​Matt Ponatoski, who was selected July 12 by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2026 MLB Draft, will not sign to play professional baseball. Instead, the Kentucky football and baseball signee will make his way to Lexington.The four-star quarterback and right-handed pitcher/shortstop was selected by his hometown team as the No. 542 overall pick in the 18th round of the draft after being ranked No. 208 on MLB Pipeline’s draft board.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPonatoski enrolled at Kentucky on July 15, according to Kentucky Sports Radio. He had until July 27 to sign with the Reds.Moeller QB Matt Ponatoski (7) runs the ball during their football game against St. Xavier Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.The product of Moeller High School in Cincinnati will join UK’s football team this fall as the No. 13 quarterback in this freshman class, according to 247Sports Composite ratings. He is expected to compete for a backup role behind Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey this season.As a senior, Ponatoski threw for 2,395 yards with 28 touchdowns and only one interception in 12 games on the gridiron. He then posted a 0.83 ERA in 25⅓ innings with 44 strikeouts, while hitting .314 with one home run in 86 at bats as a pitcher and designated hitter.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs a junior in 2024-25, Ponatoski won Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year awards in both football and baseball, becoming only the third high schooler to ever earn Gatorade honors in two sports in the same academic year.He will join local product Grayson Willoughby at Kentucky. The Trinity High School star and MaxPreps National Player of the Year was MLB Pipeline’s No. 199 prospect, but he was not selected before withdrawing from the draft during Day 2 and announcing he would join the Wildcats.Reach sports trending writer Alaina Morris at amorris@gannett.com and follow her on X at @alainammorris.This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Matt Ponatoski picks Kentucky football, baseball over Cincinnati Reds