The 2026 MLB Draft is considered to be very strong, and it is an especially strong class within the state of Georgia – more than 30 names below would be slam dunks to be selected this year based on talent, though the money might keep some from being picked. I wanted to provide an update on how prospects within the state are looking thus far, as the Atlanta Braves are very likely looking closely at them.
To be able to make this list a player either needs to play their high school or college baseball within the state. Some of these prospects were already covered in the college and prep updates recently, so the updates on those prospects will be a little more brief to focus on some newer names.
Jess Ackerman, LHP, Mercer – Ackerman is a senior reliever who has posted an impressive strikeout rate this year, with 41 strikeouts in his first 25.2 innings. The former starter with a big sweeping breaking ball could make a nice senior sign, even with some questions surrounding his command.
Jarren Advincula, 2B, Georgia Tech – After transferring into Tech from Cal for this year, Advincula had received some first round buzz heading into the season. He’s had an excellent season, as he’s got nearly a .500 OBP (.494) with a very low strikeout rate (12 K in 171 PA) and double plus speed. The power hasn’t really been as much of a factor as you would hope, and that will likely push him to the second round in this loaded draft.
Caden Aoki, RHP, Georgia – Aoki is a fifth year senior who turns 24 later this summer, but the USC transfer is striking guys out at a career best rate in his first season in the SEC. Currently his 12.7 K/9 over 35.1 innings is nearly four above his highest posted during his three years with the Trojans (8.5), and three above what he did in his one short sample season with Notre Dame as a freshman. He’s definitely a senior sign considering the age and the fact he sits more in the 88-90 MPH range, but his curve and change are both capable of missing bats.
Jack Arcamone, C, Georgia – Last year Arcamone was receiving some fairly early draft buzz as a sophomore eligible, but ended up passing up the draft to transfer from Richmond to the ACC. His numbers are down across the board from .355/.463/.675 to .302/.406/.453 and he hasn’t played as much as initially expected due in part to the emergence of Daniel Jackson. This follows an up and down stint in the Cape last summer, where he posted a .779 OPS but also struck out 21 times in just 49 plate appearances. Still this is a catcher who was highly thought of a year ago, and is still a name that teams are monitoring.
Ryan Black, INF, Georgia – Black is another senior sign candidate who is having the best season of his career. So far he is hitting .307/.41/.564 with six homers and 23 walks to 26 strikeouts over 127 plate appearances. As a senior with two years of production in the SEC, plus the versatility to play everywhere in the infield as well as left field, he is a guy with a chance to hear his name called.
Blake Bryant, RHP, Citizens Christian Academy – Covered in the recent high school update, Bryant is a prep right-hander with a deep arsenal and plenty of upside that could hear his name called in the second or third rounds.
Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech – Covered in the college update, Burress is a first rounder. Unfortunately he is sliding a bit as others strengthen their stock, while he is having the least productive year with the power in his Tech career. Some of that may be due to the pressure of his draft season, but he has been able to be attacked with breaking balls at a higher rate too.
Porter Buursema, RHP, Georgia Tech – In his second year with Tech, Buursema has elite stuff and a deep arsenal – though due to issues with command he has been best in shorter stints out of the bullpen. However he did have a solid run as a starter last summer in the Northwoods League. When he is pitching out of the pen he is able to ramp up the velocity to the upper 90s and pairs that fastball with a cutter and two different breaking balls. Buursema is an interesting target in the draft with bat missing stuff, but also is walking nearly a batter per inning, so the hope with him is that a pro developmental staff can help him harness his stuff. Considering some teams may be looking at him as a starter, he could potentially go somewhere between the fifth and tenth rounds.
Justin Byrd, RHP, Georgia – Byrd is a redshirt junior who offers multi-inning relief potential while posting a K/9 rate of greater than 10.5 in each of his two years in Athens. Some teams may even be considering him as a starter with a low to mid 90’s fastball with good movement, quality slider, and solid change. He is more likely ticketed for relief though, where he can dial up the velocity to 96 MPH. He is already 22 – though just turned 22 in March, and is more likely to be taken after the 11th round.
