ThomasBernal

• SEC Academic Honor Roll (2013)

Outlook
Fifth-year senior infielder is coming off a breakout season as UK’s primary first baseman … A star shortstop and quarterback in high school in Paso Robles, Calif., made the transition across the infield to third base during the summer and fall practice season as UK must replace slugging third baseman Max Kuhn in 2015 … A hard-nosed, tough competitor who sprays line drives all over the diamond … A great defensive first baseman for his first four seasons … After leading UK to a 21-6 record to open 2013, suffered a dislocated elbow on a collision at first base that ended his season, with UK going 10-19 without Bernal and its average going from .292 to .223 without Bernal … Hit his first career homer in a monster day vs. No. 8 Louisville in a midweek tilt in 2014 … Graduated already with a degree in Agriculture Economics and is working on a second degree in Communications … Battled a shoulder injury late in the season, playing through the injury to keep his bat and defensive prowess in the lineup … Married during the fall of 2012 to his high school sweetheart, the former Lauren Redberg.

2014
Played in 54 of UK’s 62 games, making 51 starts serving as UK’s primary first baseman … Hit .305 (81-for-203) with 30 runs, nine doubles, one homer and 32 RBI … Was hit by 18 pitches, had 13 walks and stole 6-of-8 bases … Finished with a .392 on-base percentage and a .365 slugging mark … For the third consecutive season, hit better in SEC play than non-conference action, batting .348 (39-for-112) with 13 runs, five doubles and 14 RBI in 28 of UK’s 30 games … Made 49 starts at first base and two as the DH … Hit No. 4 (five times), No. 5 (12 times), No. 6 (11 times), No. 7 (21 times) and No. 8 (twice) in the lineup … Was a .324 hitter with runners on base and with runners in scoring position … Was 5-for-11 with 14 RBI with the bases loaded … Paced UK with a .373 average in 18 games vs. top-25 foes, .370 vs. top-10 opponents and .375 vs. top-five foes … Was 5-for-10 in four games vs. No. 1 ranked teams … In SEC series openers, batted .475 (19-for-40) with three doubles and seven RBI in 10 games … In SEC series finales, hit .344 (11-for-32) … Had 15 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games … Ran up a 15-game hitting streak in April, hitting .463 (31-for-67) with six doubles, one homer and 14 RBI during the stretch … Batted .253 (23-for-91) with four double, one homer and 18 RBI in non-SEC games … In 34 games vs. SEC foes, hit .357 (45-for-126) with five doubles and 16 RBI … Led UK with a .402 (39-for-97) average in 24 home games, with seven doubles, one homer and 15 RBI … In games UK won, hit .356 (42-for-118) with six doubles, one homer and 26 RBI … Led UK in night games with a .398 (33-for-83) with five doubles, one homer and 14 RBI … Hit .192 (5-for-26) in February, .302 (13-for-43) in March, .431 (31-for-71) in April and .224 (13-for-58) in May … While battling an injured shoulder in the SEC Tournament, hit 2-for-11 with a .333 on-base percentage … Went 2-for-3 with an RBI, two steals and a hit by pitch in UK’s season-opening win over No. 1 Virginia … Collected one hit over his next five games, prompting a day off in Wilmington, N.C., with AJ Reed playing first base in his stead … Returned to the lineup for the home opener vs. Wright State, opening up an eight-game hitting streak during UK’s season-opening homestand … Went 3-for-4 with a steal in UK’s opening game with No. 1 South Carolina … Belted his first career homer in a career game vs. No. 8 Louisville, collecting three hits and four RBI … Homer snapped a streak of 125 consecutive at-bats without a home run to open his career … Had a four-hit game vs. No. 12 Florida in the series opener with a pair of doubles … Had a three-hit game vs. Florida in the rubber match, leading UK to the series win … Had two hits in each game of the Missouri series, before going 3-for-5 with four RBI and a steal in leading UK to a comeback win at Texas A&M … Was 3-for-4 in the series opener vs. No. 12 Ole Miss … Battled a shoulder injury in May, but fought through the pain to man first base in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

