaning he concluded a junior season in which he won the SEC mile championship, was runner up in the conference 1,500m and advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first time in his career.

Freshman Rebecca Famurewa fouled on all three of her attempts in the discus throw and did not make the final, concluding a season that saw her earn the SEC Discus Bronze Medal and pick up Freshman All-SEC honors in the weight throw.

Two Wildcats will compete on Friday as returning Discus All-American Andrew Evans will throw in the first flight of his signature event at 7 p.m. ET.

Southeastern Conference 5,000-meter Champion Chelsea Oswald will race in the NCAA Final of that event at 9:15 p.m. ET.

ESPNU/ESPN3 will broadcast the Thursday action starting at 7:30 p.m. Pac-12 Network will stream the meet online from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m.

The top eight finishers in each event earn points toward the overall team score. The points are assigned as follows: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

Kentucky NCAA Outdoor Championships Results & Schedule
Wednesday, June 5

Men Shot Put
10. Brad Szypka: 18.57/60'11.25"

Women 100 meters (Semifinal)
15. Keilah Tyson: 11.40w (+2.8)

3,000-meter steeplechase (Semifinal)
16. Luis Orta: 8:59.33

Women 10,000 meters (Final)
18. Chelsea Oswald: 35:06.02

Thursday, June 6

Women Discus Prelim
-. Beckie Famurewa: F,F,F

Men 1,500 meters (semifinal)

14. Matt Hillenbrand: 3:44.48

100-meter hurdles (semifinal)
13. Kayla Parker: 13.16w (+2.8)

110-meter hurdles (semifinal):
5. Keith Hayes: 13.32w (+3.0)

Friday, June 7

7 p.m. -- Men Discus (Prelim & Final): Andrew Evans - Flight 1
9:15 p.m. -- Women 5,000 meters (Final): Chelsea Oswald

Saturday, June 8

3:30 p.m. -- Men Javelin (Prelim & Final): Raymond Dykstra
6:16 p.m. -- 110-meter hurdles (Final): Keith Hayes

NCAA Championships Broadcast Schedule (All times Eastern)

Saturday, June 8

3:30.-5 p.m. Pac-12 Live Stream

5.-7 p.m. ESPNU

 

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Andrew Evans picked up the Kentucky track and field team's first six points of the NCAA Outdoor Championships, claiming the Bronze Medal in the discus throw on Friday at Hayward Field.

Evans' top throw, which traveled 62.78 meters / 206 feet, went nearly 10 feet further than any competitive throw of the UK junior's career prior to Friday.

"I got into the final in ninth place so I was sweating it pretty bad, but I knew I had a big throw in me," Evans said. "I ended up switching disks, which made a huge difference. I found one that I really liked. It feels really good because it is the culmination of a lot of things."

Evans didn't connect on a big throw during the preliminary flight as his best mark of the opening three attempts was his third, traveling 58.89m / 193'2". That mark got him an additional three throws as the ninth and final qualifier into the final by one inch.

"I was feeling some nerves that I hadn't felt all year so that was a little bit different for me, but I knew that I could hit at least 58 meters high at the very least.," Evans said. "That is what it took to get into the final, so I feel pretty fortunate."

He failed to improve on the fourth throw, but then launched a bomb 62.32m/204'05 on the fifth attempt to move from ninth position into third. Evans' third attempt was a then--personal best by 7.21 feet.

Evans found the zone as the competition reached its most pressure-filled moments, improving on the final attempt, but remaining third overall to finish the competition.

"I am extremely proud of the way Andrew Evans battled back, using his final three throws to move from ninth to third place," head coach Edrick Floreal said. "His personal best effort got us six big points."

Evans' PR mark moved him up a spot into fourth place on the UK all-time performers' list, two inches short of 2008 SEC Discus Champion Chase Madison.

Chelsea Oswald was 24th in the 5,000 meters final with a time of 16:48.90.

"We have to turn the page on our misfortunes, and focus our attention on Ray Dykstra in the javelin and Keith Hayes in the 110-meter hurdles," Floreal said.

