Sept. 3, 2008

LEXINGTON


, Ky.


—

Sophomore left-hander Logan Darnell has been named the best prospect in the New York Collegiate Baseball League, Baseball America announced on Wednesday.

Darnell, who was tabbed the top prospect in the NYCBL by PGchrosschecker.com a week ago, had a solid summer while playing for Amsterdam. Darnell, a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder, earned a 1.82 ERA and a 3-0 record in eight appearances and six starts. Darnell, a native of Joelton, Tenn., worked 34.2 innings, allowing only 29 hits and seven earned runs, striking out 33 and walking 19.

“Darnell pitched sparingly (17 innings) at UK due to inexperience and spotty control but flashed 93-94 mph out of the bullpen for the Wildcats,” Baseball America’s Aaron Fitt detailed in the summer prospect breakdown. “Darnell’s command improved with each start this summer and he displayed a 91-93 mph fastball that touched 94-95 mph in front of a dozen scouts at the league’s all-star game. He also features a serviceable curveball, but he needs to develop a third pitch.”

In 15 games out of the bullpen for UK as a true freshman, Darnell earned a 4.08 ERA in 17.2 innings, Darnell allowed only 11 hits – with opponents hitting a measly .183 average. Darnell’s best game of his career came in UK’s Regional Championship game vs. Arizona, where the Goodpasture High School graduate worked two scoreless pressure-packed innings.