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The I75 to 285 Chronicles: MLB Draft Focus

March 26, 2026
Ian Smith
Assistant Scouting Director

The spring is the biggest time of the year for our staff. Covering each corner of the state has become one of our constant goals and something that I’ve taken extreme pride in since moving here three years ago.

The I-75 to 285 Chronicles speaks to those travels in full as I take a broader look at the state of Georgia as a whole.

This first edition we take a deeper look at the talented group of MLB Draft talent I’ve been lucky enough to see over the first month of the year.

The Arm Barn

The amount of helium that surrounds some of the arms here in Georgia’s 2026 class is staggering. From former Future Gamers to big-league bloodlines coming off World Baseball Classic appearances, and everything in-between.

RHP Joseph Contreras has been a polarizing figure in the state for quite some time now, but has become nationwide known in a hurry following the viral WBC moment where the 17-year-old generated a bat-breaking double play in a bases loaded jam against none other than Aaron Judge. The Vanderbilt commit holds immense projection at 6-foot-4, 205-pounds with an even greater ceiling to match. Pitch mix is as advanced as you will see at the prep level, offering a legit five pitches with feel to throw at any time.

Deploys two distinct fastballs with the four-seam sitting 95-98 with 99 showing on multiple occasions this spring and triple-digits seem all but a forgone conclusion at this point. Ride through the zone with budding feel to land to both sides of the plate while generating in-zone misses. Two-seam lives in the low-90s with some late arm-side run that commands well. Mixes both shapes well while showing ability to pitch off both already, which is a massive win at this level. Slider feel is growing at a rapid rate at 87-90 with hard bite that he can land on the outer half against RHH at a high-rate for both swing-and-miss and called strikes. Off-speed offerings for Contreras are what take the profile to another level. Changeup at 82-84 shows excellent arm-side fade with feel to land at will to both sides and shows plus upside. Leading me to the forkball, which might be the most advanced off-speed we’ve seen in recent years in Georgia with scouts muttering “double-plus” on opening night. Living at 77-80, Contreras creates tremendous depth that disappears out of the zone and creates ugly swing-and-miss whenever he wants. Contreras has been on this path to stardom for years with a ‘development over results’ strategy that he’s stuck too and paying massive dividends at the right time. This isn’t a finished product by any means either, and when 70+ scouts and directors show up for your first start of year then I truly don’t know if we're aware of what the ceiling can be for the Vanderbilt commit. This is a day-one profile regardless come July and Top-40 pick could be in the cards.

A few weeks ago I made the 8-hour roundtrip to Douglas, GA to see 2025 Prep Baseball All-American and one of the buzziest RHP in the country in Blake Bryant. The Clemson commit has been making steady progression over the past few years and now gaining top-50 pick helium. Lean, high-waisted 6-foot-5, 185-pounds with loads of projection remaining and athleticism to stick. Earned some “best athlete in the state” comps while scouts were driving hours in the off-season to see Bryant play basketball.

Fastball jumps out of the hand for Bryant carrying life through the zone in the mid-90s, showing ability to grab 95+ late in outings and it's easy to see there’s much more in the tank. Shows command throughout the zone with ability to generate in-zone misses and elevated for chases. Shows two breaking balls with distinct shape and flashing above-average upside with both. Slider is the go-to at 79-82 with tight, late sweep that runs away from RHH and a present feel to spin (2600+ RPM). Curveball has real flashes of a hammer at 75-78 with 11/5 shape and depth while showing ability to land early in counts to both sides of the plate. Splitter is quickly developing into the best secondary for the RHP, working 82-86 with advanced feel to throw R/R at will with late tumble that tunnels off the fastball well. The feel and confidence to land all four pitches for strikes is a premium for Bryant and when paired with the pure stuff is taking this profile to the next level. An upcoming start for Bryant at Truist Field could be one of bigger scout presences we will see for any player in the state this spring. Stock is rising at the right time and could be a name you hear inside the Top-50 picks.

One player whose stock could be rising faster than anyone in the state is RHP Griffin Long. The 2024 Future Gamer and Kennesaw State commit has made huge strides across the full pitch mix while holding significant projection remaining in the athletic 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame. Fastball has been up to 95 on multiple occasions this spring with consistent arm-side run and above-average command to land for strikes. Cutter has grown leaps and bounds from the summer with mid-80s velocity and late bite that has the ability to miss barrels at a high-rate. Slider has added 5-7mph over the last year with added feel to land for strikes early in count. A bit of a slurvy shape with feel to manipulate to add and subtract sweep to generate swing-and-miss. The bread and butter for Long though is the changeup that holds plus potential and flashes often. Late arm-side fade at 85-87 with immense feel to throw R/R at will and confidence to throw in any situation. Garnering double-digit scouts at every outing, and could be setting himself up for a very interesting summer with mid-round upside.

