Kent Schmidt forgoes MLB draft, will return to Georgia Tech for senior year

Kent Schmidt is back.

Georgia Tech baseball’s starting first baseman will forgo the MLB Draft and play his senior season for the Yellow Jackets, the school announced in a post to X on Thursday.

Schmidty’s Staying Home 😎@kentschmidt_ has decided to forgo the 2026 MLB draft and return for his senior season on The Flats!#StingEm🐝 x #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/Xzp7VXLvlj
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) July 9, 2026

Schmidt will provide the Jackets a veteran presence, with several of his teammates — including Vahn Lackey, Drew Burress and Ryan Zuckerman — expected to be picked in Saturday’s draft. He started in 53 games for the team in 2026, hitting .305 with eight doubles, seven home runs and 50 walks. He helped Tech record the most prolific offensive season in the Bat-ball Coefficient of Restitution era and win its first ACC Tournament title since 2014.

ExploreFour Georgia Tech baseball players named All-Americans by D1 Baseball

He led the Jackets in batting average (.397) in 2025, recording 62 hits, 16 doubles, 5 home runs and 43 runs batted in. An injury forced Schmidt to miss 20 games, rendering him ineligible for All-ACC or All-America honors.

Schmidt, a Marietta native, initially began his collegiate career at Georgia Southern, slashing .321/.425/.432 in his sole season with the Eagles.

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