Pac-12 Network will stream the Saturday action online from 3:30 - 5 p.m. ET, and that coverage should include Raymond Dykstra in flight one of the men's javelin.

ESPNU will pick up the broadcast at 5 p.m. That coverage window will include Keith Hayes in the 110-meter hurdles at 6:16 p.m. ET.

Southern California and Texas are tied for the men's team standings lead with 32 points each through 13 events scored. Kentucky is tied for 28th with six points.

Kansas leads the women's team standings with 48 points. UK will not score on the women's side at the 2013 NCAA Championships.

The top eight finishers in each event earn points toward the overall team score. The points are assigned as follows: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

Kentucky NCAA Outdoor Championships Results & Schedule
Wednesday, June 5
Men Shot Put
10. Brad Szypka: 18.57/60'11.25"

Women 100 meters (Semifinal)
15. Keilah Tyson: 11.40w (+2.8)

3,000-meter steeplechase (Semifinal)
16. Luis Orta: 8:59.33

Women 10,000 meters (Final)
18. Chelsea Oswald: 35:06.02

Thursday, June 6
Women Discus Prelim
-. Beckie Famurewa: F,F,F

Men 1,500 meters (semifinal)
14. Matt Hillenbrand: 3:44.48

100-meter hurdles (semifinal)
13. Kayla Parker: 13.16w (+2.8)

110-meter hurdles (semifinal):
5. Keith Hayes: 13.32w (+3.0)

Friday, June 7
Men Discus (Prelim)
3. Andrew Evans: 62.78m / 206'

Women 5,000 meters
24. Chelsea Oswald: 16:48.90

Saturday, June 8
3:30 p.m. -- Men Javelin (Prelim & Final): Raymond Dykstra - Flight One -
6:16 p.m. -- 110-meter hurdles (Final): Keith Hayes

NCAA Championships Broadcast Schedule (All times Eastern)
Saturday, June 8
3:30.-5 p.m. Pac-12 Live Stream
5.-7 p.m. ESPNU

 

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Kentucky senior southpaw Jerad Grundy has been picked in the 10th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics, going No. 311 overall, it was announced on Friday evening from the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, N.J.

Grundy is the third UK pitcher to be picked through the first two days of the 2013 MLB Draft, joining Corey Littrell and Trevor Gott. Littrell was picked in the fifth round (No. 143) by the Boston Red Sox and Gott was picked in the sixth round (No. 178) by the San Diego Padres.

The three pitchers now give UK a total of 54 players since 2006 that have been drafted or signed a professional contract. The UK pitchers also give UK 18 total top-10 round picks in the last eight MLB Drafts. In 2012, UK ranked second in the NCAA with a school-record nine players picked in the MLB Draft.

Grundy was drafted for the fourth time in his career, most recently in the 26th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. Grundy was also picked out of high school in the 46th round by the Texas Rangers in 2009 and by the Florida Marlins in the 42nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft.

Grundy was the ninth Wildcat to be drafted out of UK as a junior to elect to return to school for their senior seasons in the last six years. Among the players who have improved their draft positions by returning to UK include MLB outfielder Collin Cowgill (29th round in 2007, fifth round in 2008), Sawyer Carroll (18th round in 2007, third round in 2008), Scott Green (15th round in 2007, third round in 2008), Taylor Black (28th round in 2010, 16th round in 2011), Chris Rusin (23rd round in 2008, fourth round in 2009), Michael Williams (37th round in 2011, 30th round in 2012) and Sean Coughlin (42nd round in 2006, 13th round in 2007).

A native of Johnsburg, Ill., Grundy has had a strong two seasons for the Wildcats after transferring from Miami (Fla.) and Heartland Community College. A 6-foot-1, 200-pound lefty, Grundy is coming off a season that saw him make 14 starts in 2013, owning a 6-6 record and a 4.86 ERA. Grundy worked 83.1 innings in 2013, allowing just 20 walks and striking out 61.

