Tyler Bell has only four errors in 52 games this season. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell was the highest ranked player in Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class — and he’s played like it.
He was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team Tuesday becoming the 11th All-Freshman Team selection in school history. He’s the first UK honoree since pitcher Sean Hjelle in 2016.
Bell has had a historic freshman season going into today’s game against Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala. He has reached base safely in 51 of 52 career games while starting every game this season. He reached base in his first 27 games before the streak was broken but has a 24-game streak going into postseason play.
He has hits in 16 of his last 17 games and is tied for the team lead with 17 multi-hit games. He also is the first freshman since at least 2005 to have two four-hit games.
Bell homered in UK’s final two regular-season games at Vanderbilt — the switch hitter blasted one from each side of the plate. That gave him 10 home runs this season which ties the freshman record set by Chris Gonzalez in 1993.
The freshman shortstop also ranks among the top five in RBI, runs, extra base hits, stolen bases and slugging percentage for the Cats. He is the only UK player to bat over .300 in conference play at .318 and led the team in doubles, home runs, RBI and slugging percentage in those games.
He also has had just four errors in 199 chances, a .980 fielding percentage.
UK’s previous all-SEC freshman players were:
2005 – Antone DeJesus, OF
2005 – Ryan Wilkes, 2B
2012 – Austin Cousino, OF
2012 – AJ Reed, DH
2012 – AJ Reed, 1B
2013 – Kyle Barrett, OF
2013 – Greg Fettes, C
2014 – JaVon Shelby, 2B
2015 – Evan White, 1B
2016 – Sean Hjelle, RHP
2025 – Tyler Bell, SS
Kentucky will hope Bell has more magic left when it plays Oklahoma today. First pitch is at approximately 2 p.m. ET — 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1 of the tournament. The game will air on the SEC Network and will air on the UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com app and 630 AM in Lexington.
The Wildcats (29-23, 13-17 SEC) are coming off three brutal losses at No. 9 Vandy, including two walk-off home runs in the ninth inning. UK lost all three games by a total of four runs and now has 12 SEC defeats by a total of 17 runs this season.
