No. 18 Kentucky Travels to UNC Greensboro to Open 2026 Season
There are a lot of old sayings about how hard work can make a person better. For example, “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Or, “the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell exemplifies those sayings. Bell, who was a second-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays out of high school, is known for his hard work both on and off the field.
UK head coach Nick Mingione commented on what he tells visitors in the baseball facility who are anxious to see Bell hit.
“You probably should have shown up at 5:45 this morning because he was here at 6 o’clock this morning hitting on his own,” Mingione said. “There are times where he’ll text one of our staff members to turn the field lights on at 6 o’clock in the morning because he wants to work. The guy is just a machine, the way he works.”
The hard work that Bell is putting in is paying off, according to Mingione.
“He just continues to get better,” Mingione said. “He continues to become a better teammate every day. He’s just an absolute, as the players would say, dog.”
As for Bell, the hard work is something he’s been doing for a long time.
“I kind of learned that back in high school, or maybe a little before that,” Bell said. “I was always not the biggest, not the strongest and baseball has always been my dream, what I’ve always wanted to do with my life. I think my confidence comes from my hard work and my preparation. Just continuing to grind on that every single day, and that’s why I am who I am.”
Bell has been named Preseason All-Southeastern Conference, graced multiple preseason All-American teams and is on the Preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List (National Player of the Year).
Kentucky finished 31-26 last season, falling to West Virginia in the finals of the Clemson Regional. This season, UK is ranked as high as 18th in the preseason national polls, and the Wildcats are hoping to make a school-record fourth consecutive NCAA Baseball Regional appearance.
Bell and his teammates open the 2026 season by facing UNC Greensboro in a three-game series at UNCG. Friday’s season opener begins at 4 p.m. ET, with Saturday’s first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. Sunday’s series finale will begin at 1 p.m. ET.
The Cats, especially Bell, hope that all of the hard work in the preseason will pay off, beginning this weekend in Greensboro.
#18 KENTUCKY at UNC Greensboro
Friday, Feb. 13 (4 p.m. ET)
Probable Pitcher – RHP Jaxon Jelkin
TV: None; Radio: UK Sports Network
Saturday, Feb. 14 (2 p.m.)
Probable Pitcher – LHP Ben Cleaver
TV: None; Radio: UK Sports Network
Sunday, Feb. 15 (1 p.m.)
Probable Pitcher – RHP Nate Harris
TV: None; Radio: UK Sports Network
