It’s not very often that a native of Knoxville, Tennessee bleeds blue. However, this is the case for Kentucky pitcher Ryan Hagenow, who will wrap up his senior season at UK in Omaha at the College World Series.
After spending four seasons in Lexington under head coach Nick Mingione, Hagenow, the peer-appointed leader of the Wildcats dugout, explained why he feels such a connection with his program and university.
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“I think it’s just how much everybody here cares about you as a person,” Hagenow told ESPN’s Tom Hart and Karl Ravech. “You know, they all seriously care about you and your life after baseball. It’s pretty special to me and means a lot. Especially not just the coaches, the whole staff. The athletic training staff, our equipment guy — everybody in this program is really close and it’s pretty unique and awesome.”
When Hagenow arrived at Kentucky in 2021, the Wildcats were an ailing program that hadn’t had much success since Mingione’s first season at UK in 2017. Since he’s been there, he’s not only developed his game but has become a leader in the process. Now, he’s expected to be a name many teams could vie for in the upcoming 2024 MLB Draft.
Hagenow believes that the guidance of Mingione and the coaching staff, and the culture they’ve built in Lexington has paved the way for Kentucky’s recent success over the past two seasons.
However, some fans have called out Mingione for the way he carries himself in front of national media. Believing he’s putting on a sort of front or is being a fake version of himself when it comes to his over-the-top happiness, Hagenow assured fans that he doesn’t change his act behind closed doors.
“He acts the same on national television as he is at practice,” he continued. “He’s just the same guy all the time. And it may seem insincere to the outside eye, but it was pretty easy to recognize after being here for a couple of weeks.”
If things go Hagenow’s way, Mingione’s likeness will be a part of the College World Series in Omaha for more than a couple of games. They certainly got off to a good start midway through Saturday’s opening matchup, taking a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning.
Fans can watch the exciting finish to this Game 3 matchup live on ESPN and in the ESPN app.
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