Aug. 26, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky junior left-handed pitcher Logan Darnell has been named the No. 3 prospect in the Alaska Summer Collegiate League by PGcrosschecker.com, it was announced.

Darnell, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound southpaw, was dominating all summer for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, appearing in 14 games with 10 starts. Darnell totaled a 5-1 record and a 1.60 ERA in 50.2 innings, striking out 40 and allowing 18 walks. Most impressively, Darnell allowed only 27 hits in his 50.2 frames, with opponents hitting for a .159 average.

A native of Joelton, Tenn., Darnell has appeared in 43 games at Kentucky over his two years, serving as a primary reliever and stopper out of the bullpen. In 2009, Darnell was relied upon heavily, pitching in a staff-high 28 games, totaling a 5-6 record and a 4.50 ERA with three saves. In 46 innings last year, Darnell struck out 47. As a freshman in 2008, Darnell tossed 17.2 innings in 15 games in relief.

Darnell was joined on the Anchorage Glacier Pilots by UK infielder Gunner Glad, who helped pace the Pilots offensive attack during the summer. Glad hit .289 (54-for-187) in 48 games during the summer, belting 11 doubles, nine homers, driving in 39 RBI and swiping 9-of-9 bases. As a middle-of-the-order hitter for UK in 2009, Glad batted .303 (43-for-142) in 38 games, adding seven doubles, nine homers and 38 RBI, despite missing most of the first half of the season with injury.

Last season, Darnell was also dominating in the New York Collegiate Baseball League, as PGcrosschecker.com tabbed him the No. 1 prospect in the NYCBL. During the summer of 2008, Darnell appeared in eight games with six starts, posting a 3-0 record and a 1.82 ERA. In 34.2 innings during the 2008 summer, Darnell struck out 33 and held NYCBL opponents to a .230 average.