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Georgia baseball had a regular season to remember and now it hopes to make plenty of noise this postseason.
The nation’s top home run hitting team is led by catcher Daniel Jackson.
The SEC Player of the Year has enjoyed a breakout 2026 season that is putting his name up there with the greatest players to don a Bulldog uniform.
He’s not shying away from the spotlight.
“It’s a good feeling,” Jackson said. “It makes me feel special. I’m not going to let it change me, what I’m trying to do. The process in which I go about things. It’s kind of an extra cool cherry on top, a reward for what I get to do.”
Here are three things to know about Jackson.
Jackson is in his second season at Georgia after winning Southern Conference Player of the Year in 2024 at Wofford.
He hit 12 homers as a freshman and 14 in 2025 after transferring to Georgia.
His 27 homers led the SEC after the regular season and ranked fifth nationally entering the SEC Tournament.
He homered in 11.6 percent of his at bats in 2025. That’s climbed to 12.7 percent this season.
The big difference is the 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior from Sandy Springs started every game this season after starting 36 in 2025.
His father, Dan Jackson, said at the end of last season his son’s power was obvious.
“Any time Daniel can get the barrel on the ball and any lift, it’s probably going to go out because he’s so strong,” he said.
Jackson is the first catcher in Division I history to reach a 25-25 season of at least 25 homers and 25 RBIs.
He was 25 of 26 on stolen base attempts after the regular season. He went 12 of 12 last season.
Coach Wes Johnson has mentioned often that Jackson is the fastest player on the team.
Jackson had only 4 stolen bases at Wofford which he said played more of a “small ball” style.
Georgia ranks eighth in the SEC in steals, but Jackson has a knack for running the bases.
“Guys in the SEC, they’re a little bit slower to the plate,” he said. “More worried about velocity and getting the guy at the plate out which is fair. I’m just taking advantage of that.”
Only two players in Georgia history have hit more home runs in a single season than Jackson: Charlie Condon with 37 in 2024 and Gordon Beckham with 28 in 2008.
Those are the only other players who were named SEC Player of the Year before Jackson this season.
Jackson saw Condon up close in 2024 when Wofford had a game at Georgia, an 18-6 Bulldogs win.
“We came here for a midweek and got to watch him take batting practice,” Jackson said. “We’re stretching in left field and you don’t have to really worry about a ball hitting you because it’s 50 feet into the parking lot. I would have done anything to be on that team and watch that.”
Infielder Ryan Wynn, who was on that Wofford team with Jackson and knew him from their days with the 6-4-3 DP Baseball in Marietta, didn’t see an SEC Player of the Year in the cards for Jackson.
Jackson had an SEC regular season triple crown that included a .394 batting average to go along with the 27 homers and 77 RBIs.
“Really couldn’t have imagined it,” Wynn said. “We grew up playing together. The kid’s always a stud. Got to see him grow into who he is today. It’s amazing. I have nothing but praise for that kid. He’s put in the work and shown the world he’s one of the most underrated and best players in the country.”
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Three things to know about Georgia baseball catcher Daniel Jackson
Continue reading...
The nation’s top home run hitting team is led by catcher Daniel Jackson.
The SEC Player of the Year has enjoyed a breakout 2026 season that is putting his name up there with the greatest players to don a Bulldog uniform.
He’s not shying away from the spotlight.
“It’s a good feeling,” Jackson said. “It makes me feel special. I’m not going to let it change me, what I’m trying to do. The process in which I go about things. It’s kind of an extra cool cherry on top, a reward for what I get to do.”
Here are three things to know about Jackson.
Daniel Jackson is swinging a powerful bat
Jackson is in his second season at Georgia after winning Southern Conference Player of the Year in 2024 at Wofford.
He hit 12 homers as a freshman and 14 in 2025 after transferring to Georgia.
His 27 homers led the SEC after the regular season and ranked fifth nationally entering the SEC Tournament.
He homered in 11.6 percent of his at bats in 2025. That’s climbed to 12.7 percent this season.
The big difference is the 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior from Sandy Springs started every game this season after starting 36 in 2025.
His father, Dan Jackson, said at the end of last season his son’s power was obvious.
“Any time Daniel can get the barrel on the ball and any lift, it’s probably going to go out because he’s so strong,” he said.
Daniel Jackson has rare speed for a catcher
Jackson is the first catcher in Division I history to reach a 25-25 season of at least 25 homers and 25 RBIs.
He was 25 of 26 on stolen base attempts after the regular season. He went 12 of 12 last season.
Coach Wes Johnson has mentioned often that Jackson is the fastest player on the team.
Jackson had only 4 stolen bases at Wofford which he said played more of a “small ball” style.
Georgia ranks eighth in the SEC in steals, but Jackson has a knack for running the bases.
“Guys in the SEC, they’re a little bit slower to the plate,” he said. “More worried about velocity and getting the guy at the plate out which is fair. I’m just taking advantage of that.”
Daniel Jackson's name in select company for Georgia baseball
Only two players in Georgia history have hit more home runs in a single season than Jackson: Charlie Condon with 37 in 2024 and Gordon Beckham with 28 in 2008.
Those are the only other players who were named SEC Player of the Year before Jackson this season.
Jackson saw Condon up close in 2024 when Wofford had a game at Georgia, an 18-6 Bulldogs win.
“We came here for a midweek and got to watch him take batting practice,” Jackson said. “We’re stretching in left field and you don’t have to really worry about a ball hitting you because it’s 50 feet into the parking lot. I would have done anything to be on that team and watch that.”
Infielder Ryan Wynn, who was on that Wofford team with Jackson and knew him from their days with the 6-4-3 DP Baseball in Marietta, didn’t see an SEC Player of the Year in the cards for Jackson.
Jackson had an SEC regular season triple crown that included a .394 batting average to go along with the 27 homers and 77 RBIs.
“Really couldn’t have imagined it,” Wynn said. “We grew up playing together. The kid’s always a stud. Got to see him grow into who he is today. It’s amazing. I have nothing but praise for that kid. He’s put in the work and shown the world he’s one of the most underrated and best players in the country.”
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Three things to know about Georgia baseball catcher Daniel Jackson
Continue reading...
