Link to The Red & Black
By Olivia Sayer
Georgia junior Slate Alford (44), redshirt sophomore Charlie Condon (24), senior Corey Collins (6) and sophomore Kolby Branch (9) stand together during the final game of the NCAA Athens Regional between Georgia Tech and Georgia at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Georgia won 8-6. (Photo/Mady Mertens; MadyMertensPhotography)‘
Every July, over 600 baseball players see their dreams turn into a reality. The MLB Draft, which spans from Sunday to Tuesday, features 20 rounds of selections. The prospects range from high school graduates to College World Series winners, and Georgia baseball has a few names high on the boards.
The Cleveland Guardians, who currently have the best record in the American League, hold the No. 1 overall pick. The Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox round out the top five.
Charlie Condon headlines a group of Bulldogs looking to hear their names called. The Golden Spikes Award winner is Baseball America’s top prospect and MLB.com’s No. 2 overall prospect behind Travis Bazzana of Oregon State.
“Our goal is that we’re really trying to make the most of the dollars, resources and picks that we have available to yield the best talent pool overall,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said last week. “We’re really open-minded.”
Condon will provide a team with a strong bat that can utilize all parts of the ballpark. Although speed is not his strength, the SEC Player of the Year showcased his athleticism with starts at first base, third base and all three outfield positions.
“We all know he’s a great hitter,” head coach Wes Johnson said on MLB Network. “The biggest thing that people don’t know about Charlie is how good of an athlete he really is.”
If Condon becomes the top pick in the draft, Georgia will join UCLA and LSU as the only three schools to have No. 1 overall picks in football (Frank Sinkwich, Charley Trippi, Harry Babcock, Matthew Stafford and Travon Walker), basketball (Anthony Edwards) and baseball.
Another Bulldog that will hear his name called is Corey Collins. Collins and Condon created a tone-setting 1-2 punch atop the Bulldogs’ lineup. The duo also gave Georgia its first pair of teammates to hit at least 20 home runs in a single season and were the only Bulldogs to earn All-America honors from Baseball America.
Collins finished his senior season leading the NCAA in on-base percentage, accomplishing a feat no other SEC player had before. He was also a leader for the Bulldogs, who finished with their most successful season in 16 years.
“We call him the kernel,” freshman Trey King said on The Players’ Lounge podcast.
MLB.com lists Collins as its 170th-rated prospect. He will provide a team with a left-handed bat that gets on base. Collins takes walks and is not afraid to get hit by a pitch but also possesses a powerful bat, as evidenced by his 1.346 OPS in 2024.
Former catcher Fernando Gonzalez is another prospect teams will be looking to draft. Although he is not garnering as much national attention as Condon and Collins, the four-year starter brings a consistent presence to the catching position. Gonzalez hit a career-best .292 last season while further developing his play behind the plate.
One of Gonzalez’s biggest improvements came with pitch calling. In college baseball, the pitching coach typically calls the game. However, in Johnson’s first year at the helm, he allowed Gonzalez to experiment with the responsibility.
“My thought has always been that I don’t have the best answers from the side,” Johnson said during the season. “When you get those older veteran catchers that know the league, hitters and can give you good and honest feedback on what the pitcher’s stuff is doing, then you can [allow him to call pitches].”
With many departing players, the Bulldogs are bringing in a solid signing class. However, the MLB Draft has an opportunity to deplete it. Two incoming freshmen, Erik Parker and Bryce Clavon, attended the MLB Draft Combine, while additional Georgia commits are possibilities.
Transfer commit Robbie Burnett is also keeping an eye on the draft, while Bulldog infielders Slate Alford and Kolby Branch will almost certainly become selections.
Johnson told UGASports he is is expecting both Alford and Branch to get drafted, while the latter has a “probably 50-50” chance to return to the Bulldogs next season.
In regard to players out of eligibility, Brian Zeldin, Josh Roberge, Christian Mracna and Daniel Padysak all had solid seasons on the mound but are not listed on draft boards. In the batter’s box, Dylan Goldstein, Paul Toetz, Clayton Chadwick and Dillon Carter earned consistent starts within Georgia’s lineup, with Goldsetin being the most likely draft candidate.
The first two rounds of the MLB Draft will take place Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Rounds three through 20 will air on MLB.com beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.