The House of Blue

Today UK signee Ryne Combs was named the state's Mr. Baseball for 2012. Combs, who also was named the Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year, is a left-handed pitcher and outfielder from Bryan Station High School here in Lexington.

Combs projects as a pitcher in college but could be a two-way player. He posted an 0.59 ERA in 71 innings this year with 105 strikeouts.

Combs was not drafted, so he'll become the third Kentucky Mr. Baseball in the last four years to attend UK. Luke Maile won the honor out of Covington Catholic in 2009, and J.T. Riddle won it from Western Hills in 2010. Mark Biggs from Warren East was the 2011 Mr. Baseball; he had committed to play for Louisville but was drafted by the Blue Jays and opted to sign a professional deal with a $600,000 signing bonus.

Six former Kentucky Mr. Baseball winners are currently active on 25-man major league rosters:

Scott Downs, 1994 winner, Angels
Austin Kearns, 1998 winner, Marlins
Joe Blanton, 1999 winner, Phillies
Collin Cowgill, 2004 winner, Athletics
Nathan Adcock, 2006 winner, Royals
Ben Revere, 2007 winner, Twins