Bristol Carter Named to 2025 SEC Community Service Team After Leading ‘Hits & Sits’ Campaign to Benefit Children’s Medical Fund
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky sophomore outfielder Bristol Carter has been named to the 2025 SEC Community Service Team, a prestigious recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedication off the diamond. Carter’s efforts spearheading the “Hits & Sits” campaign this spring didn’t just earn the attention of the Southeastern Conference — they inspired a movement throughout the Kentucky athletics community and beyond.
The “Hits & Sits” initiative, launched in January 2025, was Carter’s brainchild, designed to raise funds for pediatric medical care at the Lexington Children’s Medical Center. The campaign combined his passion for baseball with a commitment to give back: for every hit Carter collected during the season, local sponsors pledged donations, while fans could “sit” in designated community seats at Kentucky Proud Park by contributing to the cause.
By the season’s end, the campaign had generated over $5,000 — a sum that went directly toward funding mobile treatment equipment and bedside tutoring services for long-term pediatric patients. The initiative also included player visits to the hospital, where Carter and several teammates read to children, delivered care packages, and forged connections that made an impact far beyond the scoreboard.
“I just wanted to do something that reminded those kids they aren’t fighting alone,” Carter said. “Every time I stepped up to the plate, I thought of them. And knowing I could turn a hit into hope? That made every swing matter.”
Carter’s performance on the field was equally impressive. The sophomore posted a .314 batting average with 39 RBIs and 14 stolen bases, establishing himself as one of Kentucky’s most reliable two-way players. But it was his leadership off the field — organizing events, rallying teammates, and personally contributing time and money — that truly elevated his legacy in the program.
Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione praised Carter not just for his athletic ability, but for his integrity. “Bristol embodies everything we want in a student-athlete,” Mingione said. “He’s selfless, driven, and committed to something bigger than himself. The ‘Hits & Sits’ campaign shows what can happen when purpose meets passion.”
Carter is the latest in a growing line of Wildcats to receive the SEC Community Service Team honor, but few have done so with such initiative and impact at such a young age. Teammates described him as a “spark” both in the locker room and in the community.
Looking ahead, Carter has already announced plans to expand “Hits & Sits” into a regional campaign in 2026, partnering with other SEC baseball programs to create a conference-wide effort supporting children’s hospitals in their home states.
In an age where NIL deals and draft stock often dominate headlines, Carter’s story reminds fans what college athletics can be at its best — a platform for service, leadership, and unity.
As Bristol Carter takes the field for his junior season, one thing is certain: his greatest hits may not just come with a bat, but with a heart committed to making a difference.
