Kentucky’s Tyler Bell Named First Team Freshman All-America
Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell has been named a First Team Freshman All-American, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Second Team by Perfect Game. He is UK’s first freshman to receive the honor since John Rhodes was named co-Freshman of the Year in the shortened 2020 season by Collegiate Baseball.
The Frankfort, Illinois also has been named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team and is an invitee to USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team Training Camp later this month.
Bell etched his name all over UK’s freshman records list and has gotten stronger as the season has progressed. He reached base safely in 54 of 56 career games (he has started every game but one this season, which he missed with an injury), including of the first 27. He had 17 multi-hit games, led the team in RBI and had a team-best 29 extra base hits. He also is the first freshman since at least 2005 to have two four-hit games.
His 10 home runs this season ties the freshman school record set by Chris Gonzalez in 1993. He also ranks among the top five in RBI, runs, extra base hits, stolen bases and slugging percentage.
He had just six errors in 214 chances, a .972 fielding percentage. He is the only Wildcat to bat over .300 in conference play at .318 and led the team in doubles, home runs, RBI and slugging percentage in those games.
UK Freshman All-Americans
2025 – Tyler Bell, IF
2020 – John Rhodes, OF
2017 – Zack Thompson, LHP
2016 – Sean Hjelle, RHP
2016 – Justin Lewis, RHP
2012 – AJ Reed, LHP/1B
2012 – Austin Cousino, OF
2008 – Chris Wade, IF
USA BASEBALL PARTICIPATION
The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp will feature 56 of the premier non-draft-eligible college players for a five-game Stars vs. Stripes intrasquad series in North Carolina from June 29-July 3. USA Baseball will name the final Collegiate National Team following Training Camp on July 3.
The first game will be held at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis at 5:35 p.m. ET, the next three games will be played at USA Baseball’s National Training Complex in Cary at 6:30 p.m. ET, and the series finale will be hosted at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville at 6:35 p.m. ET. The Collegiate National Team will play in the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series in various locations across Japan on July 8-13. The remaining players from the Collegiate National Team Training Camp will play in a Fourth of July game against the Appalachian League Select Team at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis at 6:35 p.m. ET.
Wildcats to be selected by USA Baseball
2025 – Tyler Bell, SS
2018 – Zack Thompson
2016 – Evan White
2013 – Austin Cousino
2012 – Austin Cousino
1999 – John Wilson
1996 – Chad Green
1989 – Billy White
1986 – Tom Deller
1986 – Terry Shumpert
