Link to Article on The Red & Black
By Olivia Sayer
Scenes 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)
Georgia baseball continues to make noise in the transfer portal. After pulling 18 players from the portal in Wes Johnson’s first year as head coach, the Bulldogs are, once again, active this offseason.
“We have to continue to go out and recruit,” Johnson said after Georgia’s season-ending loss. “To continue to get good quality players in here that fit our ballpark and what we’re trying to do. If you do that, especially now with the way things go in the transfer portal and the different things, you should put yourself in a position every year to have success.”
The full list of Georgia’s additions and subtractions is below, with the most recent announcements at the top and a star (*) indicating that player as Top-100 by 64Analytics. The list includes both scholarship and walk-on athletes and will be updated as necessary.
Transferring In
1. Devin Obee (OF, Duke): Obee is entering his final year of eligibility from Nashville, Tennessee. In 2024, he started all 60 games in center field for the Blue Devils, while hitting .309 with 16 home runs and a .399 on-base percentage. The righty only had 22 walks to 60 strikeouts last season but is expected to play a big role in Georgia’s lineup.
2. Nolan McCarthy (OF, Kentucky): McCarthy is entering his final year of eligibility from Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 2024, the righty hit .288 with eight home runs in 58 games. Through three seasons playing for the Wildcats, McCarthy posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 207 total chances. He now reunites with former Kentucky assistant coach Nick Ammirati, who Georgia hired in July.
3. Zach Brown (RHP, Ohio State): Brown is entering his second year of eligibility from Santa Ana, California. The right-hander made 25 appearances out of the bullpen for Ohio State last season and finished with a 4.22 ERA. He only surrendered three home runs in 42.2 innings and will help bolster a Georgia bullpen losing many of its key contributors.
4. JT Quinn (RHP, Ole Miss): Quinn is entering his third year of eligibility from Tampa, Florida. The right-hander appeared in 17 games with 12 starts his freshman year, which tied for second on the Rebels. In 2024, the number declined to just eight appearances. Quinn pounds the strike zone and racked up 23 strikeouts in 15.1 innings his sophomore season.
5. Brian Curley* (RHP, VCU): Curley is entering his third year of eligibility from Midlothian, Virginia. The right-hander finished his 2024 campaign with a 2.87 ERA in 19 relief appearances for the Rams. He struck out 78 batters in 78.1 innings, while only surrendering five home runs. Curley’s performance earned him a spot on the All-Atlantic 10 Conference First Team. He is expected to make a big impact for the Bulldogs out of their bullpen.
6. Alton Davis II* (LHP, Alabama): Davis is entering his third year of eligibility from Hueytown, Alabama. The left-hander led the Crimson Tide in saves last season with four, after having eight his freshman year. Davis is expected to be a shutdown arm out of Georgia’s bullpen with Friday-night potential.
7. Brennan Hudson (1B/C, Georgia State): Hudson is entering his third year of eligibility from Cumming, Georgia. The lefty vastly improved his offense last season, finishing with a .343 batting average and 14 home runs. In Hudson’s freshman year, he only hit .115 across 17 games. The Bulldogs are expected to primarily use him in Logan Jordan’s role, as an infielder that can catch with pop in his bat.
8. Thomas Lane Saxon (1B, East Georgia St.): Saxon is entering his third year of eligibility from Oconee County, Georgia. He hit .438 last season with 20 HR, 76 RBIs and a .914 slugging percentage. Saxon is expected to be a major depth piece for the Bulldogs with the potential to change a game with his bat.
9. Bradley Stewart (LHP, Eastern Kentucky): Stewart is entering his second year of eligibility from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder has solid stuff with a fastball that can get up to 97 mph. However, he struggled to execute with a 13.50 ERA in 17 appearances. He only surrendered five home runs but walked 29 batters in 20 innings.
10. Eric Hammond (RHP, USC): Hammond is entering his third year of eligibility from Keller, Texas. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Hammond in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, but he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed his freshman season at USC. Hammond has talent but struggled to find consistency with the Trojans.
11. Robbie Burnett (OF, UNC Asheville): Burnett is entering his final year of eligibility from Franklinton, North Carolina. Last season, he hit .323 with 18 home runs and 45 RBIs. Burnett also took 41 walks and stole 15 bases. He will provide a consistent and powerful bat within Georgia’s lineup, as he has yet to hit under .300 in three seasons with the Bulldogs. Burnett was Top-100 at the time of his portal entry but since dropped. He is keeping an eye on the 2024 MLB Draft.
12. Daniel Jackson (C, Wofford): Jackson is entering his second year of eligibility from Sandy Springs, Georgia. The righty showcases a powerful bat and consistent glove. Jackson finished his freshman season with a .357 batting average, 12 home runs, 69 RBIs and a .460 OBP. In 56 games, he only committed one error. Jackson is expected to play a lot of games for the Bulldogs behind the plate and would be a Top-100 commit if he was not a freshman.
13. Bryce Hubbard (C, Northwest Florida St.): Hubbard is entering his third year of eligibility from Norcross, Georgia. He began his career at Mississippi State before transferring to the Raiders. He only hit .252 with four home runs last season but was consistent defensively. Hubbard is expected to play a depth role for the Bulldogs.
14. Christian Adams* (2B, Florida Atlantic University): Adams is entering his final year of eligibility from Royal Palm Beach, Florida. He hit .343 with a .465 OBP his senior season and started all 57 games at second base. The 6-2, 205-pounder took the same route as Georgia’s Dylan Goldstein, playing at JUCO prior to transferring to FAU and then Georgia.