Grundy got off to a dominating start to 2013, posting a 5-1 record and a 1.99 ERA on March 23 through his first six starts. Grundy's best start of the year came in an eight-inning stint vs. No. 14 Mississippi State and the then-league leading offensive attack, where he allowed two runs and struck out 10.

In his two-year career, Grundy made 30 starts for UK, posting a 12-9 record and a 4.31 ERA in 169 innings, walking 56 and striking out 124. As a junior in 2012, Grundy served as the Saturday starter for a team that set the program record with 45 wins. Grundy went 6-3 with a 3.78 ERA as a junior in 2012, striking out 63 in 85.2 innings.

The 2013 MLB Draft went through 10 rounds on Friday night and will conclude with rounds 11-40 on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. ET, with complete coverage on MLB.com.

 

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Junior Kentucky right-hander Trevor Gott has been picked in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres, going 178th overall, it was announced on Friday afternoon from the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, N.J.

Gott is the second Wildcat picked during day two of the three-day 2013 MLB Draft, as junior southpaw Corey Littrell went No. 143 overall in the fifth round to the Boston Red Sox. Gott and Littrell now give UK a total of 53 players since 2006 that have been drafted or signed a professional contract. The two UK pitchers also give UK 17 total top-10 round picks in the last eight MLB Drafts. In 2012, UK ranked second in the NCAA with a school-record nine players picked in the MLB Draft.

A native of Lexington, Ky., Gott finished his junior season as the career and single-season record holder for saves as one of the most dynamic relievers in college baseball. A 6-foot, 190-pounder, Gott has a UK career record with 23 saves, breaking the UK single-season mark with nine saves in 2012 and then shattering it as a junior with 12 saves.

In his three-year career, Gott has appeared in 69 games with a 9-5 record and a 2.30 ERA, striking out 107 in 82.1 innings. During Gott's three-year career, the righty has led a dynamic UK bullpen that owned an 89-1 record when holding an eighth-inning lead, including winning 88 consecutive games when leading after the eighth.

As a junior, Gott went 4-1 with a 1.20 ERA, saving a program-record 12 games in 30 innings, walking five and striking out 35. Gott led a UK bullpen that set a program record with a 2.29 ERA in 2013, with the bullpen owning a 14-3 record and surrendering just one steal and 50 walks in 172.2 innings.

In 2012, Gott went 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 23 games, saving nine games with 38 strikeouts in 25 innings. During his freshman season after winning Gatorade High School Player of the Year honors at Tates Creek, Gott appeared in 23 games with two saves, striking out 34 in 27.1 innings.

The 2013 MLB Draft will continue through the top-10 rounds on Friday evening, before concluding with rounds 11-40 on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. ET, with complete coverage on MLB.com.

 

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Woodford County's Clinton Hollon will soon be a Toronto Blue Jay.

The hard-throwing pitcher was selected with the 47th overall pick by Toronto in Thursday night's second round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
Kyle Scott sat down with Hollon Friday afternoon.

Scott: Tell me what you were doing last night when the Draft was going on.

Hollon: I was actually heading back from the state game and I got a call from my agent, Rob Martin and he told me the Toronto Blue Jays wanted to take me in the second round. I tried to call my dad and he didn't answer because one of the local scouts with the Texas Rangers came to the house because he wanted to watch them [Rangers] take me on the screen; but, as soon as my dad was shaking his hand coming into the house the Blue Jays announced that they took me and I got that call so they [my family] said they got to celebrate it with the Rangers, instead of me.

Were you surprised that you were selected that early? Because if this was this time last year there was question [because of tendonitis in throwing arm]?

Hollon: Ummm, a little bit. I had been talking to my agent all day and he said I might go either late yesterday or early today. So it kind of surprised me, but we had been talking to him a little bit and he said he had been trying to work out a deal with the Blue Jays. I didn't want to tell anybody because I didn't want to curse it. But I'm glad it happened.

Scott: Give me an idea as to what the Draft process was like up until last night.

