A Historic Season for the Bulldogs
Daniel Jackson, the Georgia catcher, has been crowned the 2026 D1Baseball.com Player of the Year after a record‑breaking campaign that saw him top the nation in total bases and runs while ranking second in home runs and RBI.
Jackson’s season was defined by a combination of power and speed that has never been seen before from a Division I catcher. He smashed 32 home runs and stole 25 bases, becoming the first backstop in NCAA history to reach both milestones in a single year.
His .379 batting average, 32 homers and 87 RBI earned him the SEC Triple Crown and a spot on the D1Baseball.com First Team All‑America squad. The accolades reflect a season in which he led the league in three key categories.
Teammates and Team Milestones
Junior third baseman Tre Phelps complemented Jackson’s production with a .358 average, 19 homers and 59 RBI in 65 starts, earning a place on the D1Baseball.com Third Team.
Together, Jackson and Phelps helped the Bulldogs set a new school record with a 53‑14 overall record, a feat that propelled Georgia back to the College World Series for the first time since 2008.
The return to the national stage has reignited excitement in Athens and beyond, with fans eager to see how the team will translate its regular‑season dominance into the postseason.
Golden Spikes Award and the Road Ahead
Jackson is now a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, presented annually to the nation’s top amateur player. The award will be handed out on June 29, adding a ceremonial capstone to a season that already feels historic.
The award’s lineage includes past Georgia winners such as Charlie Condon in 2024, underscoring the program’s tradition of producing elite talent. As the ceremony approaches, Jackson’s name sits alongside the greats who have shaped the Bulldogs’ legacy.