Baseball Signs 13 to Latest Recruiting Class

The 2026 class consists of eleven high schoolers and two JUCO transfers.

Statesboro, Ga. — The Georgia Southern baseball team recently announced their Class of 2026 recruiting class this past week. The group consists of 13 players, with eleven upcoming high school seniors and two junior college transfers. Eight of those in the class are pitchers, while the Eagles have continued to gain left-handed talent with four in the class tossing the southpaw.

Baden Hackworth - OF
Jackson, Mo.
Jefferson College

Most recently playing for Jefferson College last season, Baden had a .373 average across 45 games for the Vikings with twelve homers, 52 RBIs and 48 runs. Additionally, his .727 SLG was good for second in all of NJCAA's Region 16. Previously, Baden spent his first collegiate season at Saint Louis. A three-year letter winner at Jackson Senior HS, was a First Team All-State catcher in 2023, setting single season records at his high school in RBIs (52) and doubles (16).

Colton Sweat - MIF
Cumming, Ga.
West Forsyth HS

A four-year letter winner for the Wolverines, Colton enters his senior season having already been named Second Team All-Region in back-to-back seasons, while also being named the region's Offensive Player of the Year last season. Through two seasons at West Forsyth, Colton is batting .327 with a 1.019 OPS and six homers. He's also amassed ten doubles with 23 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and 59 runs while also being a Perfect Game Qualifier champion with his club team, The Dream.

Domenic Titus - LHP
Harlem, Ga.
Harlem HS

A dominant arm on the mound for Harlem, Domenic is a gritty pitcher who rose over 100 spots in the Class of 2026 Rankings by Prep Baseball Report across his high school career. A member of the Senior Future Games for Team Southeast, he was also the 2025 Region 4-3A Pitcher of the Year in his junior campaign. Helping his team go 106-6 in his three years on the team, Domenic had a perfect 8-0 record on the bump and tossed 100 strikeouts. Across his 58 innings last season, he had just an 0.84 ERA and added in a .419 average at the plate as well.

Grant Gano - LHP
Lakeland, Ga.
Lanier County HS

A three-year letter winner for the Bulldogs, Grant enters his senior season after being named Region Player of the Year, First Team All-Region and a state champion in both 2023 and 2024. In his junior season, he was also a First Team All-State member as well. Along with being the first baseball player at Lanier County to sign with a DI team, he also played for Team Georgia in the High School Baseball National Championship in Omaha last season.

Jack Beck - SS
Columbia, Tenn.
Columbia Central HS

A two-time All-District member with the Lions, Jack had 12 homers last season to help guide his high school squad to a 21-12 record. He also was a standout for the Rawlings Mavericks under head coach Cody Stroud. He was an All-Area selection his junior year and against Green Hill in the playoffs, he had three homers en route to a 9-3 victory.

Jason Williams - INF
Cumming, Ga.
Denmark HS

Now the second Denmark product on the squad alongside Sammy Leis, Jason is a top-50 prospect in Georgia and a top-15 infielder in the state. He was named Second Team All-Region in both 2023 and 2024, before earning First Team honors his junior season. Along with winning the region in 2023 with the Danes, he was also First Team All-County this past season. Jason led all of Region 6-6A in total hits last season and was invited to the Perfect Game National Showcase from 2022-2024.

Jude Matthews - LHP
Evans, Ga.
Lakeside HS

A standout for the Panthers, Jude is a Perfect Game top-500 prospect in the nation. He's also a Georgia Dugout Club top-100 product, along with being a top-five LHP in the state by Prep Baseball Report. He was an All-Region selection for the past three seasons, while he was also invited to participate in the PBR Futures Game for Team Georgia in both 2022 and 2024.

Kole Grundy - 3B/RHP
Somerset, Ky.
Somerset HS

Kole finished his junior season with the Briar Jumpers as Region Player of the Year, hitting .429 at the dish with 24 RBIs and five homers. On the mound, he compiled a 7-3 record with a 1.78 ERA and 68 strikeouts last season. A First Team All-State selection in 2025, his fastball has gotten up to 88 already. Finally, his last name may ring a bell to Eagle fans as he is the younger brother of former pitcher Kade Grundy, who was the Friday night starter and graduated just last season.

Max Owens - RHP
Ringgold, Ga.
Cleveland State CC

In his freshman season with the Cougars, Max accumulated a 6-3 record with three complete games. He had a 5.29 ERA across his 68 innings of work, with 62 punchouts. Against Chattanooga State in April of this year, he had a career high ten strikeouts across seven innings, only allowing two runs. A product of Heritage HS, Max was a First Team All-State selection in 2024.

Nate Russell - RHP
Cartersville, Ga.
Cartersville HS

A four-year letter winner with Cartersville, Nate is entering his senior season fresh off an All-Region and All-State year in 2025. With his fastball already hitting the low-90s, he has made history with the Cartersville squad already. Against Hiram HS in March, he would become the first Purple Hurricane to throw a no-hitter in 23 years. He threw the full seven innings, striking out 15 and only walking three. He also is a multi-sport athlete, as Nate also is an All-Region quarterback on the football field.

Nick Bobrowski - LHP
Marietta, Ga.
Pope HS

Joining Jack Myers and Ethan Garrett, the Eagles have continued their recruiting pipeline with Pope High School. He piled on the accolades in 2025, being named a Region 6-5A First-Team Pitcher for the past two seasons and was recently honored with 5A All-State honors as well this past season. With a spotless 10-0 record in 2025, Nick gave up just 12 earned runs in just over 55 innings of work. His 1.50 ERA and 86 strikeouts held hitters to swinging just .135 against him at the dish. Also a member of the 643 DP Cougars, he was named the organization's Pitcher of the Year in 2025.

Reece Grodeman - 3B/RHP
Rome, Ga.
Model HS

Reece is fresh off a First Team All-Region and All-State campaign his junior year, while also being named Region 1-6A Player of the Year. He was a First Team All-Region and All-State selection in both 2023 and 2024, while being named the region's Offensive Player of the Year in just his sophomore season. Holding a .430 average at the plate, he had just a 1.00 ERA in 2025 with his high school's record in strikeouts and innings pitched in a season.

Slaide Burd - OF
Yemassee, S.C.
Hilton Head Christian Academy

Most recently, Slaide was named Mr. Baseball in the state of South Carolina for the 2025 season. He was an All-Region player in 2022 and 2023 while he was the region's MVP and Player of the Year in 2024. He upped his average of .430 at the plate his sophomore year to now being a .450 hitter his junior campaign.

"We are very excited about this group joining our program next fall," said head coach Rodney Hennon, "Our staff has worked very hard to put together another class of talented, high character young men that love to compete. These young men come from winning programs and we are looking forward to their future contributions and development as Eagles."

The Eagles start their 2026 campaign on February 13th, as they host West Virginia for a three-game series at J.I. Clements Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

#28 Kade Grundy: RHP; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

#25 Sammy Leis: C; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

#4 Jack Myers: INF; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

#41 Ethan Garrett: RHP; 6' 1"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#28 Kade Grundy
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#25 Sammy Leis
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: C

#4 Jack Myers
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF

#41 Ethan Garrett
: 6' 1"; Freshman; R/R
: RHP

Georgia Southern University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned