Kentucky
Rays draft Univ. Kentucky 2B/SS Émilien Pitre at No. 58 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft
The Tampa Bay Rays have drafted French-Canadian born SS Émilien Pitre out of the University of Kentucky with the No. 58 selection in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Ostensibly the first “reach” of the 2024 draft, Pitre was ranked 173rd overall on MLB Pipeline. He projects as a second baseman or utility player at the major league level.
Man, such a sweet swing by Emilien Pitre who lines a 2-run hustle double into RCF to give Kentucky a 3-0 lead! Super hitterish in the box, 4th-6th round type this July. pic.twitter.com/JaJd8escHX
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) June 8, 2024
MLB Pipeline – 173rd overall – 40 FV
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 30 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40
Pitre starred on Canadian provincial teams and played for the national junior team, ranking as Quebec’s best position player prospect in 2021 before heading to college at Kentucky. He played sparingly as a freshman before becoming a catalyst for the Wildcats the past two seasons. One of the better second-base prospects available, he could fit into the first five rounds.
Pitre has a mature approach, working deep counts and concentrating on making all-fields contact so he can get on base. He’s pulling more pitches and producing solid exit velocities in 2024, but he still has a flat left-handed swing that generates a lot of grounders and cuts into his power production. He struggled with wood bats in the Cape Cod League and may top out at 10 homers per season in pro ball.
A solid runner, Pitre is an aggressive basestealer. He has good infield actions and covers a lot of ground at second base, where he’s a quality defender. His fringy-to-average arm strength will limit his effectiveness at shortstop and third base if he winds up in a utility role.
Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
Kentucky
Kentucky football spring game offers early look at Will Stein’s Cats
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Kentucky
Kentucky has reportedly moved on from top-10 transfer Paulius Murauskas

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