The University of Kentucky provided one of the most surprising stories of the 2017 college baseball season.
This year, the Wildcats will attempt to build on that success with some high expectations attached.
UK juniors Sean Hjelle and Tristan Pompey have been named preseason first-team All-Americans by both Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game.
Hjelle, the reigning Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year, earned first-team honors from Collegiate Baseball and third-team recognition from Perfect Game. The 6-foot-11 junior from White Bear Lake, Minn., went 11-4 with a 3.89 earned run average in 2017, striking out 102 hitters in 108 1/3 innings.