LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – With the Major League Baseball draft signing deadline now passed, Kentucky has solidified what it hopes will be a major talent influx, putting together top-10 recruiting classes from both the 2026 high school group and the transfer portal that are set to arrive on campus in the coming weeks.
Baseball America ranked the Wildcats’ 2026 high school recruiting class No. 10 in its team rankings released this week. Kentucky also has drawn top-10 transfer portal marks from most major outlets, including a No. 7 ranking from 64Analytics.
The Baseball America ranking was bolstered by right-handed pitchers Matt Ponatoski, the No. 62-rated player in the 2026 class, and Grayson Willoughby, who is ranked No. 83. Kentucky also added four additional Top 200 players in the class, according to Baseball America.
Willoughby, a right-hander and two-way player, was named MaxPreps’ National Player of the Year, Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year and Kentucky Mr. Baseball.
In the portal, Kentucky added 12 transfers: outfielders Brody Chrisman (Akron) and Alex Kelsey (St. Joseph’s); infielders Lee Ellis (Ohio State) and Owen Lee (Tennessee Tech); left-hander Kale Hammer (Seattle); right-handers PJ Craig (Rider), Logan Hastings (Maryland), Dylan McIntyre (San Jacinto College) and Mason Snyder (Western Carolina); catchers Riley Jackson (Houston) and Brayden Ricketts (Indiana); and utility player JP Peltier (Wright State).
Kentucky’s incoming freshman class includes catcher Carson May; outfielders Rob Czarniecki and Kaden Powell; left-handers Joey Ansell and Cole McLean; right-handers Aiden Smith, Logan Sorrel and Sammy Swank; and two-way players Ponatoski and Willoughby.
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