Three Wildcats, two UK transfer portal commits selected on final day of MLB Draft

Mason Moore, Travis Smith and Dominic Niman all heard their names called Tuesday while two of UK’s incoming transfer portal commits were also selected.

Tuesday’s third and final day of the 2024 MLB Draft saw three members of Kentucky’s 2024 College World Series squad selected as well as of its two of its incoming transfer portal commits.

Right handed pitcher and Morehead native Mason Moore was taken in the 15th round and 439th overall by the Chicago White Sox,

Moore earned All-Lexington Regional team honors in 2023 out of the UK bullpen. He pitched 10.0 innings of scoreless relief and finished the 2023 tournament with 14.0 shutout innings.

Moore finished the 2023 season with a 1.80 ERA over 55.0 innings of work.

This past season, Moore moved into Kentucky’s starting rotation, pitching on Sundays during the regular season.

On the year, Moore posted a 9-4 record and 5.05 ERA over 92.2 innings of work.

He once again shined in the NCAA Tournament, pitching 6.0 scoreless innings in UK’s regional-clinching win over Indiana State to earn All-Lexington Regional team honors for a second straight season. Moore tossed 3.1 innings of two-run ball in UK’s Super Regional clincher over Oregon State and went four scoreless innings in the College World Series against Texas A&M before surrounding four runs in the fifth inning of UK’s 5-1 loss to the Aggies.

Moore will have the option to return to Kentucky for his senior season or sign with the White Sox.

Right-handed pitcher Travis Smith, a Walton native, was also taken in the 15th round, going 455th overall, by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Smith started Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament opener in 2023 and allowed three hits in 4.0 scoreless innings against Ball State, and this past season opened the year as UK’s Friday night starter before moving into the bullpen. He finished the season with a 3-3 record and 6.21 ERA, coming in 13 appearances and six starts.

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