RyneCombs

• SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll (2013)

Outlook
Left-handed talent is the 2012 Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball and Gatorade Player of the Year … Has the ability to serve nearly any role on the UK pitching staff … After serving as a midweek starter as a freshman, was the first arm out of the bullpen in the season opener with UK trying to secure a win over No. 1 Virginia, working 3.2 innings without allowing any runs and was an out away from a four-inning save before UVA chased him with two runs … Had a dominating outing vs. Old Dominion, tossing 3.2 hitless innings … Pitched in 12 games in the Cape Cod League over the summer … Has added strength to his frame and owns a competitive makeup … A good athlete, played first base and outfield during the fall practice season.

Summer
Played for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod League … Worked in 12 games in relief for Orleans, with a 1-0 record and a save in 13.2 innings, owning a 9.22 ERA … Worked 13.2 innings, allowing 21 hits and 14 walks, striking out nine.

2014
Started the season as UK’s primary left-handed option in relief … Appeared in 16 games with four starts, owning a 1-2 record and a 6.55 ERA … Worked 33 innings, allowing 18 walks and striking out 13 … Worked in eight games in relief in SEC play, owning a 9.69 ERA in 13 innings, walking seven and striking out six … In non-SEC games, appeared in eight games and four starts, with a 1-2 record and a 4.50 ERA, working 20 innings, walking 11 and striking out seven … Made his season debut as the first reliever out of the bullpen vs. No. 1 Virginia in the season lidlifter … Worked the first 3.2 innings without allowing any runs and was an out away from a four-inning save before UVA plated two runs on two hits to chase him from the game in an 8-3 win … Picked up his first career win in his second appearance of the year at Old Dominion, working 3.2 hitless innings, allowing just two walks in relief of Chandler Shepherd as UK rallied from behind for the win … Tossed a shutout frame vs. Eastern Michigan, before allowing two unearned runs in a loss to Ball State … Made first start of the year in a midweek tilt vs. Western Kentucky, working four innings, allowing one earned run … Worked three hitless innings vs. No. 1 South Carolina in his SEC debut, allowing a walk that came around to score … Worked two innings in his second start of the year, allowing three runs in midweek action vs. Xavier … Got an out vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt and worked two innings and allowed one run in a blowout win over No. 12 Florida … Worked three innings vs. Morehead State in his third start of the year, allowing two earned runs … Worked a shutout inning in UK’s loss to Missouri … Made final start of the year at No. 9 Louisville, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks in two innings … Allowed a run and got two outs at Texas A&M in the series finale, before allowing seven runs and getting one out vs. No. 12 Ole Miss … Worked four innings in relief vs. Auburn, allowing one earned run … Final outing of the year came at Georgia, allowing four runs in 1.2 innings.

2013
Became a key left-handed reliever and midweek starter as a freshman, helping UK to the best bullpen ERA in program history … Appeared in 16 games with two midweek starts, with a 2.01 ERA … Tossed 22.1 innings, allowing 27 hits – 23 singles – nine walks and striking out 11 … Appeared in seven games in SEC action, with a 3.68 ERA in 7.1 innings, walking five and striking out three … Appeared in nine games with two starts in non-league action, with a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings … Appeared in eight games with two starts at Cliff Hagan Stadium, with a 1.84 ERA in 14.2 innings … Allowed only two steals in four attempts … A great athlete on the mound, picked off one runner … Led the team with 13.3 ground-ball outs per nine innings pitched … UK went 2-0 in his midweek starts … Inherited 10 runners, allowing just four to score … Had a team-leading 1.23 ERA in his two starts, allowing a run in 7.1 innings … Had a 2.40 ERA in his 14 relief outings … Allowed only five hits to left-handed hitters … Made collegiate debut in relief of UK starter Corey Littrell at USC Upstate, working an inning, allowing three hits and one run … Bounced back the following weekend with two perfect innings vs. 2013 NCAA Tourney team Elon, needing just 18 pitches … Made first career start vs. Eastern Kentucky in the second home game of the year, working 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and no runs … Worked 1.2 innings in relief vs. Michigan State, allowing an unearned run … Made second career start vs. Ohio in midweek action, working four innings, allowing one run … Worked five consecutive outings without allowing an earned run, before No. 2 LSU scored a run after allowing a walk … Made SEC debut with a key out vs. Georgia … Pitched in six consecutive road games, including a key out at Western Kentucky in the 18-inning marathon and a shutout frame at No. 16 Ole Miss … Final outing of the year came in 2.2 innings vs. No. 1 Vanderbilt, allowing a pair of runs on two doubles.

High School
One of the top prospects in the nation, named the Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball and Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year … Went 10-1 in 2012 with a 0.59 ERA, striking out 105 in 71 innings … In his career, owned a 23-5 record with four saves and a 1.47 ERA … At the plate, hit .363 with 11 doubles, five triples, three homers and 24 steals, sporting a .570 on-base mark in 2012 … Joined former UK infielder and former MLB standout Doug Flynn as the only players to have their Bryan Station jersey retired … Earned six letters under coach Eddie Brooks, a former UK player … “Ryne is a big game player,” Brooks said. “When he’s on the mound he takes control of a game. He has earned the respect of his teammates on and off the field. He’s the kind of player who makes you look like a really great coach. He’s a special, once-in-a-lifetime player. And he’s a quality young man on and off the field.” … Played basketball his sophomore year.

Personal
Full name is Michael Ryne Combs … Born March 14, 1994 in Lexington, Ky. … Son of David Combs and Susan Redmon … Clay (14) is only sibling … Sported a 3.83 GPA in high school.