Three Wildcats Named NCBWA Preseason All-American
Tyler Bell added two more honors to his growing list of preseason accolades and teammates Scott Cambell Jr. and Ben Cleaver each joined him as National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason Fourth Team All-Americans, it was announced Friday.
By virtue of his summer with the US Collegiate National Team last year and status as potentially one of college baseball’s top performers in 2026, he was installed on USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list. The award also now is in partnership with the MLB Network.
The 2026 preseason list includes 55 athletes from the ranks of high school and college baseball. Moving forward, the Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will maintain the award’s watchlist on a rolling basis, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award based on their performances throughout the season.
Kentucky has had 11 previous nominees: Collin Cowgill (2008), Sean Green (2008), Austin Cousino (2013 and 2014), Kyle Cody (2014), AJ Reed (2014), Evan White (2017), Sean Hjelle (2018), Tristan Pompey (2018), Zack Thompson (2019), Ryan Ritter (2022) and Kendal Ewell (2023). Reed won the award in 2014.
Bell, in 2025, etched his name all over UK’s freshman records list and has got stronger as the season has progressed. He reached base safely in 54 of 56 career games (he started every game but one last season, which he missed with an injury), including each 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 was the first UK freshman since at least 2005 to have two four-hit games.
His 10 home runs last season tied the freshman school record set by Chris Gonzalez in 1993. He also ranked 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 was 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.
Bell followed his rookie campaign by playing for the US Collegiate National Team over the summer and is considered a Top 15 prospect for the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
BELL, CAMPBELL JR. AND CLEAVER NET NCBWA HONORS
Bell, who already has been named to preseason all-america teams by D1Baseball.com, Just Baseball Media and Perfect Game, has added the NCBWA to his list. He is joined by outfielder Scott Campbell Jr. and starting pitcher Ben Cleaver on the fourth team.
Cleaver, a junior from Thompsons Station, Tennessee, had a breakout campaign in 2025 and started the Wildcats’ opening game in the NCAA Clemson Regional. He finished the season 6-3 with a 3.25 earned run average in 83.0 innings over 15 starts. He allowed just 54 hits and struck out 92 while allowing just 10 extra base hits and holding opponents to a .185 batting average. He had a team-best seven quality starts (6+ IP, 3 or fewer earned runs).
Campbell, a senior from Macon, Georgia, was sensational for USC Upstate in helping lead the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament last season where they were eliminated by Kentucky. Campbell was an ABCA/Rawlings Atlantic All-Region Second Team and All-Big South outfielder, having led the Spartans with a .388 batting average, ranking third in the Big South and second in the program’s Division I era (2007-pres.). He collected 73 hits, 71 runs, 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 54 RBI, and 21 stolen bases to complement his
batting average.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Single-game tickets for the 2026 season are on sale now at the following link:
Single-game tickets: UK Baseball Tickets
UK opens its season on Friday, February 13 at UNC Greensboro.
The Cats are entering their 10th season under head coach Nick Mingione and have won 293 games during his tenure, including a College World Series appearance in 2024. The program signed top 10 transfer portal and top 25 high school recruiting classes in the offseason. UK also has earned an invitation to the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history.
