The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have made a significant impact in the D1 Baseball preseason rankings, showcasing their strength ahead of the 2026 college baseball season. Notably, Georgia Tech is the only program to feature six players in the top 15 of their respective positions, and eight players within the top 50, highlighting their exceptional talent pool.
Top Players in the Rankings
Among the standout players from Georgia Tech are:
- Drew Burress – No. 1 in Outfield
- Jarren Advincula – No. 2 in Second Base
- Vahn Lackey – No. 2 in Catcher
- Alex Hernandez – No. 11 in Outfield
- Kent Schmidt – No. 13 in First Base
- Carson Kerce – No. 15 in Shortstop
- Ryan Zuckerman – No. 28 in Third Base
- Caleb Daniel – No. 41 in Outfield
- Tate McKee – No. 55 in Starting Pitcher
- Mason Patel – No. 61 in Starting Pitcher
- Justin Shadek – No. 85 in Relief Pitcher
- Charlie Willcox – No. 155 in Starting Pitcher
This performance positions Georgia Tech alongside TCU as the only programs with all three outfielders listed in the Top 50 rankings. Additionally, both Georgia Tech and LSU have representatives from each infield position featured in the Top 30.
The team’s dominance is underscored by praise from D1 Baseball analysts. Aaron Fitt described Georgia Tech’s lineup as “the best position player group…and it’s not even close,” following his visit to an intersquad scrimmage last fall. Similarly, Bradley Smart highlighted the potential of the roster, stating, “This position player group has a chance to be the best in the country. Full Stop.”
Record-Breaking Anticipation for the Season
The excitement surrounding the upcoming season is palpable, with Georgia Tech selling a record number of season tickets. The schedule includes ten games slated for national broadcasts on either ACC Network or ESPN2, illustrating the growing interest in the program.
Entering the 2026 season, Georgia Tech is regarded as a consensus Top-5 team and the favorites in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team boasts three preseason First Team All-Americans, the most since 2000: Drew Burress, Vahn Lackey, and Mason Patel. Additionally, two other players, Jarren Advincula and Alex Hernandez, have also received All-American honors.
The Yellow Jackets rank highest in the conference across several national preseason top-25 polls, including:
- No. 2 by Perfect Game
- No. 4 by Baseball America
- No. 4 by USA Today Coaches Poll
- No. 5 by D1 Baseball
The No. 2 preseason ranking marks the fourth highest in Georgia Tech’s history, and it is their best showing since they achieved the No. 1 rank in 2003, 2001, and 1994. Georgia Tech’s No. 5 ranking from D1 Baseball represents their strongest position since the publication began its preseason rankings in 2014.
2026 will also mark the inaugural season for James Ramsey as head coach, after serving as an assistant for seven seasons. Under his leadership, Georgia Tech has consistently led the ACC in key offensive categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, and hits since 2019.
The highly anticipated season opener is set for February 13, 2026, at 16:00 local time, when Georgia Tech will host Bowling Green for a three-game series at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Season tickets for the 2026 regular season, including five ACC home series and various non-conference games, are currently available for purchase. For more information or to buy tickets, fans can visit ramblinwreck.com/tickets. Single game tickets and mini plans are also on sale, providing fans with multiple options to watch the defending ACC Regular Season Champions in action.
