KSR's 2025 SEC Baseball Preview: Georgia

With the 2025 College Baseball season just around the corner, KSR will be previewing all 15 SEC teams that will be competing with Kentucky for an SEC crown this season. Up next; the Georgia Bulldogs.

The first season of the Wes Johnson era in Athens was a resounding success, as the Bulldogs compiled a 43-17 (17-13) record and reached an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2008. Led by 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner Charlie Condon, Georgia came one game short of reaching the Men’s College World Series after falling to NC State in a decisive game three.

Over the offseason, former Kentucky Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Will Coggin (who was hired by Georgia prior to last season) and the Bulldogs poached Kentucky Assistant Coach Nick Ammirati from the Wildcat staff. Ammirati left Southern Miss for the Kentucky job in 2021, but his updated contract at Kentucky ran from July 3, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Instead of renegotiating, his contract expired at midnight on July 1 and he decided to make the move to Georgia.

Ammirati wasn’t the only Wildcat who made the move from Lexington to Athens however, as outfielder Nolan McCarthy transferred from Kentucky to Georgia for his final season of College Baseball. McCarthy left a resounding legacy during his time at Kentucky, including a program-record 46 wins last season and a Men’s College World Series berth. His Pete Rose-esque slide home in Kentucky’s Super Regional clinching victory over Oregon State led the Cats to their first ever MCWS berth.

Returning Players:

• Sr. INF Slate Alford (2024: 60 G, .300 AVG, 13 2B, 17 HR, 69 RBI, .539 SLG%, .370 OBP%)
• Jr. INF Kolby Branch (2024: 59 G, .267 AVG, 10 2B, 17 HR, 58 RBI, .538 SLG%, .366 OBP%)
• So. INF Tre Phelps (2024: 42 G, .353 AVG, 11 2B, 12 HR, 40 RBI, .699 SLG%, .441 OBP%)
• Sr. C Henry Hunter (2024: 30 G, .264 AVG, 5 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, .500 SLG%, .379 OBP%)
• So. INF Trey King (2024: 17 G, .231 AVG, 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .269 SLG%, .310 OBP%)
• R-Sr. OF John Marant (2024: 11 G, .200 AVG, 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .300 SLG%, .429 OBP%)

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• Jr. RHP Leighton Finley (2024: 17 APP, 16 GS, 6-1, 4.14 ERA, 76 IP, 76 K, 28 BB, .253 B/AVG)
• Jr. RHP Kolten Smith (2024: 20 APP, 4 GS, 9-3, 5.56 ERA, 69 2/3 IP, 105 K, 20 BB, .265 B/AVG)
• Gr. RHP Brian Zeldin (2024: 23 APP, 0 GS, 3-3, 5.66 ERA, 55 2/3 IP, 51 K, 30 BB, .268 B/AVG)
• Jr. RHP Zach Harris (2024: 20 APP, 7 GS, 5-2, 6.87 ERA, 38 IP, 45 K, 18 BB, .281 B/AVG)
• Gr. LHP Charlie Goldstein (2024: 11 APP, 7 GS, 4-1, 3.72 ERA, 36 1/3 IP, 43 K, 14 BB, .248 B/AVG)
• R-Jr. RHP DJ Radtke (2024: 17 APP, 0 GS, 1-0, 3.45 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 20 K, 11 BB, .208 B/AVG)
• R-Sr. RHP Tyler McLoughlin (2024: 6 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 6.00 ERA, 6 IP, 7 K, 8 BB, .190 B/AVG)
• So. RHP Luke Wiltrakis (2024: 5 APP, 0 GS, 0-1, 1.93 ERA, 4 2/3 IP, 9 K, 3 BB, .235 B/AVG)
• Jr. RHP Matthew Hoskins (2024: 5 APP, 2 GS, 0-0, 19.64 ERA, 3 2/3 IP, 4 K, 7 BB, .308 B/AVG)
• R-Fr. Ethan Sutton (2024: 3 APP, 0 GS, 0-1, 3.37 ERA, 2 2/3 IP, 2 K, 2 BB, .200 B/AVG)
• So. RHP Wyatt Land (2024: 3 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 2 2/3 IP, 4 K, 4 BB, .200 B/AVG)

Departing Players:

