Breaking: Tyler Bell turns down Rays, will attend UK
Bell was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays with the No. 66 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, but will attend UK.
Kentucky shortstop signee Tyler Bell has passed on signing with the Tampa Bay Rays and will attend the University of Kentucky, he announced on Wednesday. Tampa Bay selected Bell, a switch-hitter, with the No. 66 pick overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Any selection in the top 10 rounds typically signs, but Bell is the rare exception who will instead head to school.
Ranked as the No. 13 player overall by Prep Baseball Report, Bell is one of the highest-ranked prep players to sign with the Wildcats. Bell committed to Kentucky in the summer of 2023, providing recruiting coordinator Austin Cousino with one of his biggest recruiting wins to date. Bell is already 19-years-old, meaning he’ll be draft-eligible again following his sophomore season.
With Bell’s decision to attend Kentucky, the Wildcats’ roster is likely set. The Wildcats will bring in 14 freshmen in its 2024 class and 15 transfers from the portal.
Regardless, Bell’s decision to spurn the draft is one of the biggest breaks the Wildcats have received in the MLB draft. Here’s the scouting report for Bell from Baseball America:
“A lean and athletic shortstop with a projectable 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, Bell established himself as a well-rounded player and solid performer as an underclassman. He’s a patient hitter with a solid eye at the plate from both sides, though there is a bit of length to his swing and it can get steep, which leads to some questions about how he might handle elevated velocity at the next level. Still, he can drive the ball hard and makes a lot of contact in general. Bell should provide average and on-base value as a hitter. He’s a solid defender at shortstop with fluid actions and above-average body control, with above-average arm strength and the ability to throw from multiple angles. While Bell went just 2-for-14 (.143) at Perfect Game’s WWBA World Championship in Jupiter in 2023, he hit a number of balls hard that just didn’t find a gap in the field. He was a standout at the 2024 MLB Draft combine, showing impressive actions at shortstop and solid raw power from both sides in batting practice. Bell is committed to Kentucky and will be 19 on draft day, making him a draft-eligible sophomore in the 2026 class if he makes it to campus.”