At Lexington Catholic, being a two-sport athlete is nothing new.
But every once in a while, an athlete comes along whose impact seems to follow him from one playing surface to another.
Baird Woodall is quickly becoming one of those players.
The Lexington Catholic standout has established himself as a two-sport athlete for the Knights, competing in both football and baseball. Now a junior on the 2026 football roster, Woodall plays wide receiver and defensive back, while on the baseball diamond he has developed into one of the younger players to watch in Kentucky’s 2028 class.
And while the statistics tell part of the story, Woodall’s résumé is beginning to show just how much impact he has already made.
A Baseball Player Who Keeps Getting Noticed
Woodall’s baseball résumé began attracting attention well before his current high school season.
Entering the 2026 season, the sophomore infielder/outfielder was coming off a season in which he hit .377 with 26 hits, 19 runs and 11 RBI, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader’s preseason coverage.
But his sophomore season wasn’t simply about offensive production.
Woodall was also selected to the district all-tournament team, continuing a distinction he had already earned as a freshman.
That means Woodall had been recognized on the district’s all-tournament team in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
That consistency is notable for a player who was still among the younger athletes on the field.
And the recognition didn’t stop there.
Recognition Beyond Lexington Catholic
Woodall’s development has also caught the attention of national and regional baseball evaluators.
Perfect Game lists Woodall as a 5-foot-7, 157-pound middle infielder in the 2028 class, playing for Lexington Catholic and competing with the Dirtbags All Blacks 2028.
His reputation within Kentucky baseball is even more notable.
According to information provided by Woodall’s family, he is currently ranked No. 8 among Kentucky players in the 2028 class by Prep Baseball Report (PBR) and is the No. 2-ranked middle infielder in the class.
Those rankings put Woodall among a group of players being closely watched as they move through the high school baseball ranks.
And there is an important theme running through his evaluations:
Woodall finds ways to impact the game.
His game is built around competitiveness, instincts, bat-to-ball ability and defensive awareness rather than simply relying on physical size.
Perfect Game’s evaluation has highlighted those traits, identifying Woodall as a high-energy, competitive player with the ability to make plays and consistently compete.
The “Gamer” Mentality
That mentality has shown up repeatedly on the field.
During Lexington Catholic’s 2026 season, Woodall was part of a Knights team that opened the year with an 18-5 record and climbed into the upper portion of the state’s rankings.
In one memorable matchup with Lexington Christian, Woodall made a critical defensive play at shortstop before later tagging out a runner attempting to steal second.
Those are the kinds of plays that don’t always show up prominently in a box score.
They show instincts.
They show awareness.
And they show a willingness to stay involved in the game.
Lexington Catholic pitcher Eamon Hughes summed it up after that game:
“Baird’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous what he can do in the field and at the plate.”
That kind of respect from a teammate says plenty about how Woodall is viewed inside the Knights’ clubhouse.
And the results continued.
In a Lexington Catholic win over Our Lady of Good Counsel, Woodall went 3-for-5 with five runs, three RBI and a triple, setting a career high for hits in that game.
Later in the season, during Lexington Catholic’s 20-5 stretch, Woodall reached base four times against Bullitt East, scored three runs, stole a base and doubled as the Knights won their 10th consecutive game.
A Football Player, Too
Then there is football.
Woodall was listed as a sophomore wide receiver on Lexington Catholic’s 2025 varsity roster. The Knights’ 2025 roster lists him at wide receiver, and he recorded 80 receiving yards during the season.
His sophomore football season ended with another significant accomplishment:
Woodall was selected First Team All-City as a sophomore.
That recognition added another layer to an already impressive two-sport résumé.
Now, in 2026, Woodall has moved into his junior season and is listed as a wide receiver/defensive back for the Knights.
Lexington Catholic entered the Sept. 19 matchup with Lexington Christian at 3-1.
For Woodall, football provides another opportunity to use many of the same traits that have made him successful in baseball.
At wide receiver, it is about finding space, reacting quickly and making plays.
At defensive back, it is about reading formations, recognizing what is developing and reacting before the play is over.
Different sport.
Same mindset.
A Résumé That Is Already Growing
Consider what Woodall has accomplished before even reaching his senior year of high school:
• First Team All-City in football as a sophomore• District all-tournament team in baseball as a freshman• District all-tournament team in baseball as a sophomore• PBR No. 8-ranked player in Kentucky in the 2028 class, according to information provided by his family• • Recognized by Perfect Game as a player to watch in the 2028 class• Varsity experience in both football and baseball• Currently playing WR/DB for Lexington Catholic football• Continues to develop as a middle infielder on the baseball diamond
More Than a Stat Line
The story of Baird Woodall isn’t simply about rankings, statistics or awards.
It’s about progression.
He’s already played significant varsity football and baseball.
He’s already earned First Team All-City recognition in football.
He’s already been selected to district all-tournament teams in baseball in consecutive seasons.
And he’s already earned recognition from organizations that evaluate players beyond the local level.
Yet the thing that stands out most is how often the same words seem to follow him:
Competitive.
Instinctive.
High-energy.
Gamer.
Woodall’s size may not be the first thing that jumps off the page.
His production and competitiveness often are.
That’s part of what makes his development so interesting to watch.
The Road Ahead
For Lexington Catholic, Woodall represents another valuable piece of a strong athletic program.
For Woodall, however, the story is still being written.
The 2026 football season is underway. Baseball will return in the spring. And as he continues to develop physically and athletically, there will be more opportunities to add to a résumé that is already impressive for a player in the 2028 class.
The rankings can change.
The statistics will change.
The positions may change.
But one thing has already become pretty clear.
Baird Woodall has developed a reputation as a player who finds a way to make an impact.
And for the Lexington Catholic Knights, that’s exactly the kind of player you want on your side.
PrepSpin will continue to follow Baird Woodall and the Lexington Catholic Knights throughout the 2026-27 athletic year.