Four Former Wildcats Among MLB Teams’ Top 30 Prospects
Four Kentucky baseball alumni have earned the distinguished recognition of being considered a Top 30 prospect in his Major League Baseball organization, as announced by the league’s website.
Ryan Waldschmidt (No. 4, Arizona), Ryan Ritter (No. 13, Colorado), Travis Smith (No. 28, Milwaukee) and Emilien Pitre (No. 29, Tampa Bay) each earned a ranking on the MLB.com lists. The website had the following to say on each:
Waldschmidt
He wowed scouts with his tools and performance while dazzling analysts with his metrics. Arizona selected him with the 31st overall pick — the selection they earned as a reward for Corbin Carroll’s Rookie of the Year win — and signed him for slot value at $2,904,000. Few players in this year’s Draft matched Waldschmidt’s ability to make contact, avoid chasing pitches and produce high exit velocities. He has a very patient approach and a quick right-handed stroke that looks less uphill than it did in his first season with the Wildcats. He uses the entire field but also has an affinity for driving balls in the air to his pull side.
Ritter
He’s proven to be more of an offensive force than expected, earning California League MVP honors and two promotions en route to a 20-20 campaign in his first full season. Nothing has changed in terms of what people think Ritter can do defensively. He should be able to play shortstop for a long time with an excellent combination of athleticism and instincts. He has outstanding actions and field awareness with a plus arm that can make throws from anywhere.
Smith
As he puts his elbow reconstruction further behind him, Smith has improved his strength and conditioning and now carries 220 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame. He’s also showing more aptitude for locating and sequencing his pitches. If he stays on track toward developing two plus offerings and average control, he could be a mid-rotation starter.
Pitre
One of the better second-base prospects available in this year’s Draft, he went to the Rays in the second round — above many projections — and signed for $1,522,700. Pitre has a mature approach, working deep counts and concentrating on making all-fields contact so he can get on base. He pulled more pitches and produced solid exit velocities in 2024, but he still had a flat left-handed swing that generated a lot of grounders and cuts into his power production. A solid runner, Pitre is an aggressive basestealer. He has good infield actions and covers a lot of ground at second base, where he’s a quality defender.
Kentucky is coming off a record setting 2024 season that saw the Wildcats advance to the College World Series for the first time in history.
