With Kentucky Baseball’s season now over, players are evaluating their futures. So far, redshirt junior outfielder and right-handed pitcher James McCoy is the most notable Wildcat to enter the transfer portal, but he’s far from the only one. According to On3’s College Baseball Transfer Portal Tracker, 14 Kentucky players have entered the portal so far, which ranks second among Power Four programs behind Virginia (21).
That number includes a few more names you might know. Senior first baseman Dylan Koontz and redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher Hayden Smith entered the portal this morning. Koontz started 23 games this season, recording a .214 average with two home runs. Smith, a Nicholasville native, had a 3.48 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 14 appearances this season. Sophomore infielder Kyuss Gargett and outfielder Griffin Cameron are also in the portal. Gargett had a .243 average with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 18 RBI in 52 career games. Cameron, a former Lexington Catholic star, had a .224 average with 11 stolen bases in 53 career games.
This past season was a rebuilding one for the Cats, who lost 13 out of 15 core players from the 2024 team that went to the College World Series for the first time in program history. McCoy and Devin Burkes (who has exhausted his eligibility) were the only two offensive starters remaining. Last offseason, Kentucky brought in 15 new transfers, with seven playing major roles (RHP Simon Gregersen, LF Cole Hage, CF Carson Hansen, 2B Luke Lawrence, RHP Nic McCay, RHP Scott Rouse, and LHP Ethan Walker). So far, none of those seven have entered the portal, a good sign.
More Kentucky Baseball players enter the Transfer Portal​
That number includes a few more names you might know. Senior first baseman Dylan Koontz and redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher Hayden Smith entered the portal this morning. Koontz started 23 games this season, recording a .214 average with two home runs. Smith, a Nicholasville native, had a 3.48 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 14 appearances this season. Sophomore infielder Kyuss Gargett and outfielder Griffin Cameron are also in the portal. Gargett had a .243 average with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 18 RBI in 52 career games. Cameron, a former Lexington Catholic star, had a .224 average with 11 stolen bases in 53 career games.
This past season was a rebuilding one for the Cats, who lost 13 out of 15 core players from the 2024 team that went to the College World Series for the first time in program history. McCoy and Devin Burkes (who has exhausted his eligibility) were the only two offensive starters remaining. Last offseason, Kentucky brought in 15 new transfers, with seven playing major roles (RHP Simon Gregersen, LF Cole Hage, CF Carson Hansen, 2B Luke Lawrence, RHP Nic McCay, RHP Scott Rouse, and LHP Ethan Walker). So far, none of those seven have entered the portal, a good sign.
More Kentucky Baseball players enter the Transfer Portal​