Jackson Chirello, OF, Kennesaw State – Chirello is a senior sign candidate who was a mid to late round prospect a year ago, following a solid Cape showing in 2024 and a decent junior season. He is in the middle of his best season, and has already surpassed his career-high in home runs. Even more importantly he has so far shaved more than five percent off his strikeout rate, though it is still higher than you would like against Conference USA competition at 25.4%.
Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS – He was covered already in the high school update, as Condon is a potential first or second rounder who offers an excellent hit tool and speed with a chance to be a good defender in center.
RJ Cope, LHP/1B, Georgia Premier Academy – An interesting two-way prospect with a massive 6’8, 245-pound frame, Cope has been on the radar for a while now. The power is very real as a hitter, though he also comes with swing and miss concerns. More teams seem to prefer him as a pitcher, where he is in the mid 90’s with a solid slider and a change that is more advanced than you typically see for a high school power arm. Based on talent alone he could be a candidate starting around the fourth round, however a team selecting him would need to buy him out of his Vanderbilt commitment and the ability to play both ways there. It is also worth noting that he is a bloodline prospect, as his father played in the minor leagues.
Joseph Contreras, RHP, Blessed Trinity Catholic – The biggest bloodline prospect in the state, Joseph is the son of former All Star Jose Contreras. Joseph notably pitched for Team Brazil in the recent World Baseball Classic, and had a good showing against Team USA. I recently covered him in the high school update, and he is a possibly first or second round pick.
Isaiah Galason, SS, Houston County – Galason is kind of an infield version of Condon. He’s got a very strong hit tool, which could be an above average tool, and double plus speed, though his power is more hoping for an average grade. Some think he could stick at short, but others believe he may need to move to second base. The Georgia Tech commit is young for the class, but if a team thinks he could stick at short then they may be considering him around the start of the third round.
Andrew Garnett, RHP, Mercer – A senior sign reliever candidate, Garnett is in the middle of a bit of a breakout season. He’s currently pitching to a 2.79 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts in 19.1 innings with just 12 hits and seven walks allowed. Those numbers would be even better, if not for the fact he’s been touched up for five runs between his last two appearances. The stuff isn’t that loud, but a team may value his results for one of their cost savings picks.
Alex Hernandez, 2B, Georgia Tech – A sophomore-eligible prospect, Hernandez was a two-way prospect until this year when he has focused only on hitting. He’s been extremely productive since stepping on campus with a career .349/.447/.595 slash line to go with 23 career homers, and also looked good in his brief stint in the Cape last summer. He does strikeout a bit too much with a 22.8% rate, but the hit tool has a chance to grow into being average. Still he could be average or better across the board, with a chance at plus power, has some defensive versatility, and there is hope for some untapped potential due to only hitting full time for the first time this year. He is expected to go in the second or third round.
Kenny Ishikawa, OF/LHP, Georgia – Ishikawa is an interesting prospect. Born in Japan, he was selected in the sixth round of the NPB draft last year. The two-way player is draft eligible as a sophomore, however things haven’t gone according to plan for him in his first year in the SEC after transferring from Seattle. As a hitter he is hitting .286/.434/.333 in 53 plate appearances, as he did miss some time after an early injury. As a pitcher he is pitching to an 11.08 ERA, though he has hit 95 MPH with some feel for the slider and change, which has led to 18 strikeouts in 13.1 innings. Things went a lot better for him last year, and a team could consider him as a guy with some untapped upside that has just had a tough year because of that early season injury.
Cameron Jackson, SS, Georgia Premier Academy – This Oklahoma commit is an athletic player filled with upside. He will likely stick at short and has the ability to hit for both average and power. He’s a switch-hitter with room to continue to fill in the frame to add to that power. He has risen over the last year, and now could go somewhere after the fourth round begins.