Emilien Pitre and Ryan Waldschmidt added to their impressive list of accolades on Tuesday, earning spots on the ABCA/Rawlings Midwest All-Region Teams. Pitre secured a First Team honor, while Waldschmidt was named to the Second Team. The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) recognized their stellar performances throughout the season.
Pitre, a junior from Quebec, Canada, excelled in all facets of the game. Defensively, he was nearly flawless, committing just two errors in nearly 250 chances, resulting in a .992 fielding percentage. His defensive prowess helped form one of the best middle infields in the country. Offensively, Pitre maintained a .298 batting average, scoring 54 runs and tallying 19 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, and 56 RBIs. He also demonstrated patience at the plate with 45 walks and showcased his speed with 25 stolen bases—the highest in a season during the Mingione era.
Waldschmidt, from Bradenton, Florida, was a standout in conference play, finishing with a batting average over .400 (.405). Overall, he hit .346 with an impressive 1.107 OPS. He recorded 64 runs, 17 doubles, 14 home runs, and 46 RBIs. Additionally, he drew 36 walks, was hit by pitch 16 times, and stole 24 bases. Remarkably, Waldschmidt achieved these feats after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in summer baseball in 2023, returning to the outfield several weeks into the season.
Kentucky will commence their College World Series campaign on Saturday, June 15, at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local time) in Omaha, Nebraska, facing NC State.
