Tyler Bell has long approached the game with a relentless focus on development, pouring time and energy into refining every part of his craft. That commitment produced a standout freshman season at Kentucky and now has him positioned among the premier players in college baseball. But Bell believes he’s only scratching the surface.
After excelling as Kentucky’s starting shortstop, Bell carried that momentum into the summer, thriving in the Cape Cod League and with U.S. collegiate national team. Now, entering the spring as one of the sport’s top draft-eligible sophomores, he is intent on elevating his game even further.
Bell’s performance, skill set and potential intrigue MLB scouts. The sophomore shortstop is eligible for July’s MLB draft and is viewed as a potential top-10 pick.
“It’s very, very cool, but my goal is still set on being a big leaguer and representing Team USA as a big leaguer down the road,” Bell said. “I just want to stay consistent, tackle today and do as well as I can today, and then outdo it tomorrow.”
Bell isn’t new to the spotlight. As an Illinois high school standout, he drew significant draft attention and was selected 66th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays as a supplemental second-round pick. Rather than sign, he bet on himself and headed to Kentucky, believing the college route would allow him to further refine his game and better position himself for a future professional career.
“I always felt like I was undervalued throughout high school and sometimes still now,” Bell said. “I play with that chip on my shoulder and feel like I still have something to prove. It drives me every single day.”
Bell is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound switch-hitting shortstop with no clear weaknesses. A natural right-hander, he began switch-hitting at age 3 in his backyard, encouraged by his father. Bell is a quality hitter from both sides of the plate, displaying a quick swing, strong decision-making and respectable power. He consistently drives the ball into the gaps and, with his athleticism, is also a threat on the bases.
“My consistency with the bat is a strength of mine,” Bell said. “I have put a lot of work in the last six to eight months with flattening out my swing in the back part and front part of the zone. That has allowed me to not chase as much. I thought if I could flatten out my swing a little in the back and get it off a little earlier, I could drive the ball into the gap the way I want.”
Bell has all the tools to be a solid shortstop in pro ball. He possesses solid speed, a quick first step, smooth actions, reliable hands and a strong arm to make all the necessary plays at shortstop. His defensive instincts and athleticism give him the versatility to also play second base and third base.
“I take a lot of pride in my glove,” Bell said. “You can always be the best defender possible. I have so much fun playing defense and shortstop in particular. It allows me to reset and jump back into hitting and hit better at the plate.”
Kentucky enters the season as a potential College World Series contender, with Bell expected to be a driving force for the Wildcats. After making their first-ever College World Series appearance in 2024 and returning to the NCAA Tournament Regional last year, Kentucky has established itself as a rising program.
In a loaded SEC, the Wildcats could be a dark-horse team to watch, and much of that optimism centers on Bell’s dynamic presence at shortstop.
“We just need to be consistent, stay healthy and take it one game at a time,” Bell said. “Winning the national championship is the goal, but we can’t think about that. We have to just think about the next game ahead.”
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 11 years. He has interviewed 613 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as an “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
