Sean Harney, Daniel Harper to Return for Final Season

Kentucky right-handed pitchers Sean Harney and Daniel Harper each will return to the program for the 2022 season, spurning overtures from teams during the Major League Baseball Draft to take advantage of their final season of collegiate eligibility.
 
The duo will pitch as fifth-year seniors and add a pair of proven veteran arms to what is shaping up to be one of the best pitching staffs in the Southeastern Conference for next season. The Wildcats now return all three weekend starters, their most experienced bullpen arm and a group of sophomores who impressed as true freshmen during the 2021 season.
 
“We could not be more excited to welcome Sean and Daniel back for another season,” UK coach Nick Mingione said. “Both are extremely talented and proven arms that provide leadership and experience to our pitching staff.”
 
Harney had an excellent 2021 campaign, going 3-2 with a 3.69 earned run average in 46.1 innings. He led the team in saves with six and started six games in conference play, making him the only pitcher in school history to save that many victories while also starting at least six.
 
The Natick, Massachusetts native struck out 58 and walked just 17, held opponents to a .248 batting average and provided a steadying hand in the weekend rotation when incumbent Mason Hazelwood went down with a season-ending injury. In his first six appearances he struck out 14, walked only one, allowed just two hits and no runs and recorded five saves.
 
Harper, from Fairway, Kansas, led the team in appearances with 23 as the staff’s most trusted bullpen arm. He went 4-1 with a 4.35 ERA in 31.0 innings, striking out 30 and holding opponents to a .239 average. Harper was consistently the choice when the game was in the balance, providing quality performance with the necessary fortitude needed at the back end of games.
 
Harper, who returned from offseason hip surgery, ranks ninth in school history with 74 career appearances and could chase Lohrn Frazier (1990-93) for the most at 104. He has 11 career wins and two saves in 135.0 innings as both a starter and reliever.
 
Both Harney and Harper earned their undergraduate degrees in May and are expected to enter graduate school in the fall.