Kentucky baseball 2025 season preview: 3 biggest games, key players, predictions and more

Kentucky Baseball emerged as a solid unit under head coach Nick Mingione this year. They won their first SEC regular season title since 2006 by sharing the crown with the all-conquering Tennessee Volunteers, signaling their emphatic growth under Mingione.

In addition, they also earned the second seed in the postseason, the highest ever in program history. They produced strong performances in the Lexington Regional and Super Regional, winning both events to make their first-ever appearance in the College World Series.

The Kentucky Wildcats enjoyed one of their strongest seasons in recent history this year.

Although the Florida Gators eliminated them early in Omaha, the Wildcats' development under Mingione cannot be ignored. Their success was achieved on the back of consistent team performances, which looks to be their style of baseball in the years to come. Here, we preview Kentucky baseball ahead of the 2025 season.

Three key games for Kentucky Baseball in the 2025 season

3. Vanderbilt Commodores

The new SEC schedule from the 2025 season sees the Commodores as one of the two permanent opponents of the Wildcats. Tim Corbin will be keen to strengthen the Commodores in the off-season and with his experience as a two-time NCAA Tournament winner, his team could pose a serious threat to the Wildcats in 2025.

2. LSU Tigers

The Tigers will also pose a major threat to the Wildcats with their strong recruitment drive. They are likely to be among the frontrunners for the 2025 season, which will make this a litmus test for the Wildcats' credentials to go for glory next season.

1. Tennessee Volunteers

The showdown between the Volunteers and the Wildcats looks set to be a blockbuster in 2025. Both teams are expected to fight for the SEC regular season title once again, hoping they can win it outright next season.

Key players for the Kentucky Wildcats in 2025

1. Robert Hogan, RHP

After transferring from the Texas A&M Aggies, Hogan was among the standouts in the Wildcats' bullpen this year. He recorded 42 strikeouts with an ERA of 3.14 in 40.2 innings pitched while finishing with a 1-0 record.

With stars like Mason Moore and Trey Pooser earning MLB call-ups and other experienced pitchers exhausting their eligibility, the Wildcats will expect Hogan to play a bigger role in 2025, making him a player to watch out for next season.

2. Brock Silvers, 3B/RHP

Silvers ranks among the top recruits for the Wildcats in 2025. He excelled for Middleton Academy and also featured in this year's Perfect Game National Showcase. The Wildcats will have massive expectations from Silvers given the exit of a large part of their roster in the off-season.

3. James McCoy, INF

McCoy produced a solid season at the plate for the Wildcats this year. He recorded 6 home runs and 25 RBI with an average of .218. Entering his junior year in 2025, McCoy will need to play a bigger role to fuel the Wildcats' dreams of enjoying more success and returning to Omaha next year.

Predicting the Kentucky Wildcats' 2025 college baseball season

The exhaustion of key players' eligibilities combined with the MLB call-ups of stars like Ryan Waldschmidt and Trey Pooser leaves the Wildcats with major gaps to be filled in the off-season. They will need to put in the work with shrewd additions from the transfer portal to stay competitive. However, time is not quite on their side as of now.

The Wildcats are likely to produce a strong regular season despite the expansion of the SEC next year. However, should they fail to bolster their roster before next season, the Wildcats could struggle in the postseason, possibly missing out on making the field of eight in Omaha.