Despite having failed to advance from regionals played at Foley Field for the past two years and having lost both offensive and defensive stars to the MLB draft, Baseball America has again picked the Dawgs to make the College World Series:

The Bulldogs have been a top-eight national seed in each of the last two seasons but haven’t been able to win the Athens Regionals either time. Now, Georgia will enter 2020 expected to take the next step and return to the College World Series for the first time since 2008. Righthanders Emerson Hancock and Cole Wilcox both could be top-10 picks next year and give the Bulldogs one of the best rotations in the country. Georgia also got a big boost when shortstop Cam Shepherd announced he would not sign and instead will return to school for his senior year, giving it one of the best defenders in the country to anchor its infield. The Bulldogs must find more offense, particularly with All-American third baseman/closer Aaron Schunk moving on to pro ball. Schunk’s departure also leaves a hole in the bullpen, but Georgia has plenty of pitching and will remain strong defensively. This is a group ready to take the next step.

Baseball America