Each year, 614 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 has a few names high on the draft 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.
Condon will provide a team with a strong bat that can utilize all parts of the ballpark. Although speed is not his strength, Condon showed his athleticism last season 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.
Condon and Corey Collins created a 1-2 punch that set the tone atop Georgia’s lineup. 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,” 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 last season.
Condon and Collins gave Georgia its first pair of teammates to hit at least 20 home runs in a single season. They were the only Bulldogs to earn All-America honors from Baseball America.
A team will most likely take a chance on former Georgia catcher Fernando Gonzalez, although he is not garnering as much national attention as Condon and Collins are. 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 Johnson’s first year at the helm, he allowed Gonzalez to call some of the games.
“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 multiple other commits have a chance to hear their names called on draft night.
Transfer commit Robbie Burnett is also keeping an eye on the draft, while Bulldog infielders Slate Alford and Kolby Branch are possibilities.
Recent graduates Brian Zeldin, Josh Roberge, Christian Mracna and Daniel Padysak had solid seasons on the mound, while Dylan Goldstein, Paul Toetz, Clayton Chadwick and Dillon Carter earned consistent starts within Georgia’s lineup. All are out of eligibility, and some may have the opportunity to continue their baseball careers.
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.
