Georgia Baseball just had the wildest offseason, and honestly, you gotta wonder what manager Wes Johnson's starting lineup is even gonna look like next year. After winning both the SEC Tournament AND the regular season, then making a College World Series run that ended with eventual champ Oklahoma, these Bulldogs saw a shocking 13 players get scooped up in the 2026 MLB Draft. That's the most of any college program, by the way, and it absolutely ripped the heart out of their roster.
Reloading Like Crazy Through the Portal
But don't think they're just gonna roll over. Wes Johnson and his staff went HARD in the transfer portal, and it's insane. We're talking **over 15 new transfers** heading to Athens! These aren't just warm bodies, either. They've snagged some serious talent, including all-conference studs like Gonzaga's Mikey Bell and Indiana's Jake Hanley. When 64Analytics ranks your transfer class "among the best in the country," you know you're doing something right. They're bringing in hitters like designated hitter Naulivou Lauaki Jr. from Oregon, catcher Hunter Carns from Florida State, and infielders Mikey Bell (Gonzaga), Jake Hanley (Indiana), Casey McCoy (Louisiana Tech), and Mathew Farmer (North Florida). Plus, they're beefing up the pitching staff big time with Matthew Cuccias (Wichita State), Luke Howe (Long Beach State), Cooper Walls (Florida), Cristofer Cespedes (Maryland), Riley Goodman (South Carolina), Edwin Alicea (USF), Marcos Paz (LSU), Jason Flores (Texas), and Zane Coppersmith (Stetson). Outfielders Jet Gilliam (Utah) and Nolan Stevens (Oklahoma) are also joining, with Stevens being an outfielder/pitcher. That's a serious haul!Who's Out? More Than Just Draft Picks
Now, it wasn't all just incoming fireworks. They did lose a few guys from the 2026 squad to the portal, but honestly, no major players jumped ship that way. Dylan Wood and Ty Peeples, who were 2025 MLB Draft picks, both hit the transfer portal after making only modest contributions in 2026. Wood only pitched 4.2 innings, and Peeples was mainly a pinch runner in 32 appearances. Veteran pitcher Jordan Stephens also bounced for South Carolina after throwing 18.1 innings. Other outgoing guys include pitchers Lucas Morici (New Mexico State) and Luke Wiltrakis (Arizona State), outfielder Scott Newman, infielder TL Saxon, and pitcher Bradley Stewart. The big hit to talent really came from the draft, not guys fleeing through the portal. The NCAA baseball transfer portal officially closed on June 30, so any player movement is a done deal for now. So yeah, Georgia is absolutely adding way more talent than they're losing *to the transfer portal*. The real question is how fast this new super-squad can gel, especially after losing that crazy amount of talent to the draft. Wes Johnson has his work cut out for him integrating all these new pieces, but man, you gotta be hyped for what this team could look like next season. It's gonna be a whole new ballgame.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.