Owensboro freshman Evan Hampton took a big step in his athletic career recently, signing to play baseball at the University of Kentucky. But with the hope of being remembered in Owensboro as a good person and someone to look up to, Evan has some unfinished business with his Red Devils family that he’s ready to tackle in the next three years.
The recruiting process hadn’t been the easiest for Hampton, especially with the limitations in communication that come with him being a freshman. However, he said that Kentucky’s coaching staff has made the process much easier, especially with the Wildcats recruiting his twin brother Elijah.
After all, a lot of this decision for Evan comes because of family. Since he was young he’s dreamed of playing for a Power-5 program and SEC school and after a lot of thought and prayer he knew this was the right decision for collegiate future.
“Growing up my family on both sides have been huge UK fans and I have an uncle who played baseball there as well,” Hampton said. “It’s an honor to wear your state across your chest and represent. What also separated them was the fact that they weren’t always asking about baseball. They asked about my family and other hobbies to show that they cared and wanted to know more about me.”
Evan said that how the program handles itself academically and personally was another big draw for him as well.
“A team GPA of 3.5 is incredible,” Hampton said. “There is a lot of love and relationship building in the program and that’s what I look for. They take good care of their players and care about them in a way to show they want to build a relationship and not just view them as baseball players.”
That culture is something that Hampton is very excited to join, as he’s honored to know that he’ll have the chance to represent the Commonwealth and get to compete at a high Division I level.
“What I look forward to is building relationships with the guys from around the state and around the country who get to be Wildcats as well,” Hampton said. “I look forward to competing in the SEC and wearing my home state across my chest.”
Evan joined Owensboro in 2021 and played 18 games as a seventh grader, but saw his role and production progress rapidly in 2022. He played in all 29 games for Owensboro, hitting .310 at the plate to go along with two home runs and 16 RBIs while also pitching 8.2 innings and not giving up a single run.
With a true urge to be the best in whatever sport it may be—as Hampton said that this signing doesn’t impact his football career and hopes to one day be a two-sport athlete at UK—he went on to say that it’s that hunger that pushes him to stay mentally and physically tough in his approach to the game.
“What has helped make me the player I am today is my willingness to make the right decisions on and off the field,” Hampton said. “Being able to stay disciplined with my eating, lifting and more… Over the next few years I want to grow into my maturity as a player, improve my offense, defense and be the best version of Evan Hampton I can be.”
In the three years Evan has left with the Red Devils he has a lot he wants to accomplish, including winning Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Baseball. But above all, Hampton wants to shock people and bring some hardware home with his guys in the 3rd Region.
“I want the OHS Red Devils to win a regional championship,” Hampton said. “This team right now means a lot to me. It’s just me and my buddies all out there playing together. The citizens of Owensboro have viewed us as ‘young’ and that we need time to be so called ‘good,’ but I don’t think that’s the case. I think no matter what kind of guys we have we need to show up and compete at the highest level possible. I have my own personal goals, but this team is my family and they come first.”
