CAREER STATISTICS
ACADEMIC HONORS
• Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List, 2018-19; 2019-20; 2020-21
• Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll, 2017-18
• President's List, Fall 2019
• Dean’s List, Spring 2018; Fall 2018; Spring 2019; Spring 2020; Fall 2020
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Fall 2017; Spring 2021
AT GEORGIA STATE:Versatile infielder who played every position, including pitcher, except catcher and center field, and started at five different spots: second, third, short, right and left field in his four seasons.
2021: Started 38 games, primarily at second or third base ... Hit .254 with six doubles, one triple and one homer and 13 RBI ... Ended the season on a seven-game hitting streak ... His biggest hit was his pinch-hit, two-run double against Troy that tied the game in the eighth inning; the Panthers went on to win in the 10th to clinch the series ... Had three hits and two RBI in 7-5 win to complete series sweep at Texas State ... Hit his first career home run with a three-run blast at ULM (his 106th career game) ... Had three hits and three RBI in DH sweep of No. 14 West Virginia ... Drove in two runs vs. No. 7 Georgia ... Had two hits, including a triple, in win at No. 10 Georgia Tech..
2020: Starter at second base who was the team’s third-leading hitter with a .370 average ... Played in 13 games, starting 12 ... Had two doubles with eight RBI and eight runs scored ... Hit by pitch six times to lead the Sun Belt ... His. .508 on-base percentage ranked sixth in the conference ... Combined for 13 walks/hit by pick against just nine strikeouts ... Ended the season on a seven-game hitting streak, including 8-for-13 with four RBI in the final three games ... 3-for-5 with two RBI in 10-7 win over UNC Asheville in the final game ... Also had three hits in win over North Alabama.
2019: Backup infielder who played in 33 games, including seven starts .... Played third base, second base and shortstop ... Had two hits, including a double, and two RBI while scoring four runs.
2018: Made an impact as a freshman, starting 16 games at third base and six in left field ... Hit .256 and drove in 15 runs in 86 at-bats ... Drew 17 walks and posted a .379 on-base percentage ... Delivered a pinch-hit, two-run double in the Panthers’ eighth-inning rally vs. Louisiana (4-29-18) ... Followed with a two-run, pinch-hit single in win over Savannah State (5-2-18).
Making his first start at third vs. Kennesaw State (3-27-18), he drove in four runs with an RBI-single and a bases-loaded double ... Had three hits and three RBI in Arkansas State sweep ... Started one game at shortstop vs. Morehouse ... Pressed into service in left field for the six games of the season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 12 shortstop in Georgia and a top 500 prospect nationally by Perfect Game … High honorable mention Underclass All-American by Perfect Game in 2015 and 2016 … Honorable mention all-state in Class AAAA as a senior at Upson-Lee High School … Three-time All-Middle Georgia by the Macon Telegraph and four-time all-region honoree … Hit .434 as a junior and was 15-for-16 on stolen bases … Two-sport athlete who also played quarterback for the Upson Lee football team, which he led to the playoffs his junior and senior years … In 2016, he earned first-team All-Region 2-AAAA at quarterback and first-team All-Middle Georgia recognition as a punter, averaging 41 yards per kick … Three-time all-region and two-time All-Middle Georgia in football.
PERSONAL: Full name is Kalen Wayne Puckett ... Born Sept. 3, 1998 ... Parents are Wayne and Karen Puckett ... Majoring in health and physical education.