Hollon: It's been great. Not a lot of kids get to experience the things that I've got to experience and for my family too -- it's brought us together as a family. I've been going through it since I was about 15 years old -- when I started going to Perfect Game things and I hit 91, 92 when I was 15. So it's been crazy and long, but it went by a lot quicker than I really expected it to.

 

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Junior Kentucky southpaw Corey Littrell has been selected in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, going No. 143 overall, it was announced on Friday afternoon from the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, N.J.

Littrell is the first UK player selected in the 2013 MLB Draft and is the highest Kentucky player selected since Alex Meyer was picked in the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Littrell becomes the 52nd Kentucky player since 2006 to be drafted or sign a free-agent contract and is the 16th UK player to be selected in the top-10 rounds in the last eight drafts.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Littrell has been one of the top performers in UK baseball history as a left-handed starting pitcher. A 6-foot-3, 195-pounder, Littrell led UK starters in 2013 with a 3.72 ERA, posting a 6-5 record in 14 starts, working a staff-best 94.1 innings, striking out a team-high 77.

In his three-year career, Littrell ranks sixth in UK history in wins (21), seventh in starts (43), ninth in winning percentage (.618), eighth in innings (261.2) and ninth in strikeouts (215).

As a sophomore in 2012, Littrell had an All-SEC season, posting the fifth-most wins (eight) and the eighth-best ERA (2.74) in UK single-season history. It marks the second time in Littrell's career that he has been drafted, as he was picked in the 35th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals after earning Louisville Slugger Kentucky High School Player of the Year honors at Trinity.

Kentucky had a school-record nine players picked in the 2012 MLB Draft, the second-most of any school in the NCAA. Since UK won the 2006 Southeastern Conference Championship, the Wildcats have had a total of 52 players drafted or sign a free agent contract. Before 2006, UK averaged 2.17 MLB Draft picks per season.

On Friday, MLB Network televised the first two rounds with a pair of Wildcats signees going in the second round. Right-hander Clinton Hollon (Versailles, Ky.) was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays, going No. 47 overall, and left-hander Hunter Green (Bowling Green., Ky.) was picked No. 59 overall by the Los Angeles Angels.

The 2013 MLB Draft will continue through the top-10 rounds on Friday evening, before concluding with rounds 11-40 on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. ET, with complete coverage on MLB.com.

 

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The Blue Jays used their second pick on Day 1 of the First-Year Player Draft to select 18-year-old right-hander Clinton Hollon.

Hollon is a senior from Woodford County High School (Ky.) and was taken with the 47th overall selection of the Draft. He has the ability to reach mid-90s on his fastball while also possessing a power curveball, slider and changeup.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was one of the most hyped pitching prospects in the game a year ago until a right arm injury temporarily derailed his lofty expectations.

As a junior, Hollon experienced tendinitis in his right forearm after leaving the East Coast Pro Showcase and was eventually shut down for the year. He returned this spring and was throwing well, which allowed him to climb up the Draft board.

Hollon was ranked the 86th-best prospect in the Draft, according to MLB.com. He went 9-1 with a 0.61 ERA in 10 starts as a senior this season while striking out 87 batters in 57 innings and also being a 2013 Rawlings First Team All-American.

According to various reports, Hollon's mechanics are a work in progress and he will need to fix a few issues with the lower half of his body during the windup. There is a belief that his velocity could increase even more as he matures and gets stronger.

The 47th overall pick comes with a recommended slot value of $1,168,200. Hollon has a commitment to the University of Kentucky, but he does not have the same type of signability concerns that came with Toronto's first pick of the day, Phil Bickford (No. 10), who has a commitment to Cal State Fullerton.

Hollon is the earliest Draft pick out of Kentucky since Ben Revere was taken by the Twins with the 28th overall selection in the 2008 Draft, according to the Kentucky Forward. He's also the first player to be drafted out of Woodford County High School in Major League history. Hollon was taken 12 picks before fellow Kentucky native Hunter Green was taken by the Angels.

 

 

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