Kentucky baseball fans have lots to look forward to in the 2026 season after they landed two players on Perfect Game’s Top 100 senior list.
Right-handed pitcher Jaxon Jelkin landed at the No. 2 spot, and the Indiana transfer infielder Tyler Cerny came in at No. 8 in the rankings.
Jelkin was picked twice in the MLB draft, once in the 14th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, then again in the ninth round by the New York Mets in 2024.
Before he was drafted, he pitched just 11 1/3 innings with Nebraska, posting a 2.31 ERA before transferring to South Mountain Community College.
Jelkin excelled there, making 14 starts with a 3.81 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings, along with two complete games.
His standout performance at South Mountain Community College earned him a 14th-round draft pick, but he declined the offer and transferred to Houston.
He eventually decided to decline both options in the big leagues and play the cards again after starting in just seven games, transferring to a Kentucky program coming off its first trip to Omaha.
Unfortunately, a season-ending injury before the 2025 season affected his playing time, causing him to redshirt and remove his name from MLB draft contention.
The determination, work ethic and desire to improve his game and become one of the best give Kentucky fans strong reasons for optimism heading into the season.
Jelkin’s raw talent has yet to be displayed in Lexington, but it can be determined through his multiple draft selections.
His gritty mindset and resilient leadership style make this Wildcat team one of the most dangerous teams to look out for in the upcoming season.
Wildcat fans understand the standard that has been set by coach Nick Mingione in recent years, and that can be reflected by the players who have played before them.
Those players reflect back to a star pitcher on the mound in Jelkin, who is set to prove everyone wrong by showing his true potential in blue and white.
Backing up Jelkin and predicted to play third base this season is the Indiana transfer Cerny.
Cerny was a three-year starter with the Hoosiers, splitting time between shortstop and second base.
He posted a .292 batting average with 199 hits, 135 RBIs and 30 home runs during his time at Indiana.
He also showed that he is not afraid to stand in the box and wear a pitch, as he set the Indiana program record with 45 hit by pitches.
Wildcat fans must show excitement throughout the season with Cerny’s new presence in the revamped infield, as he has shown the thrill he brings to the game of baseball on every diamond.
Proving his leadership and skill development at all levels, Cerny has obtained many accolades from his time in high school in Greenwood, Indiana, to his time spent in Bloomington.
In high school, he was not only the No. 8 overall prospect in Indiana, but he was also the team captain and team MVP as a senior.
Cerny also added to the highlight reel with many Big Ten weekly awards and was elected to the All-Big Ten freshman team in 2023 and the third team All-Big Ten in 2023.
BBN is prepared and set to win in the tournament again and is always eager for consistency, as Cerny brings a winning mentality to Kentucky after multiple postseason appearances in 2023 and 2024.
In 2024, Cerny and the Hoosiers fell in the No. 1-seeded Knoxville Regional, where they went 1-2.
The year prior, in 2023, after the Hoosiers posted a 43-win season, they were placed in the No. 12 Lexington Regional.
A fierce opponent at the time, the Wildcats knocked Cerny and company out of the NCAA tournament after Kentucky won back-to-back games to advance to the super regionals.
An old foe has turned into a beloved player for the Wildcats and is bringing a winning mentality and veteran presence at the hot corner.
Both Jelkin and Cerny are providing mentorship and continuing to demonstrate strong leadership in their respective positions at Kentucky.
As the season draws closer every day, fans can keep their eyes on potentially another run to Omaha.
Fans have realized that Kentucky baseball has been placed on the map by Mingione, and the belief is quickly growing that he has acquired the correct players for another deep run into June.
Cerny and Jelkin, alongside the No. 18 Kentucky Wildcats, open the season in Greensboro, North Carolina, taking on UNC Greensboro in a three-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 13.
