As we continue on with Georgia Tech player previews leading up to the February 13th opener, we take a look at our first position player, Carson Kerce. A native to the Atlanta area (Pope HS, Marietta), Kerce who is now in his third year with the Jackets, is projected to take over shortstop for the 2026 season.
A versatile defender, Kerce has seen time at second base, third base, and shortstop throughout his college career, with most of his time being spent at third base. Kyle Lodise, who moved on to pro ball over the summer after being selected in the third round of the MLB draft to the White Sox, was the primary shortstop for the Jackets in 2025 and now gives way to Kerce.
Kerce is widely regarded as one of the top infield defenders in college baseball and his skills certainly showed up as more than proficient at second and third base leading many to believe he can find himself in the running to win a Gold Glove award at shortstop.
Kerce does more than just pick it on the dirt and is expected to be a dynamic player after he made some notable improvements to his offensive game in 2025. In 244 plate appearances last year, Kerce added over 100 points of OPS to his 2024 total (.759-.851), while drawing nearly the same amount of walks as strikeouts (32-37). He also added 16 extra-base hits, so the game power has certainly taken a step forward.
Kerce is now in a draft-eligible year, so given the present defensive tools, another step forward offensively could see him climb draft boards this spring. He got his draft-eligible Junior year off to a strong start over the summer as he went up north to play in the Cape Cod League where he was selected as a 2025 Cape Cod League All-Star. If anyone is primed for a true breakout in this loaded Jackets lineup, it’s Kerce. Due to the nature of the lineup, he’s projected to hit near the bottom of the order, but could still end up being one of the team’s biggest producers on the offensive side of the ball.
The defensive skills and athleticism for Kerce along with the contact skills and improving power give the shortstop a high floor for the 2026 season, and the overall package will be crucial in helping lead Georgia Tech back to Omaha for the first time since 2006.
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