Following a Kentucky Baseball campaign that fell short of expectations, particularly on the mound, the program’s attention turned squarely to the 2026 MLB Draft and the future of Grayson Willoughby.
That standout recruit has now made his decision official: he is withdrawing from the draft and will instead begin his college career in Lexington, as confirmed by UK.
With that choice now public, the highly regarded right-hander will be required to spend two full seasons on campus before he becomes draft-eligible again in 2028.
A product of Trinity High School in Louisville, Kentucky, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Willoughby has been pledged to the Wildcats since August 2024. His high school résumé is impressive: back-to-back state titles with the Shamrocks, a Mr. Baseball award, and the 2026 MaxPreps National Player of the Year honor.
His changeup, which sits in the mid-80s, is viewed as his most advanced secondary offering, while his slider is gradually taking shape as another dependable pitch.
Where Willoughby truly stands out is his control. He consistently repeats a clean, three-quarters arm slot, fills the strike zone with regularity, and already demonstrates the capacity to command all three of his pitches. Scouts also project additional velocity as he continues to physically develop.
Though he played both ways at Trinity, his professional future is clearly on the mound. He closed out his senior year by tossing a one-hit shutout in the Kentucky state championship game, propelling Trinity to yet another title.
Willoughby is also ranked No. 31 in his class by Perfect Game, which described him as a “polished starter package with three quality pitches including a 92-96 mph fastball, slider and changeup, dominated at PG national.”
For the Bat Cats, securing his commitment represents a major addition, particularly given their pressing need for more pitching depth.
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