Another spring where the polish and pitchability has been on display for RHP Matthew Sharman in every outing. The former Prep Baseball All-American has been up to 95 early on this spring while setting mostly 90-93 in each outing with the patented sink and run paired with immense command of the entire zone. Slider has been a point of emphasis for the Georgia commit coming into the year, and has shown significant growth with the offering. Working at 78-82 mostly while showing some teeth with late horizontal break that is creating more consistent swing-and-miss and confidence to throw in higher-leverage situations. Changeup remains an above-average offering at its floor with late glove-side tumble that can generate whiffs to both RH and LHH alike in the mid-80s. At a durable 6-foot-3, 215-pounds, Sharman remains one of the silkiest movers we have in the class to round out the profile and 80 grade makeup will only give him a leg up in the meetings that matter. There have been multiple decision makers out to see the RHP this spring and has the profile to fit someone’s model to a tee. 

Matthew Sharman - (03/26/2026)

More to note

  • RHP A.J. Rice continues to show some of the best polish in the state with a string of quality outings to open the spring. Fastball has been up to 94 in every outing while creating in-zone misses consistently. Low-80s slider and mid-80 cutter continue to grow and will flash above-average to plus often. Innate feel to spin both (2800+ RPM) with distinct shapes to each pitch. Changeup might end up as another really good offering for the Auburn commit as the ability and feel in the mid-80s is evident while also showing tunneling and swing-and-moss alike. There’s a lot of similarities to Reid Worley from last year’s class albeit some more polish for Rice. It will be interesting to see what negotiations would look like with a strong SEC commitment like Auburn. 
    AJ Rice - (02/26/2026)
  • RHP Reid Gainous has been on an upward track since last summer in the midst of earning a Georgia Tech commitment and some instant draft buzz heading into the spring. Bulldog demeanor with athleticism and confidence that only builds throughout his starts. Heavy fastball lives in the low-90s with sink and run that plays throughout the zone. The 12/6 curveball and sharp slider at 79-81 both flash at time while showing the feel to land the curveball in any count. Changeup is a weapon to LHH with some arm-side fade that runs away from bats late. It’s still a bit of a raw profile in terms of polish but could still garner interest to an extent this summer. 
    Reid Gainous - (02/27/2026)
  • Super 60 standout LHP Colin White has had some up and down starts so far this spring but the pure stuff has stood out on more than one occasion. Explosive fastball up to 96 while averaging nearly 20” of induced vertical break and ability to generate whiffs both in and out of the zone. Slider has been a weapon at times with big horizontal sweep at 78-81 that will create some very ugly swings at times. Changeup has been shown very sparingly this spring but has flashed potential in the past with low-to-mid 80s velocity. A Florida commitment is not a cheap buyout but lanky LHP with mid-to-high 90s velo don't grow on trees.
    (02/13/2026)
  • A newcomer to the state, RHP Shane Jelenevsky boasts a hulking 6-foot-7, 240-pound frame that resembles a D1 power forward. The Maryland commit has been up to 94 this spring with sharp arm-side run that plays well on the outer half of the zone. Mixes a few fringy secondaries with the mid-80s cutter standing out as the go-to with ability to get on top of hitter to both sides of the plate with late bite. Changeup shows some tumble in low-80s and can be a quality fourth offering with some added feel. Durability in the frame is obvious and continued development in the secondaries can lead to a starter profile at the next level.
    Shane Jelenevsky - (03/12/2026)

Barrel Party

A year removed from seeing multiple Georgia HS bats get drafted including two first-rounders in Daniel Pierce and Dax Kilby, the 2026 group has a chance to have a similar impact this upcoming summer with real talent at premium positions.

The number #1 player in the state and powderkeg athlete at 5-foot-10, 185-pounds, OF Trevor Condon continues to show the most well-rounded offensive profile in the state with impact carrying tools on both sides of the ball. The Tennessee commit has completely optimized his longer setup from the left-side with excellent ability to get synced up backed by highest-level barrel feel and present bat speed. Hit tool has shown up against every type of pitching with a willingness to use the whole field and allow the double-plus game speed to thrive. There’s an above-average to plus ceiling in the tool that will carry with the outfielder long-term. Power for Condon is something that has made big strides from a kid that said “I don't hit home runs” after a massive HR in the 2024 State Championship to where the 2025 Prep Baseball All-American is now. The ball jumps off the barrel utilizing great leverage through the zone and strength throughout the frame that he can tap into without selling out. There’s double-digit HR potential at the next level, and there’s a chance that’s selling it short. Defensively, Condon can stick in centerfield long-term without question. The hair on fire profile stands out consistently in the grass with confidence to attack balls in all directions and immense foot speed to match. Arm strength is nothing to scoff at either with a 60 ceiling and accuracy that plays to all bases. There’s no question to me that this is a million dollar plus profile with the plus makeup to match and even more helium to come.