2013
Was a key hitter and defensive first baseman before suffering a season-ending injury in the series finale vs. Georgia … Played in 18 games with seven starts, making each start against left-handed starting pitching and every series opener at first base with A.J. Reed on the mound … Injury was crippling to the UK everyday lineup and bench options … UK went 21-6 before Bernal’s injury and 10-19 after the injury, with the UK offense hitting .292 with Bernal and .223 after his injury … Batted .321 (9-for-28) with three doubles, five RBI and was 1-for-2 in steals … Drew three walks, was hit by five pitches and struck out three times, sporting a .429 slugging and a .472 on-base percentage … Laid down three sacrifice bunts … Played in eight conference games, including one start against a LHP, hitting .375 (3-for-8) with a double and two RBI … Was 5-for-16 in games played at Cliff Hagan Stadium and went 2-for-4 in games played on the road … Reached as the leadoff hitter in an inning in four of six chances … Collected one pinch-hit knock in six at bats … Had three two-out hits and two two-out RBI … Came off the bench in the top of the ninth inning on opening weekend at USC Upstate, smacking an RBI single up the middle to score the go-ahead, game-winning run … Started the second-game of the year, going 2-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and a walk … Had a hit and a walk in three trips to the plate at Coastal Carolina … Collected a hit, was hit by a pitch and laid down a sacrifice bunt in the series-opener vs. Michigan State … Went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a double in the series-opener vs. Mississippi State … Came on as a defensive replacement on March 31 vs. Georgia in the series finale, when an errant throw from third baseman Max Kuhn sailed wide of the first base bag, leading to a collision that caused a season-ending injury … Played in 12 games with 11 starts for the Amsterdam Mohawks in the Perfect Game Collegiate League during the summer, joining UK teammates Chandler Shepherd and Taylor Martin.

2012
Was a vital right-handed hitting option off the bench in freshman season, playing in 19 games with six starts … Was the opening-day starter as the designated hitter at Wofford … Was used often as a defensive upgrade at first base in the late innings … Batted .370 (10-for-27) with four RBI … Had a 2-7 walk-strikeout ratio with three hit by pitches … Stole one base … Forced home the walk-off run with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk in a win over Buffalo … Went 2-for-4 in six SEC games off the bench … Batted .348 (8-for-23) in non-league games … Was 2-for-7 as a pinch hitter … Had one two-out hit and two-out RBI … In his six starts, hit .421 (8-for-19) … Has three two-hit games in a five-game span of starts in late February and March … During the summer, played for the San Luis Obsipo Blues in the California Collegiate League … Led the Blues to the 2011 CCL Championship … Played in 28 games with 27 starts, batting .244 (22-for-90) with four doubles, one homer and 23 RBI … Drew four walks and stole three bases, fielding .979 … Was plunked by seven pitches and had four sacrifice flies.

2011
Redshirted season, served as bullpen catcher while learning the nuisances of the catching position.

High School
Earned four letters for coach Derek Stroud at Paso Robles High School … All-state selection in 2010 as a senior … A highly talented prospect in football and baseball, made the decision to pursue a college baseball career … Hit .430 (24-for-86) with 27 RBI, three doubles and four homers in 27 games as a senior … Had a 5-for-5 game against San Luis Obispo on April 27, 2010, with four RBI and a homer … Drew 21 walks and struck out just six times as a senior … Pitched in 56.2 innings as a senior, posting a 3.83 ERA with seven wins and four saves … Earned first-team all-league and all-county honors each year of career … Led baseball team to the league championship as a sophomore and senior … “It’s going to be a great opportunity for him,” Stroud said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have him for four years, and he’s just continued to grow as a baseball player. He’ll find a way to contribute somewhere. Whatever role he’ll have, he won’t let the coach or his teammates down. He’s the ultimate team player.” … Started every game of his career before suffering a minor injury as a senior in the playoffs … Lettered for four years in football and entering his senior season, as a selection to the ESPN Rise CalHiSports.com All-Ventura/Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo counties team … Earned all-PAC 7 and all-county first team distinction in football as a junior.

Personal
Full name is Thomas Hansen Bernal … Born Nov. 5, 1991 in Knoxville, Tenn. … Son of Tim Bernal and Shelli Bernal … Has two sisters, Andi (25) and Elli (19) … Father played football at Weber State … Was married during the 2012 summer to high school sweetheart, the former Lauren Redberg.