Will Stein and Nick Mingione were thrilled when Matt Ponatoski committed to Kentucky. The product of Cincinnati Moeller is an excellent athlete. In both baseball and football, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year. He is now trying to accomplish the same goal in Lexington.
Charles Power, a rival, recently used X to share his superlatives for the forthcoming 2026 class, and he didn’t hold back when discussing Kentucky’s new signal-caller.
The two-sport king
Power dismantled the nation’s top quarterbacks. He awarded “Most Upside” to Faizon Brandon of Tennessee and “Strongest Arm” to Jared Curtis of Vandy. What about the “Two-Sport Star” award, though? Matt Ponatoski owned that.
This child is unique.
He plays baseball in the spring to keep in shape, but he’s more than simply a football player. He excels in both. Most quarterbacks must make a decision. Ponatoski is attempting to play baseball and quarterback, which is impossible.
Kentucky football and baseball wait for the elephant in the room
This is where Kentucky supporters start to perspire: the MLB Draft. Before Ponatoski ever sets foot on campus, we have to worry about the pros calling since he is such a talented baseball player.
He is presently ranked as the 56th-best prospect in the 2026 class by Baseball America. The law is straightforward but stressful: if you enroll in a four-year institution, you must remain there for three years, or until you are 21. You are gone after you sign out of high school.
We will therefore have Ponatoski for the long run if he chooses to come to Lexington and avoid the draft. However, the first challenge is to get him to avoid that check.
Nick Mingione and Will Stein are fighting over who gets to use Matt Ponatoski more
The good news? Kentucky is prepared for this. The football staff and Nick Mingione are already collaborating to ensure Ponatoski can succeed in both sports.Matt Ponatoski has not been instructed to give up playing football or baseball by the games,” Mingione stated on Tuesday. Thus, we’re just ecstatic about the capability. Additionally, I’ve already spoken with Will (Stein) and his team several times. It’s been amazing. We have a strategy in place to ensure that he does both, and we are completely prepared for him to do so.”
They didn’t specify the specifics of that plan, but I’m all for it if it gets him on campus. People, enjoy him while he’s here. Such athletes are unique.