• R-So. INF/OF Charlie Condon (2024: 60 G, .433 AVG, 20 2B, 37 HR, 78 RBI, 1.009 SLG%, .556 OBP% – 1st Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Gr. OF Clayton Chadwick (2024: 55 G, .269 AVG, 16 2B, 4 HR, 26 RBI, .444 SLG%, .418 OBP% – Graduated)
• Sr. C/OF Corey Collins (2024: 52 G, .354 AVG, 6 2B, 20 HR, 58 RBI, .772 SLG%, .574 OBP% – 6th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Gr. OF Dylan Goldstein (2024: 52 G, .273 AVG, 11 2B, 12 HR, 43 RBI, .570 SLG%, .421 OBP% – Graduated)
• Gr. INF Paul Toetz (2024: 48 G, .348 AVG, 10 2B, 5 HR, 23 RBI, .543 SLG%, .448 OBP% – Graduated)
• Sr. C Fernando Gonzalez (2024: 48 G, .292 AVG, 10 2B, 9 HR, 53 RBI, .532 SLG%, .364 OBP% – 20th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
• Sr. INF Sebastian Murillo (2024: 37 G, .253 AVG, 3 2B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .361 SLG%, .396 OBP% – Graduated)
• Gr. OF Dillon Carter (2024: 35 G, .220 AVG, 2 2B, 7 HR, 15 RBI, .500 SLG%, .439 OBP% – Graduated)
• Gr. OF/C Logan Jordan (2024: 32 G, .241 AVG, 3 2B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .430 SLG%, .425 OBP% – Graduated)
• R-Sr. OF Josh Stinson (2024: 26 G, .105 AVG, 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .105 SLG%, .227 OBP% – Graduated)
• So. OF/INF Lukas Farris (2024: 11 G, .125 AVG, 0 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .313 SLG%, .300 OBP%)

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• Gr. RHP Christian Mracna (2024: 20 APP, 10 GS, 4-2, 5.32 ERA, 45 2/3 IP, 73 K, 25 BB, .267 B/AVG – Graduated)
• So. LHP Jarvis Evans (2024: 16 APP, 8 GS, 3-2, 5.49 ERA, 39 1/3 IP, 47 K, 27 BB, .255 B/AVG – Transferred to South Carolina)
• Gr. RHP Josh Roberge (2024: 22 APP, 0 GS, 3-1, 7.00 ERA, 36 IP, 37 K, 19 BB, .301 B/AVG – Graduated)
• Gr. RHP Daniel Padysak (2024: 15 APP, 2 GS, 1-0, 7.66 ERA, 22 1/3 IP, 21 K, 15 BB, .267 B/AVG – Graduated)
• Sr. RHP Zach DeVito (2024: 2 APP, 0 GS, 2-0, 2.79 ERA, 9 2/3 IP, 6 K, 7 BB, .194 B/AVG – Graduated)
• R-So. RHP Coleman Willis (2024: 6 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 IP, 5 K, 4 BB, .091 B/AVG)
• Fr. LHP Ryan Gold (2024: 2 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 2 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, .167 B/AVG – Transferred to Kennesaw State)
• Jr. RHP Chandler Marsh (2024: 12 APP, 1 GS, 2-0, 7.20 ERA, 15 IP, 21 K, 8 BB, .250 B/AVG)
• Jr. RHP Max DeJong (2024: 10 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 7.20 ERA, 10 IP, 7 K, 4 BB, .282 B/AVG)
• Sr. RHP Brandt Pancer (2024: 10 APP, 1 GS, 0-0, 10.80 ERA, 10 IP, 11 K, 10 BB, .243 B/AVG – Graduated)
• So. RHP Blake Gillespie (2024: 9 APP, 1 GS, 0-0, 12.27 ERA, 7 1/3 IP, 8 K, 5 BB, .378 B/AVG – Transferred to Charlotte)
• Fr. RHP James Hays (2024: 2 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 21.00 ERA, 3 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, .625 B/AVG – Transferred to Stetson)

Incoming Transfers:

