Inspired by College Baseball Daily’s list of the top 100 college baseball players,BluGrass Baseball is counting down the top 25 returning Kentucky collegians in advance of the 2011 season. We continue the list today with a returning 2010 draftee.

No. 9 — SS Taylor Black — University of Kentucky

Taylor Black; UK photo

UK senior shortstop Taylor Black was the 28th round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010 after batting .270 with 11 home runs, 37 RBI and 44 runs scored in 2010. Black was successful in all 12 of his stolen base attempts last season, and he started 55 of UK’s 56 games. Black slugged 10 of his 11 home runs in Southeastern Conference play, where he batted .300 with 22 RBI and 26 runs scored.

Black batted .303 with one home run, nine RBI and 16 runs scored in 23 games for Columbia of the Coastal Plains League this summer. He walked 21 times while striking out just 16 times in the league. Black stole 28 of 31 bases on the summer season. The South Carolina native also played in 11 games for Cotuit of the Cape Cod League, where he was 3-24 with an RBI. Baseball America recently ranked Black the No. 26 senior draft prospect in college baseball.