College Baseball: Exeter Grad Alex Kelsey Leaves St. Joe’s For An Sec School

Former All-State Exeter Eagles outfielder Alex Kelsey has announced his transfer to the University of Kentucky after spending his first two collegiate seasons at St. Joseph’s University.

The 2025 graduate chose the Wildcats over Clemson and will arrive in Lexington with two years of eligibility remaining.

A Reading native, Kelsey started both of his seasons at St. Joseph’s and quickly established himself as one of the Hawks’ top players.

In 2026, he was one of three St. Joseph’s players named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team, joining catcher Blake Primrose and pitcher Cole Fehrman.

Kelsey finished second on the team with a .373 batting average and a .996 OPS.

The Hawks posted a 36-20 record but saw their season come to an end with a 13-3 loss to top-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University in the Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinals.

In 56 games this season, starting all but one, the speedy sophomore recorded 81 hits, including 20 extra-base hits, while driving in 35 runs and stealing 20 bases.

Over his first two collegiate seasons, Kelsey has compiled a .348 batting average, collecting 114 hits in 414 at-bats. He has also totaled 68 RBIs, 37 stolen bases, and six home runs.

Defensively, he has posted a .960 fielding percentage with just 10 errors in more than 250 chances.

As a true freshman, Kelsey earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors after leading the Hawks in runs scored (47), triples (3), walks (38), and on-base percentage (.458).

Now headed to Kentucky, Kelsey joins a Wildcats program that finished 33-23 in 2026 and advanced to its fourth consecutive NCAA Regional Final before falling 6-5 to West Virginia.

With his combination of speed, defensive ability, and offensive production, Kelsey is expected to be a key contributor for Kentucky as he begins his SEC career and looks ahead to the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Kelsey is majoring in Business Administration.