2026 High School Team Preview: McEachern Indians

The 2026 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Georgia.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the GHSA or GIAA state playoffs, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Georgia. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason top-10 rankings in each GHSA classification and Power 25.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.

Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week, updating the top-10 ranks in each GHSA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: McEachern Indians
Head Coach: Eli Autry
Classification: GHSA Class 6A
Region: 3-6A
2025 Record (Finish): 24-8, Sweet 16
Team Strengths: Defense and offensive depth

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

Coming off their best record in over 10 years while returning nearly every key starter, momentum is starting to build for the Indians. There’s depth across the board with some new additions who can help get this roster past a sweet 16 appearance from a year ago. Junior RHP/3B Chubb Jones Jr. has one of the highest ceilings in the state and will step into that SP1 role with upper-90s velocity and swing-and-miss secondaries that gives this team a chance to win every time he’s on the mound. Jones will also provide a big-time bat in the lineup while forming an elite left-side of the dirt with junior SS Malachi Butler. The Georgia Tech commit presents a present plus glove that’s the backbone for his defense alongside a budding hit/power combo that could thrive this spring. C Jordan Stokes and 1B Adrian Islas provide the senior leadership for this team and will be pivotal in any success this team has in 2026. Stokes is a high-level defender with one of the most consistent bats in the lineup and Islas has a chance to be an RBI machine in the middle of the order. Outfield defense will be a big asset for the Indians with starters in juniors OF Alex Wilbanks and OF Kcaj Walker-Smith returning alongside newcomer junior OF Jaxston Brown, who can be a dynamic addition on both sides of the ball with plus speed and athleticism. Another newcomer who will be huge for the Indians is sophomore RHP/3B Elias Gandy, who can make a real impact in the rotation with high-level pitchability and even a chance for the bat to get in the lineup as well. LHP/1B Matthew McCarty and OF Brayden Robinson are two more sophomores on this roster who could prove to be big pieces sooner than later this spring. Coach Antry has this program on an upward trajectory and with one of the most complete rosters since becoming head coach, the Indians could make some noise.

Find more information on the 2026 McEachern program below:

+ Follow them on X: @MHSBSBL
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2026 Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL GEORGIA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Georgia on X
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Facebook
+ Podcast: Peach Fuzz on YouTube

UPCOMING EVENTS