Six members of the University of Georgia’s baseball team have earned invitations to the 2025 MLB Draft Combine, set to take place in Phoenix from June 23 to 26. The Bulldogs’ prospects will join a field of 335 players, blending college standouts with high school phenoms, all vying for the attention of major league scouts.
A Prestigious Invitation
The event, staged at Chase Field, will subject each participant to a battery of medical examinations and performance drills, while also offering workshops on nutrition, media relations and financial planning. Such programming reflects MLB’s effort to prepare draftees for the transition from amateur to professional life.
Among the invited Bulldogs, Daniel Jackson stands out as a catcher who captured the Dick Howser Trophy, the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year award and the Bobby Bragan Slugger Award. He leads the SEC with a .379 batting average, 32 home runs and 87 RBI, and he remains a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, college baseball’s most coveted honor.
Kenny Ishikawa, a 5‑11, 193‑pound infielder from Yokohama, Japan, adds an international flavor to the mix. He was selected in the 2025 Japanese Professional Baseball Draft by the Orix Buffaloes, a testament to his rising profile across two continents.
The Bulldogs’ depth extends beyond Jackson and Ishikawa. Rylan Lujo, a .357 hitter from Coconut Creek, Florida, contributed 16 doubles, 14 home runs and 49 RBI, while Tre Phelps from Atlanta posted a .348 average with 19 homers and 59 RBI. Right‑hander Dylan Vigue from Leominster, Massachusetts, posted a 4‑1 record and a 4.43 ERA in 18 appearances, and Visalia native Joey Volchko served as the team’s ace with an 11‑2 record and 3.68 ERA.
Georgia’s season ended in the College World Series semifinals, finishing with a 53‑14 record. Fans can still cast votes for Jackson’s Golden Spikes Award candidacy on GoldenSpikesAward.com through June 28, keeping the Bulldog presence in the national conversation.
Broadcast and Beyond
The combine will be streamed live on MLB Network and its digital platforms, giving viewers a front‑row seat to the next generation of talent. As the draft approaches, the performances in Phoenix may well shape the early conversations of the 2025 MLB Draft.