The MLB Draft got underway a week ago today and wrapped up earlier this week. Three players from Georgia were taken (3B/OF Charlie Condon – 1st Round, Colorado Rockies / 1B/OF Corey Collins – 6th Round, New York Mets / C Fernando Gonzalez – 20th Round, San Francisco Giants) while a few more (RHP Chandler Marsh – New York Mets / RHP Christian Mracna – Toronto Blue Jays) signed undrafted free agent contracts. Then there were the commits, both from the high school level and the transfer portal.
All three of the players drafted are going pro. Collins and Gonzalez were left with no choice having exhausted their eligibility while Condon, the third overall pick, has already agreed to a deal with the Rockies . Inking a contract with a $9.25 million signing bonus that matches that of the No. 2 pick Chase Burns, Condon’s draft bonus is the biggest in MLB history.
However, among the commits that were taken, and a few players that didn’t hear their names called, Georgia did manage to get good news. Neither Slate Alford nor Kolby Branch were selected, and both have announced intentions to return to Athens for another season. Each hit 17 home runs to tie for third on the team behind Condon (37) and Collins (20) in their respective first seasons from Mississippi State and Baylor. Alford started all 60 games for the Bulldogs while Branch missed one due to an ejection for celebrating a walk-off grand slam to beat Alabama.
On top of that news, freshman Erik Parker (15th Round, Los Angeles Dodgers) announced he’ll make his way to campus instead of turning pro. The product of North Gwinnett ranked as the No. 91 overall player according to Perfect Game. Georgia’s other three top-100 ranked players (Bryce Clavon, Michael Mullinax, Cade Brown) were not drafted and will also suit up in red and black next season.
A pair of Georgia commitments from the transfer portal are going pro though. Nevada outfielder JR Freethy (14th Round, Toronto Blue Jays) and Georgia State outfielder JoJo Jackson (17th Round, New York Yankees) both intend to sign contracts with their professional squads. The Bulldogs still are awaiting word from VCU right-handed pitcher Brian Curley (16th Round, Pittsburgh Pirates) although the general consensus out there seems to indicate that the draft eligible sophomore will likely make his way to Athens.
Georgia landed an impressive class out of the transfer portal that includes the likes of Alabama left-handed pitcher Alton Davis , Ole Miss right-hander JT Quinn , UNC Asheville outfielder Robbie Burnett , Wofford catcher Daniel Jackson , middle infielders Christian Adams (Florida Atlantic) and Ryan Black (Texas Arlington) and power hitting corner infielders Charlie Jones (Air Force), Ryland Zaborowski (Miami of Ohio) and Brennan Hudson (Georgia State).
Hudson has the ability to provide help at catcher too where Georgia returns Henry Hunter . Freshman phenom Tre Phelps (1B/OF) headlines the Bulldogs’ returnees, now joined by Alford and Branch. Several pitchers from last season’s staff like Leighton Finley , Kolten Smith and Zach Harris are also back and give Georgia a formidable starting rotation for head coach and pitching guru Wes Johnson to work with this fall entering 2025.
After a strong first season on the job, Georgia and Johnson agreed to a contract extension and pay increase , one that will head the head coach making $1 million this coming season. The Bulldogs went 43-17 overall with a 17-13 mark in the SEC, establishing new school records for most overall wins and most SEC wins by a first-year baseball coach. Johnson also became the first Georgia baseball coach to host and win an NCAA Regional in his first season on the job as his squad took down Army, UNC-Wilmington and Georgia Tech to advance to the Super Regionals. It marked UGA’s first time out of the regionals since 2008, and the Bulldogs fell just one game shy of a trip to the College World Series in Omaha.
The post MLB Draft Recap: Resetting Georgia Baseball roster after decisions appeared first on On3 .
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