Another tooled-up profile in OF Malachi Washington continues to bring out a crowd every time he steps on the diamond. The LSU commit has shown in multiple looks this spring showing a power/speed combo while unquestioned ability to stick in CF. The quiet yet twitchy setup at the plate allows Washington to be on-time often with notable accuracy in the barrel. The uphill path helps generate loft to all-fields with minimal effort and will rarely miss mistakes in-zone. Can expand on spin at times but patience is growing quickly as he understands the probability of early count fastballs is a thing in the past. The tools in the outfield for Washington is where the athleticism in the physical 6-foot-0, 200-pound frame shines in multiple facets. Carries a swagger to the plays in the grass with fearless routes and 60 speed that cover ground quickly while rounding it out with another plus tool in the arm. High-energy makeup is infectious in the dugout and personality will thrive in the locker room at the next level. LSU and NIL go hand-in-hand, so expect negotiations to be interesting heading into the summer with Washington in a strong position.

Malachi Washington - (03/26/2026)

SS Keon Johnson has held one of the best gloves in the state for quite some time with buttery-smooth actions in the dirt at an athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. The glove can keep the Vanderbilt commit on the left-side of the dirt at all levels with premium foot work and range moving in all directions. Soft hands and flexibility allow Johnson to charge balls with confidence and has the arm strength to play from multiple angles. Offensive profile continues to develop with the hit tool leading the way from advanced pitch recognition and strong bat-to-ball skills. Hands work from a lower slot with the SS having the athleticism to get into hitting position well and utilize an all-fields approach. Strength in the hands has really shown this spring with multiple backside HR in deep counts. Another very strong commitment in Vanderbilt for Johnson but will undoubtedly have suitors interested this summer.

Keon Johnson - (03/19/2026)

We’re going to look back at the 2024 Future Games roster in a few years and just realize how talented that team was. It starts in the outfield with Condon, Washington, and Mississippi State commit Martin Shelar. At a chiseled 6-foot-1, 210-pounds, the outfielder might hold the most raw power in the state that’s shown up in-game this spring at a high level. The year started off with a bang for Shelar with an absolute rocket to dead CF off mid-90s in the very first scrimmage of the year and has carried that into double-digit HR so far on the year. Toe-tap trigger allows the outfielder to stay on-time with loose hands and immense bat speed through the zone. Shelar has shown ability to play across the grass with above/average straight line speed and plus arm strength with the highest ceiling in a corner where the profile fits to a tee. The power ceiling and athlete will be highly interesting to multiple teams models this spring and it will likely all come down for dollars and cents in July with a strong commitment to Coach O’Connor and the Bulldogs. 

Martin Shelar - (03/26/2026)

A pair of out-of-state talents made strong impressions in my looks so far this spring in SS Aiden Ruiz and OF Noah Wilson.

This is my 2nd year in a row getting a look at Ruiz and walked away highly impressed both times. The shortstop displays, in my opinion, the best zone coverage in the country. With immense bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, Ruiz utilizes a slightly squatted setup from a compact frame that nearly eliminates the strike zone. Generates tremendous strength from ground up with accuracy in the barrel to abuse mistakes to all-fields. There feels like an easy plus in the hit tool at peak with sneaky pop that will carry from both sides. In the dirt, the Vanderbilt commit might have some of the best glove skills of any shortstop in the class. Hands are always in-sync with the body backed by present arm strength that is consistently accurate across. Rarely out of control or position and while making difficult look routine. It was a treat to see 25+ northeast scouts travel for an early spring look at Ruiz and I'd expect the Stony Brook product to be highly sought after this summer.

The talk of dynamic centerfielders continues with the two-time Prep Baseball All-American in Wilson, who showed the premier athleticism in multiple ways in my trip to Chattanooga. Easy plus run tool flashed instantly with a 3.91 H-1st on a two-hopper to the SS that he beat for an infield 1B. Bat-to-ball skills are evident in a compact LH cut that boasts excellent bat speed and ability to keep the barrel on-plane on an up-the-middle approach. Finds the barrel often with anything in the gaps being three bases regularly. There’s a chance for an easy plus glove in CF that can take the profile to the next level for the Vanderbilt commit. The ground he covers in all directions is as good as I’ve seen at this level with fluidity in the hips and tremendous closing speed that will eliminate extra-bases often. This 2026 Vanderbilt class is going to be one of the most interesting to watch this summer and Wilson will be in the thick of it.

More to Note

  • OF Matthew Kerrigan has one of the strongest track-records of hitting in the class with a simple approach from the left-side. Strength continues to grow with pull-side power showing more often this summer to help strengthen the offensive profile. Valuable defender in the corner outfield with high-IQ instincts and accuracy in the arm. Chance to get to Auburn and contribute quickly but fits the mold of late-round potential come this summer.

  • A sneaky athlete with real tools, OF Jack Rees has been quietly performing at a high level this spring while holding significant projection remaining and positional flexibility across the grass. Power is showing up on a nightly basis with ability to leverage the barrel well from a compact right-handed cut that shows bat speed strength in the wrists. At a lean 6-foot-4,185-pounds with power and 6.6 speed, the East Carolina commit feels like untapped potential and that’s a major component come MLB Draft time.
    (02/20/2026)
  • In a deeper cut, a pair of names to watch for late-round potential due to legit hit tools from the left-side are OF Trey Luke and 2B Taylor Fuller. Both have added some physicality this spring that is showing in a big way. Both have a chance to fit in the bucket that names like T.J Ford and Landon Arroyos fit into last year.

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