By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

There were no real surprises for Central Georgia on the first day of the MLB draft.

The Sports Report Draft coverage

Houston County's Burress, FPD's Johnson get the MLB calls, as expected (video, interviews, more inside)

⚾Watch Burress get picked, get celebrated, and react with family
⚾What fans should expect from Burress
⚾Watch Burress get picked, earn raves, celebrate with family
⚾Touted college OF Burress 'ready to be a part of' A's young core after pick
⚾Burress talks with A’s media: “I’m a winner”
⚾A ‘short king’ who profiles as a power threat, fans love pick

⚾Joy in the Johnson household; ‘getting the best player in the draft’ interview with Johnson and mom
⚾Watch Johnson get picked

⚾'I'm a winner': MLB's No. 7 Draft prospect carries HR history, elite pedigree
⚾Get to know No. 7 prospect Burress
⚾Burress turns baseball into business
⚾Inside the rise of Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress

⚾FPD's Keon Johnson has a big future waiting, on an elite college team or in the pros, but the only two words that matter to him: state champs

⚾Galason attracting national buzz in senior season
Galason talks baseball, reclassifying, the future

⚾Burress, Johnson, Galason on the radar of the majors on draft day

But some eyebrows were raised on Day 2, and in a good way, when Tattnall graduate Benjamin Stubbs was snagged in the ninth round by San Diego.

As steady and consistent a player as Stubbs has been throughout his career, few expected him to be picked at all, let alone so early.

After all, he signed with Division II Flagler out of high school, and had only one season on the top level. Granted, he performed well, but didn’t dominate.

Nevertheless, Stubbs became the third Central Georgia high school alum to go in the 2026 draft.

Houston County 2026 grad Isaiah Galason was ranked much higher, but was clearly viewed as more interested in a college career right now, and dropped from a general ranking in the mid-200s to the 493rd pick, going to Washington in the 17th round.

Meanwhile, three players from Mercer were picked.

Action will continue with free agent signings for undrafted players with no eligibility left, and players with Central Georgia connections are likely to get a shot in the next week or so.

Stubbs was a lean player at Tattnall, but an annoying one to opponents, at the plate and on the mound. He’s grown to all of about 5-10 and 180 pounds, but the lefty showed consistency, durability, and a solid arm after transferring to Troy.

Stubbs’ second Trojan team surprised the college baseball world by reaching the College World Series, where Troy lost 7-5 to West Virginia, eliminated No. 18 Ole Miss 12-8, and fell to WVU 12-0, to finish 39-32, but with a region and super-regional trophy.

Stubbs went 6-3 with a 5.12 ERA in 18 starts and 95 innings, fanning 87 and walking 39. Opponents hit .268 against him.

He opened the season with 3.1 solid innings in Troy’s 19-3 win over Mercer. Stubbs threw at least 85 pitches 14 times, including in seven straight appearances in the middle of Sun Belt play.

From www.padresmission.com: Stubbs delivered at least six innings in eight of his appearances and has a strong chance to stick as a starting pitcher during his climb to the big leagues.

From www.eastcountymagazine.org: He’s small for a pitcher, at 5’11”, 184 lbs., but he can top the fastball at 97, a low 80s curveball, an 80-86 mph changeup that causes a lot of swing and miss and a mid-80s changeup.

San Diego picked another player with a Georgia backround. Pitcher Rob Evans is at Miami, but began his college career at Georgia State.

The MLB.com tracker only has locations for where a player competed, not where he is from.

Thus, Stubbs goes down as a pick from Alabama, although he’s from Georgia.

Galason was the 33rd player from a Georgia high school or college selected, the 10th high school player. The 5-11, 175-pounder has been a maintstay for the always-contending Bears, hitting .422 with 28 steals and 43 runs as one of the top five shortstops in the state.

He’ll have a shot to jump into the lineup quickly, since incumbent shortstop Carson Kerce was picked in the second round by Arizona. H e was the only shortstop to play for Tech in 2026.

Tech a draft winner (CBS Sports)

Two Yellow Jackets went early, a nice commendation for the ACC school
The Yellow Jackets had two players selected within the top eight picks this year: C Vahn Lackey (No. 3 to Twins) and OF Drew Burress (No. 8 to Athletics). The next college with multiple players selected is Ole Miss, and that wasn't until RHP Cade Townsend (No. 23 to Cubs) and RHP Taylor Rabe (No. 30 to Cubs).
Two other Georgia Tech players were drafted on Saturday too: 2B Jarren Advincula was the No. 45 pick (Angels) and SS Carson Kerce was the No. 53 pick (Diamondbacks). Bittersweet day for the program. They're losing some very good players, but they're also proud to see them become high draft picks.