Tyler Bell

Tyler Bell
Kentucky Wildcats – No. 6
Shortstop
Born: (2005-06-30) June 30, 2005
Bloomington, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Career highlights and awards

Tyler Jacob Bell (born June 30, 2005) is an American college baseball shortstop for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Early life

Bell attended Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois, where he played on the school's baseball team.[1] As a senior in 2024, he hit .391 with 25 RBI and 30 stolen bases.[2] Bell was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 66th overall pick of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He declined to sign with the team, and instead enrolled at the University of Kentucky to play college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats.[4]

College career

As a freshman at Kentucky in 2025, Bell was named the team's starting shortstop.[5] He played in 56 games and batted .296 with ten home runs, 46 RBI, and 11 stolen bases, earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.[6] After the season, he briefly played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Harwich Mariners.[7] He was also named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, the first Wildcat to be selected since Zack Thompson in 2018.[8] Bell returned as the Wildcats shortstop to begin the 2026 season and is considered a top prospect for the upcoming 2026 Major League Baseball draft.[9] Bell injured his left shoulder while making a diving play on Opening Day versus UNC Greensboro and was ruled out indefinitely.[10] He returned to play less than a month later.[11]

References

  1. ^ Millar, Steve (April 4, 2024). "From earliest T-ball days to Lincoln-Way East, Kentucky recruit Tyler Bell flips switch at plate. 'It's been great.'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  2. ^ Pisani, Hart (June 21, 2024). "Meet the 2024 Herald-News All-Area Baseball Team". Shaw Local. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  3. ^ Collazo, Carlos (July 31, 2024). "Rays Draft Pick Tyler Bell Intends To Reach Campus At Kentucky". Baseball America. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  4. ^ Pedelty, J. T. (July 31, 2024). "Tyler Bell, Lincoln-Way East star, chooses University of Kentucky over starting professional career". Shaw Local. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  5. ^ Hale, Jon (May 29, 2025). "One of country's top freshmen will lead Kentucky baseball into NCAA Tournament". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  6. ^ "Kentucky Baseball's Tyler Bell Named to SEC All-Freshman Team". WLEX. May 19, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  7. ^ Flaherty, Peter; Pontes, Geoff (August 15, 2025). "Top 25 MLB Draft Prospects From The 2025 Cape Cod Baseball League". Baseball America. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  8. ^ Moss, Steve (May 24, 2025). "UK shortstop Tyler Bell invited to USA Collegiate National Team camp". WKYT. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  9. ^ Hale, Jon (February 12, 2026). "Spotlight on top draft prospect Tyler Bell as expectations grow for UK baseball". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  10. ^ Rudner, Jacob (February 14, 2026). "Kentucky Shortstop Tyler Bell Out Indefinitely With Shoulder Injury Kentucky Shortstop Tyler Bell Out Indefinitely With Shoulder Injury". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ^ Rudner, Jacob (March 6, 2026). "Kentucky's Tyler Bell Cleared For Baseball Activities Following Shoulder Injury". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
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