Cole McLean with Kentucky coach Nick Mingione after his commitment to Kentucky. (Farrah McLean Photo)
When he was 10 years old Cole McLean posed for a picture with Kentucky coach Nick Mingione after attending the UK Baseball Camp. Just over eight years later the Taylor County standout took a photo in the same spot with Mingione after verbally committing to play for the Wildcats.
McLean, the 2025 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year, committed to Tennessee and coach Tony Vitello in August of his freshman year. However, Vitello recently left to become manager of the San Francisco Giants.
“Tennessee showed a lot of interest and love at that young age and was just coming off a World Series run. I was all in on them,” McLean said. “We knew he was considering leaving (Tennessee) but no real info he was going to go. When he started considering leaving we had talks as a family and thought hard about it. After he left I called the (Tennessee) assistant coach and told him I did not feel comfortable and was going to open my recruitment back up.”
McLean led the state in strikeouts as a junior with 127 in 65 1/3 innings and went 9-1 (his only loss came in the state tournament) with a 0.75 ERA. He also hit .368 and led the team with six home runs to lead Taylor to the state tournament with a 29-7 record. He struck out 71 in 42 1/3 innings as a sophomore with a 1.82 ERA and 7-2 record.
McLean is ranked as the top left-handed pitcher in the state by both Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game. Perfect Game has him as a top 300 player nationally with a fastball that has been clocked around 90 miles per hour and breaking ball at 78 miles per hour.
“I have really good control of where I throw the fastball. My secondary pitches are really good, too, and a lot of time hitters are looking for that and when they see my fastball it is too late to hit. I probably throw the fastball almost 70 percent of the time,” he said.
Those pitching numbers are why it took almost no time for Kentucky to reach out after he announced he was no longer committed to Tennessee. He was on the phone with Mingione for an hour and set up a campus visit.
“Growing up as a Kentucky fan, visiting Kentucky was on my to-do list,” the Taylor County senior said. “They really have a strong family environment that I liked and when I visited I already felt like part of the family and it just felt right to go there.
“My family and friends were all stoked. Everybody loved my decision. Almost everybody around here is a Kentucky fan. There are not many Tennessee fans here.”
What about Mingione?
“He was really, really happy. His facial expression totally changed from straight-faced to smiling and hugging me,” McLean said. “I like him and his energy. He’s going to be fun to play for.”
McLean, who has a 22-2 overall high school pitching record, said he could be either a starter or closer his freshman season depending on how he pitches.
“I definitely worry about my arm and do all I can to take care of it,” McLean, 18, said.
McLean grew up playing basketball as well as baseball. He quit basketball in eighth grade, played again as a sophomore and then gave it up to concentrate solely on baseball. His mother, Farrah, set a Taylor County single game scoring record with 51 points and was an All-American at Campbellsville College.
“Basketball is big with my mom. She definitely did not like that I quit but she also knew it was for the best. I was trying to gain weight and I just could not play basketball and gain weight,” he said.
McLean knows his team will have a target on it this year after winning the 5th Region championship last season. He enjoys bow hunting — “I am a pretty good shot” — and is in a high school musical.
“Our guidance counselor wanted athletes in the play to make it better. It’s just one scene and it’s fun doing it with my buddies but I definitely do not sing,” he said.
