Western Kentucky transfer RHP Jack Bennett commits to Kentucky

Western Kentucky right-handed pitcher Jack Bennett has committed to Kentucky via the NCAA Transfer Portal, per On3’s Pete Nakos. Bennett was an All-Conference USA Second-Team selection in 2025.

Bennett was a weekend starter for the Hilltoppers. He finished the season with a 3.13 ERA in 63.1 innings pitched. The 6-foot-2 junior held opponents to a .252 batting average and tallied 49 strikeouts compared to 20 walks.

For his efforts, Bennett was selected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame National Pitcher of the Year Watch List. In Bennett’s three years at WKU, he amassed 55 appearances, 28 starts and 171.1 innings on the mound. He will provide Kentucky’s bullpen with a wealth of experience.

Bennett played third baseman in high school at McCracken County. He was the No. 10 overall player and the No. 1 third baseman in the 2022 recruiting cycle, according to Perfect Game.

Bennett was the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky. Additionally, he was the Region 1 Player of the Year. Bennett boasted a 0.60 ERA his senior year, along with a .475 batting average and eight home runs. Alas, Bennett rarely stepped into the batter’s box at WKU.

Now, Jack Bennett will have a chance to represent one of the most prestigious programs in his home state. Kentucky finished this season with a 31-26 overall record and a 13-17 mark in conference play.

Despite some initial concern, Kentucky earned a bid in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. Kentucky defeated 1-seed Clemson to reach the regional final but ultimately suffered a season-ending loss to West Virginia.

While the loss was a step backward for Kentucky after reaching the College World Series last season, Wildcats head coach Nick Mingione wasn’t discouraged. In fact, he’s confident that his team could be one of the best in the country next season.

“I’m really excited about next year’s team,” Mingione said after the loss. “If the guys continue to grow and develop and we bring all this back, depending on what happens with the Draft, if you told me we were a preseason top-10 team in the country, I could believe it. That’s how highly I think of the guys we have coming back offensively.

“… Look what Nate Harris did today. Look at Ben Cleaver. And you know we’ve got a couple of other guys that continue to progress and bring back. There’s a really strong foundation of guys that now have experience. Man I really believe, depending on how all this works with the portal, we have a chance to be special next year.”