Burkes, Byers, Nove Set New Standard for UK Baseball Program
The Kentucky baseball season came to an end in a 13-12 loss to West Virginia on Sunday night in the finals of the Clemson NCAA Baseball Regional. And with the end of the season came the end of the career for one of the most successful senior classes in Kentucky baseball history.
The group of players who played in their final game on Sunday includes catcher Devin Burkes, pitcher Evan Byers and pitcher Jackson Nove. Over the course of the last four seasons, this group has set a new standard for the UK baseball program.
Consider the accomplishments of the Kentucky program over the last four seasons. UK has won 150 games over that span, one win short of being the winningest senior class in school history. The Cats have been to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time in program history.
In addition, UK has made three consecutive regional finals for the first time. The Cats advanced to the Super Regional round for just the second and third times in program history. And last season, Kentucky made the College World Series for the first time in over 120 years of playing baseball. This group also led Kentucky to just its second Southeastern Conference regular season title last season.
As a program, Kentucky has won 30 NCAA Tournament games in program history. These three players have been a part of 12 of those victories.
UK head coach Nick Mingione spoke about the senior class following Sunday’s game.
“The leadership we got from our seniors was absolutely incredible,” Mingione said. “Just thankful for all of the time and effort they have put into our program. That senior class, there’s no way we do this, make it this far, without them. No way. Just super proud.”
Burkes, who came to Kentucky from Bradenton, Florida, has been a leader on the team the past three seasons. He played in 190 career games, racked up 165 hits, including 21 home runs, and knocked in 130 runs while scoring 148 times. More than that, Burkes caught the majority of those games and proved to be an outstanding battery partner for the UK pitching staff. Mingione spoke highly of Burkes following Sunday’s game.
“That guy, what a warrior,” Mingione said. “In the dugout, hugging me, telling me how much he loved me and how I made him a better man. What a dude.”
Byers came to UK from Nicholasville, Kentucky, where he grew up rooting for the Cats. Byers was a solid left-handed reliever for Kentucky for four seasons. He had a 6-2 career record and pitched 64.1 innings in his career, striking out 55 batters. Byers also made an impact off the field, being named to the Tony Gwynn Community Service Team, the SEC Community Service Team, the Frank G. Ham Society of Character and was the winner of the NCAA Elite 90 award in 2024. Byers spoke to the media following Sunday’s game.
“This program means the world to be,” Byers said. “I’ve been committed to this program since 2018. I’ve been in the program for five years and it’s taught me to be the best human I can be. It’s really made me a better person. I’m super thankful that (the UK staff) gave me a shot and I was able to represent this state and university with pride.”
Mingione discussed Byers’ impact on the program.
“This a guy from Nicholasville Kentucky that loves Kentucky more than anything,” Mingione said. “This guy is going to be able to do whatever he wants in life. We would not have been in this position without him. The way he’s represented our program both on and off the field has been remarkable.”
Nove, from Fairfax, Iowa, was a key lefty reliever for Kentucky over the past four years. He appeared in 83 games and had a 5-2 record with two saves. He pitched 103 innings in his UK career and struck out 144 batters. As the Cats made their run through the regional, super regional and into the CWS in 2024, Nove was outstanding. Against Indiana State in the regional, Oregon State in the Super Regional and N.C. State in the CWS, Nove pitched three hitless and scoreless innings while striking out four batters.
“When you think about the guys who have been in the program for four or five years, Devin, Evan and Jackson, just amazing leaders,” Mingione said. “This class has been awesome. The job this class has done has been phenomenal. It’s a special group.”
It’s a special group that has accomplished things that have never been done at Kentucky. This group has laid a solid foundation for the program to build upon in the future.
