Three Georgia players selected on first day of 2026 MLB Draft
ATHENS, Ga. —
Three University of Georgia players were selected Saturday on the first day of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft in Philadelphia, led by catcher Daniel Jackson at No. 37 overall to the Colorado Rockies.
Right-hander Joey Volchko went to the Chicago White Sox with the 77th pick in the third round, and outfielder Rylan Lujo was taken by the Los Angeles Angels with the 109th pick in the fourth round.
Jackson capped a standout season in which he won the Golden Spikes Award, the Dick Howser Trophy, the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award and the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award. The Sandy Springs, Georgia, native hit .379 with 32 home runs and a school-record 87 RBIs while also stealing 26 bases.
Volchko, a transfer from Stanford, emerged as Georgia’s ace in 2026. The Visalia, California, native went 11-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 18 starts and struck out 119 batters in 95 1/3 innings. He also threw a complete game with 15 strikeouts against Texas at the College World Series.
Lujo, who transferred from Dayton, made an immediate impact in his first season at Georgia. The Coconut Creek, Florida, native hit .358 with 14 home runs, 49 RBIs and 13 stolen bases while earning first-team All-SEC honors.
Georgia finished 53-14, won the SEC regular-season and tournament titles, and placed third at the College World Series.
The draft concludes Sunday with rounds 5 through 20.