2026 Prep Baseball Georgia Player of the Year Primer

As we move into second-round playoffs for GHSA and GIAA right around the corner, the end-of-the-season award conversations start to ramp up in a hurry.

Leading today, to the race for the 2026 Prep Baseball Georgia Player of the Year.

Players across the Peach State put up outrageous numbers year after year, this spring is no different. Multiple players have a chance to place themselves in the record books, whether it’s a school record or even the GHSA all-time boards.

While stats tell a wide range of the story, our staff has been to over 200+ games this spring and the blend of the eye-test and numbers is something that holds a ton of weight in the process.

Today we look at five names that have put themselves in the forefront for the 2026 Georgia Player of the Year as well as a handful of high-level names making a strong case behind them.

The Top Five

Trevor Condon, OF, 2026, Etowah

Key Stats: .479 AVG, 9 HR, 16 2B, 13 SB, 35 RBI, 26 BB

The Tennessee commit is the heartbeat for the Etowah roster with infectious energy and fire coming out of an athletic, stout 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame that stands while pairing with premier production out of the leadoff spot. The 2025 Prep Baseball All-American made improvements across the board this spring including nearly doubling his extra-base hit total and breaking the Etowah HR record in the midst of showing even greater plate discipline. Speed in-game can border on double-plus at times where anything in the gaps has a chance to be extra bases and closing speed in the outfield has helped solidify a potential plus glove in CF long-term. Condon offers as close to five tools as you’ll find in the state with a competitive edge and makeup that takes the profile to an even greater level. Day-one draft profile that has a chance to be the highest Etowah draft pick in history (Drew Waters; 41st overall, 2017).

Martin Shelar, OF, 2026, Marist

Key Stats: .506 AVG, 19 HR, 6 2B, 53 RBI, 8 SB, 25 BB

The spring the former Future Gamer and Mississippi State commit is putting together has a chance to go down in the Georgia record books. Standing a physical 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, Shelar opened the spring with a shot heard around the state, going dead center off of a premium arm in front of 40+ MLB scouts and carried that into currently leading the country with 19 HR and looking to be the first Georgia high schooler with 20 HR in nearly 15 years. The power is well-documented for the outfielder with double-plus raw pop that shows in-game with certified heat-seeking missiles off the barrel with 105 to 108 MPH exit velocities regularly. The tools overall in the profile rival anyone in the class with plus arm strength and explosive straight line speed that bodes well across the outfield.

Keon Johnson, SS, 2026, First Presbyterian Day

Key Stats: .558 AVG, 8 HR, 13 2B, 49 R, 32 RBI, 26 SB, 31 BB

No stranger to POTY awards, the reigning Gatorade Georgia high school player of the year has put together his best spring of his career while helping lead the Vikings to an outstanding 26-1 record. The Vanderbilt commit has picked up hits in all but three games this spring including 15 multi-hit games while garnering one of the best BB:K ratios in the state. Power has shown up to all-fields with strong feel for the barrel and advanced instincts on the base paths make Johnson a threat for extra-bases constantly. Not to mention, the former Future Gamer is as smooth as you’re going to find on the left-side of the infield with staying power at SS that rounds out the profile. State Championship is next on the list for Johnson this spring, but with recent helium, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to hear his name called in the next few months.

Blake Bryant, RHP, 2026, Citizens Christian

Key Stats: 49.0 IP, 0.29 ERA, 8 BB, 107 K, 62% strikeout rate

The path to stardom has been a quick one for the Clemson commit, who’s quickly become a household name over the last year and only furthering that with consistent standout performances across this spring. The Clemson commit has notched 7 starts this spring with double-digit strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs all spring. Fastball quality is as good as you’ll find in the state with mid-90 velocity holding deep into outings and even more to come with immense physical projection he holds at an athletic 6-foot-5, 185-pounds. Shows feel to spin a pair of distinct breaking balls while showing the addition of a splitter that has plus potential down the road. Bryant has drawn quite the crowd every time he steps on the mound this spring and could be trending towards first-round upside in July’s MLB Draft.

Carson Bruce, OF, 2027, North Cobb Christian

Key Stats: .495 AVG, 14 HR, 10 2B, 60 RBI, 21 SB, 22 BB

The explosive spring for Bruce has made the outfielder a household name and one of most desirable uncommitted juniors in the country. Power has come in a big way after re-tooling the swing in the off-season and adding some good muscle to the already-physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame. Leads all 2027s across the state with 14 HR and is currently on-pace to finish among GHSA single-season RBI leaders as he’s just 3 off the top 10 as Eagles move into the Sweet 16. The sweet left-handed cut stays on-plane and in-zone forever with the ability to carry balls to all-fields. Power hitting corner outfielder is the future for Bruce with ability to let the barrel thrive. This is without question a high-level power 4 profile with a chance to fly up 2027 draft boards over the next 12 months.

Others To Note

AJ Rice, RHP/SS, 2026, Pickens

Key Stats: 51.0 IP, 0.13 ERA, 18 BB, 111 K, 58% strikeout rate

• What’s new, another year of complete domination from the Auburn commit. Just one earned run allowed all spring and notching 7 starts with at least 10 strikeouts.

Malachi Washington, OF, 2026, Parkview

Key Stats: .462 AVG, 9 HR, 11 2B, 5 3B, 45 R, 23 RBI, 24 BB, 23 SB

• The LSU commit has put together yet another stat-sheet filling spring for the Panthers while showing the high-level power/speed combo that remains as potent as you’ll find in the state.

Malachi Butler, SS, 2027, McEachern

Key Stats: .429 AVG, 7 HR, 11 2B, 31 RBI, 26 SB, 17 BB

• The path towards the potential first-round ceiling for the Georgia Tech commit took a huge jump this spring as the power output grew in a hurry while maintaining elite plate discipline (3:1 BB:K ratio) and showing a future 60 glove at SS.

Michael Nottleman, LHP/1B, 2026, Columbus

Key Stats: 63.0 IP, 1.00 ERA, 14 BB, 125 K; .431 AVG, 8 HR, 10 2B

• The two-way profile shined this spring for the Georgia Tech commit as he would lead Columbus in nearly every category both offensively and on the mound. Finished among the top of the state in strikeouts this spring.

Bubba Coleman, SS, 2026, Cherokee Bluff

Key Stats: .462 AVG, 14 HR, 9 2B, 38 RBI, 42 R, 11 SB, 28 BB

• The Alabama commit is putting together his most complete spring we’ve seen at the plate in the midst of carrying the Bears into another playoff run and breaking Cherokee Bluff home run records.

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UPCOMING EVENTS