On July 31, 2024, Kentucky commit Tyler Bell announced his decision to honor his commitment two weeks after being selected as the 66th pick in the MLB draft. He has shown great promise both on and off the field in his short time on campus, drawing praise from coaches and teammates alike.

Bell is a 6-foot-2 five-tool switch-hitting shortstop from Frankfort, Illinois. He played for Lincoln-Way East High School and the Cangelosi Sparks Travel Baseball Organization; former Wildcat standout Ryan Ritter played for both these teams as well.

Bell was selected 66th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in Competitive Balance Round B of the 2024 MLB Draft, eight picks after the Rays selected Kentucky second baseman Émilien Pitre. Players selected in the first three rounds rarely decline their contracts in favor of playing in college. As such, Bell is the highest drafted player to enroll in college this year.

“Second round draft pick. I mean, many of those don’t show up to school,” Kentucky Head Coach Nick Mingione said. “He’s the highest draft pick to show up to a college this year.”

MLB scouts see Bell as a standout defender with great range and a strong arm at all angles. Scouts also like his offensive tools, highlighting his contact and impressive bat speed from both sides of the plate. Bell is generally viewed as a well-rounded player with above average athleticism.

Bell was one of 20 players named to Prep Baseball Report’s All-American list from the class of 2024 and PBR also ranked him the 13th best prep player in the 2024 draft class.

Bell attended PBR’s super 60 event, which is an annual showcase of the 60 best high school players in the country. He managed to stand out among his peers thanks to his impressive bat speeds and defensive ability. Bell led the event in bat speed from both sides of the plate, he also ranked fifth in infield throw velocity.

Bell was also one of 319 players invited to participate in the 2024 MLB Draft Combine, where he continued to establish himself as a top prep player in the country, being named as one of 10 day one standouts by Baseball America.

“Bell had one of the most well-rounded workout days of the position players,” Baseball America said. ”Bell’s defensive effort at shortstop was one of the most impressive.”

It’s obvious that Bell is a spectacular talent on the field with great potential, but what isn’t evident is who he is off the field.

“He was voted the hardest worker on our team,” Mingione said. “Let that sink in. He came in as a freshman. But not only is he super talented, he was also voted by his peers as the hardest worker on the team.”

Mingione described Bell as not only checking the traditional five tools by which players are evaluated, but also possessing a rare sixth tool.

“The sixth tool is the make up,” Mingione said. “This guy is extremely competitive, he’s confident, he’s non-defensive.”

At just 19 years old, Bell has demonstrated a maturity and work ethic that allows him to stand out to coaches, peers and scouts.

South Dakota State transfer Nic McCay spoke highly of Bell, naming him as the player that stood out to him the most this offseason.

“As the best freshman I’ve been around, his ability to not make it about him and make it about everyone else. It’s what is going to separate him in the long run,” McCay said. “I think he knows how important he is and how good he is at baseball, but he also knows how much he can help everyone else. That’s what made him stick out to me this fall.”

Being very skilled on the field and possessing great leadership and work ethic off the field will make Bell an invaluable piece for the Wildcats this season. He will be expected to contribute from day one, and there’s no doubt from coaches and teammates that he will be able to do so.

“(Bell) brings a lot of things, and he’s going to play significantly for us,” Mingione said.