Ryan Nicholson is one of six Kentucky Wildcats to be drafted in this year’s MLB draft (pick number 292) after a historic season, making their first College World Series. Nicholson led the way for the Bat Cats this past year, breaking the single season record for home runs with twenty three.
Ryan is now thriving with the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels Minor League Affiliate) with a .288 batting average, 16 RBIs, and a home run. When talking about Ryan’s career, one word comes to mind: successful.
Ryan has found a way to win at every level thus far, starting with his time at St. X, where he led the team’s eighth state championship team in 2018. Ryan’s success didn’t come overnight. From his long days of hard work at St. X to his four years at Cincinnati before finally transferring to Kentucky, Ryan has stood the course, much to his benefit.
As a die hard Bat Cat fan myself, I knew the run that Ryan is currently on couldn’t go unnoticed, so I conducted an interview with the Sixers first baseman. Below are his answers:
How much of your recent success would you attribute to your time at St. X?
“When I first got to St. X I had never been pushed before on the field and in the classroom. I wasn’t a great student and didn’t want to put forth a ton of effort. They’re gonna put you to work and know when you’re not giving 100%. It was an eye opener. I had to form a good routine and do things the right way. On the field it was also good since there was a lot of talent to go through St. X, and I had to compete at the highest level to be a starter consistently. After playing there with the pedigree it had, it was easy for me to transition to college.”
How has the adjustment been from college to the minors?
“It’s been pretty good, I would say it’s very similar in terms of how hard guys throw. The speed of everything is very similar. I’ve had to get used to playing every day. You play six days a week and have Monday off whereas in college you have a weekend series, and maybe a game or two in the middle of the week, other than that you’re chilling. Taking care of your body is a massive factor, making sure you’re healthy. You kind of get used to it after a while, I remember my first week I was so sore playing six days a week. I feel better after a month for sure.”
What made you realize you wanted to transfer from Cincinnati to the UK?
“A lot of things presented themselves. I love Cincinnati and will probably be there in the offseason. Some of my best friends are there. We had a coaching change that was due to a gambling scandal in our athletic department. All of our staff and everybody was leaving. It was gonna be my fifth year, so I put myself in the portal thinking I’d return to Cincinnati. I got a lot of buzz in the portal a couple weeks in, and I knew I could go somewhere and make a little money. I knew I could go somewhere and make some noise, and maybe go to Omaha. Those were the main factors. UK came calling, and with my brother being there as well as my family being close by, it made the most sense for me.
What was it like to be a part of Kentucky’s first College World Series team?
“It was awesome man. I feel like we had everyone who’s ever gone through that university behind us. When we were going, we didn’t know how many people would show up since nothing like this has ever happened before. The crowds throughout the whole postseason were ridiculous. The amount of former players and alumni who reached out was awesome, and it gave our group so much confidence. No Kentucky team had ever done that before, so all of it was uncharted water. It was interesting but it was also like walking somewhere with your eyes closed, nobody knew how to act.”
What was it like to get drafted?
“It was insane man. It’s something you want your entire life. I had to look myself in the mirror and ask myself if I was good enough or not. It’s so hard to figure out if you’ll even get drafted, so the fact that it happened was so amazing. There’s really no other way to describe it.”
Who is your favorite teacher at St. X?
“Mr Hilbert might be my top teacher that’s still there. I had Coach Schweitzer in U.S. History 1945-present, which was a great class. Coach Kroh and Coach Lyons are in there too.”
Favorite lunch item at St. X?
“Buffalo chicken wrap. Easy.”
Favorite walk up song you’ve ever had?
“I did slide by Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, and Migos my sophomore and junior year. I’d probably say that one is my favorite.”
Ryan’s journey from an elite high school prospect to thriving minor league prospect is a testament to his grit and persistence. Whether he’s smashing home runs for the Inland Empire 66ers or reminiscing about the delectable buff chick, Ryan will continue to build on his recent success in the minors and eventually in the majors. Ryan is no stranger to success on the mound, and I can assure that the run he is on won’t come to a halt any time soon. If this past season in baseball has told us anything, it’s that Ryan Nicholson is a player worth watching, a player worthy of the utmost support from the St. X community.
