CatsPause.com - Paxton returns to Kentucky, spurns MLB

August 19, 2009

Matt May
CatsPause.com Senior Writer

The Kentucky baseball team has a bit of problem now that James Paxton has opted to return. Not that anyone inside Cliff Hagan Stadium is complaining.

The Cats scored a monumental upset when the fire-balling left-handed pitcher could not reach a professional contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and chose to hightail it back to Lexington for his senior season. When a first-round draft pick puts major league dreams on hold and comes back for more of the collegiate experience it says a great deal about where that program is headed, and now Gary Henderson's squad may just be the Cinderella of the 2010 Southeastern Conference race.

"There is a value statement attached to his decision that says this place is important, this place is valuable, this place is worthy of my skills, my time and my effort," Henderson said. "That speaks directly to the people coming in who just turned down the draft and anyone else in the program that we've got someone of that stature who is willing to come back and spend another year with us."

Paxton's return was surprising in that he was one of only three collegiate players drafted in the first three rounds of June's Major League Baseball Amateur Draft to head back to college. It also created a little bit of a logistical nightmare in terms of working out scholarship money for next year's roster, but there is no question those a minor speed bumps on what could be a road that will put UK back in the postseason picture.

"Kentucky is a great place," Paxton said. "I love the people there - the coaches, the staff and my teammates. I feel like with the Blue Jays, we just couldn't come to an agreement and going back to Kentucky is going to be a great option for me. I am going to get a lot better working with the coaches there and hopefully have a great season and year at Kentucky."

It's been a steady climb for Paxton since he arrived at UK, as he's blossomed under Henderson's guidance on the mound. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder has a mid-90's fastball and above average curve ball that helped him rank fifth in the nation last season in strikeouts-per-nine innings (13.2). Although his earned run average (5.86) was a bit bloated because of a few rough starts his talent is undeniable, which had one scout suggesting Paxton could rise to a Top 10 pick in next year's draft with another good season in the SEC.

Henderson, who is entering his second season as head coach, doesn't like to dump large amounts of pressure on his players with heavy praise but he didn't shy away from what he feels could be Paxton's ceiling.

"I try real hard not to put kids in those corners but there is no doubt (he can be a Top 10 pick)," Henderson said. "There are not a lot of James Paxton's on the planet. His skills are few and far between. I guess another way to put it is guys with the same skill set, there's not very many of them.

"I don't want to speak for him but there is a track record of our guys coming back in (the SEC) and going back out as seniors and doing very well. There is a track record that if you come back and do well in this league there will be no shortage of interest. The fact of the matter is that James Paxton can get better, there are things he can do to improve his skills and his stock as a pitcher."

With Paxton's return the Cats have arguably the best one-two starting pitching punch in the SEC. Paxton will team with sophomore right-hander Alex Meyer to give UK an imposing pair of arms that were both dominant at times last season.

"I think the best way to put it is you've got two guys coming back who have already done it, who have already been through it," Henderson said. "Both of them can improve on last year's performances but both will benefit greatly from having been through it and they both have a high level of expectation out of themselves. They have real talent and are real workers and it's a tremendous benefit to our program to have them back."

There are many happy returns for UK baseball these days.

Matt May is the baseball beat reporter for The Cats' Pause. If you have questions or comments about the Cats e-mail him here.

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