15. Ryan Black* (2B, UT Arlington): Black is entering his third year of eligibility from Grand Prairie, Texas. In two seasons with the Mavericks, Black hit .308 with a .413 OBP. He is regarded as one of the more polished hitters to enter the transfer portal and is projected to be an everyday player in Georgia’s lineup.
16. Ryland Zaborowski* (3B, Miami of Ohio): Zaborowski is entering his final year of eligibility from Gilbert, Arizona. The 6-foot-5 defender primarily played third base for the RedHawks but has the skillset to play the corner infield and outfield. Zaborowski led his conference in home runs during his freshman campaign but saw his power numbers decline last season. However, the righty still hit .305 with a .421 OBP across 51 games.
17. Charlie Jones (1B, Air Force): Jones is entering his third year of eligibility from Cumming, Georgia. In his sophomore campaign, Jones slashed .344/.415/.682 with a 1.097 OPS for the Falcons. The 6-foot-3 infielder frequently gets on base and is a solid defender, only committing four errors last season. Prior to his time at Air Force, Jones played for East Cobb, where he crossed paths with Georgia’s Charlie Condon.
18. Davis Chastain (RHP, Georgia State): Chastain is entering his third year of eligibility from Rome, Georgia. The right-hander had a solid K/9 of 14 last season. Chastain began his sophomore campaign with a strong ERA, but his last few outings inflated it to 8.37. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder has raw stuff with high strikeout capabilities. Chastain is expected to benefit heavily from working with pitching guru Wes Johnson.
19. Knox Bennett (3B, Chipola College): Bennett is entering his third year of eligibility from Blackshear, Georgia. The younger brother of Georgia football’s Stetson Bennett, he slashed .350/.483/.521 as a sophomore in JUCO. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder primarily played the corner infield and is expected to be a depth piece for the Bulldogs.
20. Justin Byrd (INF/RHP, USC Aiken): Byrd is entering his second year of eligibility from Oconee County, Georgia. He will be a junior but missed the majority of the 2024 season with an injury. Byrd is a two-way player, but the Bulldogs are expected to primarily use him as a pitcher. His freshman season, the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder finished with a 2.65 ERA in 15 appearances. He struck out 18 batters in 17 innings but also walked 10.
21. Jordan Stephens (RHP, ABAC): Stephens is entering his second year of eligibility from Rochelle, Georgia. He has potential to be a high strikeout pitcher, with a fastball that can reach 99 mph and sit at 95-97. Stephens finished his freshman campaign with a K/9 of 12.35, racking up 113 strikeouts in only 17 appearances with a 5.03 ERA.
22. Logan Spivey (RHP, Erskine): Spivey is entering his third year of college baseball from Barnesville, Georgia. Due to injuries, he only pitched nine innings over his two seasons with the Aces. Spivey is a bit of a wildcard with solid strikeout potential. He is joining the program as a walk-on and is expected to serve a depth role for the Bulldogs.
23. Lucas Morici (RHP, ABAC): Morici is entering his second year of eligibility from Marietta, Georgia. He struggled with consistency but has the talent to be a viable option. Georgia is expected to use Morici as a depth piece.
Transferring Out
1. Jarvis Evans (LHP, South Carolina): Evans is entering his third year of eligibility from Buford, Georgia. He started eight games for the Bulldogs, including game one of the SEC Tournament. Evans finished with a 5.49 ERA but struggled with longevity late in the season. The left-hander’s services are expected to be coveted.
2. Ryan Gold (LHP): Gold is entering his second year of eligibility from Smyrna, Georgia. He allowed one run across two appearances of mop up duty his freshman season.
3. James Hayes (RHP): Hayes is entering his second year of eligibility from Hawkinsville, Georgia. He made two appearances during two blow out victories his freshman season, where he allowed seven runs over three innings.
4. Ethan Sutton (RHP): Sutton is entering his second year of eligibility from Acworth, Georgia. He made three appearances for Georgia last season, finishing with a 3.37 ERA.
5. Jake Lankie (RHP, Georgia Tech): Lankie is entering his second year of eligibility from Alpharetta, Georgia. He did not make Georgia’s active roster in 2024.
6. Will Pearson (RHP, Iowa): Pearson is entering his final year of eligibility from Watkinsville, Georgia. He accumulated a 5.06 ERA over his three seasons with the Bulldogs but did not make the active roster in 2024.
7. Cooper Milford (OF, Georgia State): Milford is entering his first year of eligibility from Cumming, Georgia. The 6-foot, 170-pounder redshirted last season.
8. Blake Gillespie (RHP, Charlotte): Gillespie is entering his third year of eligibility from Lucan, Ontario, Canada. He finished his two seasons at Georgia with a 13.74 ERA across 17 appearances.
Returning to Georgia
1. Ryker Chavis (LHP): Chavis is entering his sophomore season from Warner Robins, Georgia. The left-hander did not see any action for the Bulldogs in 2024. As a high school senior, Chavis posted a 1.45 ERA with a 10-1 record. He was tabbed First Team All-Region, Region Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-State. Chavis removed himself from the portal July 8.
Committed but signed with MLB team
1. JR Freethy (OF, Nevada): Freethy is entering his final year of eligibility from Rocklin, California. In 2024, he hit .303 with 10 home runs. Freethy is a switch hitter and finished with more walks (35) than strikeouts (31) last season. He also led the Wolf Pack in runs scored (45) and on-base percentage (.414) and shared the team lead in triples (three). The Blue Jays selected Freethy in the 14th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and he opted to sign a contract with them.
2. JoJo Jackson* (OF, Georgia State): Jackson is entering his final year of eligibility from Stone Mountain, Georgia. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder is a switch-hitter and five-tool player. Last season, Jackson hit .315 with 16 home runs in 51 games. The Yankees selected Jackson in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He opted to sign a contract with them and will not play for the Bulldogs.