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By Olivia Sayer
Georgia sophomore Jarvis Evans (4) pitches during a NCAA college baseball game between Northern Colorado and Georgia at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Georgia won 11-1. (Photo/Mady Mertens: @MadyMertensPhotography)
Georgia baseball has one of its first significant portal entries, as lefthander Jarvis Evans entered the transfer portal Tuesday morning.
The move comes as a slight shock, as Evans made 16 appearances for the Bulldogs this past season. However, the rising junior struggled down the stretch, lasting less than an inning in each of his last two starts.
Evans finished his sophomore campaign with a 3-2 record and 5.49 ERA. After allowing a .211 batting average his freshman season, opponents hit .255 off of him in 2024. Despite surrendering 183 total bases, Evans only allowed seven home runs. He finished the season with 47 strikeouts to 27 walks.
Georgia called on Evans to start its SEC Tournament game against LSU in an attempt to keep starters Leighton Finley and Kolten Smith on regular rest with its postseason spot secured. The Buford-native only secured one out before getting pulled after allowing three runs.
Evans only made one appearance in the postseason, and it came in Georgia’s 18-1 loss to NC State in game two of the Athens Super Regional. Despite the score, Evans’ three innings helped preserve a bullpen that was all hands on deck for the rest of the series.
Evans’ biggest moment of the season occurred against Mississippi State in early April, when the lefthander pitched 4.2 innings of 2-run ball after Charlie Goldstein was scratched due to shoulder fatigue.
The start occurred in front of a packed house at State’s Dudy Noble Field. After the game, head coach Wes Johnson praised Evans for his last-minute performance.
“They really saved our bullpen tonight,” Johnson said of Evans and relief pitcher Josh Roberge. “Those two guys did a really good job. It’s Friday night in this league, and you know you’re going to be in a fight. The games are going to be tight whether you’re at home or on the road.”
Of Evans’ 16 appearances, eight were starts. He served as Georgia’s midweek-starter for a portion of the season, going five innings in the Bulldogs’ wins against Presbyterian and Georgia Southern. Towards the middle of the season, he started a few SEC matchups and earned a win against Missouri.
Against Presbyterian, Johnson instilled confidence in Evans with a conversation between innings.
“Kind of got me right, got me back on track,” Evans said. “He was just like ‘be confident in yourself.’ That’s the big thing he preaches to us is just be confident and know that you’re here for a reason.”
Now, Evans looks to bring that confidence with him to a new team.