Georgia's baseball team is making its first appearance in the College World Series since 2008, and the buzz in Omaha is unmistakable.
A Pitcher Known as "Doc"
Senior right‑hander Caden Aoki has become the centerpiece of the Bulldogs' rotation, a reputation cemented by his coach Wes Johnson, who affectionately calls him "Doc" for his surgical precision on the mound.
Aoki arrived in Athens after a high‑profile stint at USC, where he posted a 9‑1 record, a 4.04 earned run average and three saves, while striking out 104 batters and walking just 27.
His consistency earned him a second‑team nod from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, a distinction that places him among the nation's most respected collegiate pitchers.
From Notre Dame to the Bulldogs
Aoki's path to Omaha is layered with history; he previously wore a Notre Dame uniform in 2022, a year that included a medical redshirt after an injury, before transferring to his childhood favorite, the University of Southern California, and ultimately to Georgia, the program he now calls home.
Now, as the Bulldogs prepare for their next showdown, Aoki says the experience feels like a homecoming, and his focus remains on delivering the same calm that earned him the moniker "Doc".
The coaching staff, led by Johnson, believes the senior's blend of experience and poise could be the catalyst that pushes Georgia beyond the early rounds and into a title chase that has eluded the program for nearly two decades.