• Sr. OF Devin Obee (2024: 60 G, .309 AVG, 11 2B, 16 HR, 50 RBI, .599 SLG%, .399 OBP% – Transferred from Duke)
• Gr. OF Nolan McCarthy (2024: 58 G, .288 AVG, 12 2B, 8 HR, 41 RBI, .480 SLG%, .380 OBP% – Transferred from Kentucky)
• Gr. INF/OF Christian Adams (2024: 57 G, .343 AVG, 13 2B, 8 HR, 31 RBI, .522 SLG%, .465 OBP% – Transferred from FAU)
• So. C Daniel Jackson (2024: 56 G, .357 AVG, 10 2B, 12 HR, 69 RBI, .599 SLG%, .460 OBP% – Transferred from Wofford)
• Jr. INF Ryan Black (2024: 56 G, .278 AVG, 21 2B, 5 HR, 41 RBI, .476 SLG%, .398 OBP% – Transferred from UT Arlington)
• Gr. INF/OF Ryland Zaborowski (2024: 51 G, .305 AVG, 13 2B, 45 RBI, .532 SLG%, .421 OBP% – Transferred from Miami OH)
• Sr. INF/OF Robbie Burnett (2024: 50 G, .323 AVG, 9 2B, 18 HR, 45 RBI, .656 SLG%, .454 OBP% – Transferred from UNC-Asheville)
• Jr. C/INF/OF Brennan Hudson (2024: 46 G, .343 AVG, 4 2B, 14 HR, 36 RBI, .671 SLG%, .486 OBP% – Transferred from Georgia State)
• Jr. INF/OF Charlie Jones (2024: 40 G, .344 AVG, 9 2B, 13 HR, 54 RBI, .682 SLG%, .415 OBP% – Transferred from Air Force)

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• Jr. RHP Brian Curley (2024: 19 APP, 0 GS, 6-0, 2.87 ERA, 78 1/3 IP, 78 K, 35 BB, .253 B/AVG – Transferred from VCU)
• So. RHP Zach Brown (2024: 25 APP, 0 GS, 4-0, 4.22 ERA, 42 2/3 IP, 23 K, 21 BB, .292 B/AVG – Transferred from Ohio State)
• Jr. LHP Alton Davis II (2024: 21 APP, 0 GS, 4-2, 5.61 ERA, 33 2/3 IP, 38 K, 17 BB, .273 B/AVG – Transferred from Alabama)
• R-Jr. RHP Eric Hammond (2024: 12 APP, 7 GS, 2-2, 6.75 ERA, 30 2/3 IP, 19 K, 20 BB, .306 B/AVG – Transferred from USC)
• Jr. RHP Davis Chastain (2024: 17 APP, 0 GS, 1-3, 8.37 ERA, 23 2/3 IP, 37 K, 17 BB, .290 B/AVG – Transferred from Georgia State)
• So. LHP Bradley Stewart (2024: 17 APP, 7 GS, 0-3, 13.50 ERA, 20 IP, 35 K, 29 BB, .263 B/AVG – Transferred from Eastern Kentucky)
• Jr. RHP JT Quinn (2024: 8 APP, 3 GS, 1-2, 7.63 ERA, 15 1/3 IP, 23 K, 14 BB, .348 B/AVG – Transferred from Ole Miss)
• Jr. RHP Justin Byrd (2024: 1 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 IP, 2 K, 0 BB, .125 B/AVG – Transferred from USC Aiken)

Georgia was an offensive juggernaut last season, compiling a team .303 batting average and 151 home runs (second most in NCAA). However, that side of the ball took a hit this offseason with the departure of Charlie Condon, Corey Collins, and Paul Toetz among others. The Bulldogs, who will open the season ranked No. 8 in the country, however return some star power in senior second baseman Slate Alford, junior shortstop Kolby Branch, and sophomore outfielder/DH Tre Phelps (and his infamous unbuttoned jersey). This trio combined for 46 long balls last season.

Along with Alford, Branch, and Phelps returning, 2024 ACC Tournament MVP Devin Obee (Duke), the aforementioned Nolan McCarthy (Kentucky), and 2024 Freshman All-American Daniel Jackson (Wofford) will bolster a revamped Bulldog lineup. Look out for yet another loaded season of offense for Wes Johnson’s squad.

The Bulldog pitching staff, which posted a team 5.71 ERA in 2024, returns five of its eight pitchers that posted at least 36 innings of work last season. Junior right-handers Leighton Finley and Kolten Smith will anchor a staff that also added eight arms from the Transfer Portal, including First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection Brian Curley (VCU) and 2023 Second Team Freshman All-American Alton Davis II (Alabama).

This is an experienced team that will likely be in the upper echelon of a loaded SEC in 2025.

Georgia is scheduled to face five SEC teams present in D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 Rankings this season (No. 1 Texas A&M, No. 5 Arkansas, at No. 10 Florida, at No. 16 Vanderbilt, at No. 19 Texas).

Kentucky will once again open SEC play against Georgia on the weekend of March 14-16. This season however, the Cats will travel to Athens. Last season, the then No. 25 ranked Bulldogs traveled to Lexington for the opening weekend of the SEC and were rolled by Nick Mingione’s squad. Kentucky outscored the Bulldogs 37-15 over the three-game span, including a 12-2 mercy-rule victory in the series finale. Georgia however still leads the all-time series against Kentucky 142-106-1.