University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Preseason Honors Continue For The Bulldogs
January 30, 2026 | Baseball
ATHENS-----With the 2026 college baseball season arriving soon, the Bulldogs garnered another preseason top 25 ranking plus a trio earned special distinction.
The D1Baseball staff voted Georgia No. 15 in its preseason poll and projected it will be one of 13 SEC teams to earn an NCAA Regional bid in 2026. Now in their third season under Ike Cousins head baseball coach Wes Johnson, the Bulldogs have made back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances as a national top eight seed.
The staff's evaluation of Georgia included this notion: "With many new faces, gauging how it all clicks is more challenging than other teams whose top players are proven returnees. That said, this Bulldog club appears better on the mound and has a chance for similar offensive numbers. If those items materialize, this is an Omaha-type team…"
Also, D1Baseball named Bulldog sophomore Kenny Ishikiawa a 2nd Team Preseason All-American as a utility player. A native of Yokohama, Japan, he is contending for a spot in the Bulldog rotation and as a starter in the outfield. Last year as a freshman at Seattle University, he batted .312 with 23 doubles, eight home runs and 32 RBI in 53 games. He went 5-7 with a 4.35 ERA in 20 appearances on the mound including 10 starts. In 70.1 innings, he tallied 77 strikeouts and 24 walks.
In related baseball news, Baseball America recently released its preseason "All-Underrated Team," and a pair of Bulldogs made the list in junior catcher Daniel Jackson and senior third baseman Michael O'Shaughnessy.
Jackson was the publication's choice as a "Sleeper 2026 MLB Draft Prospect." He was described as an "athletic catcher whose draft profiles hinges on turning raw strength into more consistent in-game damage." With Jackson's speed and power, he is capable of a 20-home run, 20-stolen base season. Last year with the Bulldogs, Jackson smashed 14 home runs with a .240 average and went 12-for-12 in stolen bases. Then, he earned All-Star and All-League honors in the Cape Cod Summer League.
Meanwhile, O'Shaughnessy was lauded for his ability last season to provide "impact production with one of the more disciplined offensive profiles in the country." He displayed that as a junior at Davidson where he batted .369 with 19 doubles, 17 home runs and 70 RBI and then with Orleans in the Cape Cod Summer League. Time will tell how that translates against SEC pitching, but BA surmised O'Shaughnessy could "separate himself as one of the more reliable and productive senior bats in the 2026 class."
The Bulldogs have been ranked as high as No. 6 in the preseason top 25 polls. Georgia will open the 2026 season Friday, Feb. 13 against Wright State. Information on single-game non-conference tickets for the action at Foley Field can be found at this link: https://georgiadogs.evenue.net/events/BBSINGLE
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
The D1Baseball staff voted Georgia No. 15 in its preseason poll and projected it will be one of 13 SEC teams to earn an NCAA Regional bid in 2026. Now in their third season under Ike Cousins head baseball coach Wes Johnson, the Bulldogs have made back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances as a national top eight seed.
The staff's evaluation of Georgia included this notion: "With many new faces, gauging how it all clicks is more challenging than other teams whose top players are proven returnees. That said, this Bulldog club appears better on the mound and has a chance for similar offensive numbers. If those items materialize, this is an Omaha-type team…"
Also, D1Baseball named Bulldog sophomore Kenny Ishikiawa a 2nd Team Preseason All-American as a utility player. A native of Yokohama, Japan, he is contending for a spot in the Bulldog rotation and as a starter in the outfield. Last year as a freshman at Seattle University, he batted .312 with 23 doubles, eight home runs and 32 RBI in 53 games. He went 5-7 with a 4.35 ERA in 20 appearances on the mound including 10 starts. In 70.1 innings, he tallied 77 strikeouts and 24 walks.
In related baseball news, Baseball America recently released its preseason "All-Underrated Team," and a pair of Bulldogs made the list in junior catcher Daniel Jackson and senior third baseman Michael O'Shaughnessy.
Jackson was the publication's choice as a "Sleeper 2026 MLB Draft Prospect." He was described as an "athletic catcher whose draft profiles hinges on turning raw strength into more consistent in-game damage." With Jackson's speed and power, he is capable of a 20-home run, 20-stolen base season. Last year with the Bulldogs, Jackson smashed 14 home runs with a .240 average and went 12-for-12 in stolen bases. Then, he earned All-Star and All-League honors in the Cape Cod Summer League.
Meanwhile, O'Shaughnessy was lauded for his ability last season to provide "impact production with one of the more disciplined offensive profiles in the country." He displayed that as a junior at Davidson where he batted .369 with 19 doubles, 17 home runs and 70 RBI and then with Orleans in the Cape Cod Summer League. Time will tell how that translates against SEC pitching, but BA surmised O'Shaughnessy could "separate himself as one of the more reliable and productive senior bats in the 2026 class."
The Bulldogs have been ranked as high as No. 6 in the preseason top 25 polls. Georgia will open the 2026 season Friday, Feb. 13 against Wright State. Information on single-game non-conference tickets for the action at Foley Field can be found at this link: https://georgiadogs.evenue.net/events/BBSINGLE
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
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