University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Kolby Branch Named Gold Glove Finalist By ABCA/Rawlings
June 16, 2026 | Baseball
Jackson and Phelps Earn ABCA All-America Honors
OMAHA, NEB.-----University of Georgia senior shortstop Kolby Branch has been named a finalist for the NCAA Division 1 Gold Glove team, it was announced Tuesday by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Rawlings Sporting Goods.
Branch, a 5-11, 202-pound native of Lucas, Texas, has started all 65 games for the Bulldogs who are 52-13 and playing in the College World Series. He owns a .974 fielding percentage in 272 total chances in leading Georgia to the Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles. Branch helped Georgia to its first SEC title and College World Series appearance since 2008 and its first-ever SEC Tournament title. He has registered 79 putouts, 186 assists and seven errors on the year. At the plate, he is batting .289 with 18 doubles, 18 home runs and 58 RBI.
Branch is one of three finalists at shortstop along with Dylan Carey (Nebraska) and Roch Cholowsky (UCLA). Branch is an Academic All-America candidate as well with the first-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees slated to be announced on June 23.
Branch, and his younger brother Kyle, a second baseman for Oklahoma, made College World Series history Monday night when they became the first brothers to play in a CWS game against each other.
The Gold Glove finalists were voted on and selected by the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee. In all divisions, the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winners will be announced this Wednesday, June 17 via X by Rawlings Sporting Goods (@RawlingsSports). The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007 and are presented annually to the top defensive players from each division of collegiate and high school baseball.
In related ABCA news, Georgia junior catcher Daniel Jackson and senior third baseman Tre Phelps were named First Team All-Americans. Jackson, winner of the Dick Howser Trophy, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year and Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award, leads the Bulldogs with a .384 batting average, 32 home runs, 26 stolen bases and a school-record 87 RBI. He has started all 65 games including 55 at catcher plus 10 as a designated hitter. Phelps, who has started 63 games, is batting .354 with 10 doubles, 19 home runs, 58 RBI and a school record 35 hit-by-pitches. Jackson is fielding .996 while Phelps owns a .960 fielding percentage.
The ABCA has recognized an All-America team since 1949. The ABCA Pitchers/Position Players of the Year as well as Coach of the Year will be announced Monday, June 22.
Also, Jackson is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. Baseball fans can vote for him on GoldenSpikesAward.com, through June 28.
Up next, Georgia faces Texas in an elimination game here at the College World Series. First pitch will be at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and be available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
Branch, a 5-11, 202-pound native of Lucas, Texas, has started all 65 games for the Bulldogs who are 52-13 and playing in the College World Series. He owns a .974 fielding percentage in 272 total chances in leading Georgia to the Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles. Branch helped Georgia to its first SEC title and College World Series appearance since 2008 and its first-ever SEC Tournament title. He has registered 79 putouts, 186 assists and seven errors on the year. At the plate, he is batting .289 with 18 doubles, 18 home runs and 58 RBI.
Branch is one of three finalists at shortstop along with Dylan Carey (Nebraska) and Roch Cholowsky (UCLA). Branch is an Academic All-America candidate as well with the first-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees slated to be announced on June 23.
Branch, and his younger brother Kyle, a second baseman for Oklahoma, made College World Series history Monday night when they became the first brothers to play in a CWS game against each other.
The Gold Glove finalists were voted on and selected by the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee. In all divisions, the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winners will be announced this Wednesday, June 17 via X by Rawlings Sporting Goods (@RawlingsSports). The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007 and are presented annually to the top defensive players from each division of collegiate and high school baseball.
In related ABCA news, Georgia junior catcher Daniel Jackson and senior third baseman Tre Phelps were named First Team All-Americans. Jackson, winner of the Dick Howser Trophy, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year and Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award, leads the Bulldogs with a .384 batting average, 32 home runs, 26 stolen bases and a school-record 87 RBI. He has started all 65 games including 55 at catcher plus 10 as a designated hitter. Phelps, who has started 63 games, is batting .354 with 10 doubles, 19 home runs, 58 RBI and a school record 35 hit-by-pitches. Jackson is fielding .996 while Phelps owns a .960 fielding percentage.
The ABCA has recognized an All-America team since 1949. The ABCA Pitchers/Position Players of the Year as well as Coach of the Year will be announced Monday, June 22.
Also, Jackson is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. Baseball fans can vote for him on GoldenSpikesAward.com, through June 28.
Up next, Georgia faces Texas in an elimination game here at the College World Series. First pitch will be at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and be available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
Players Mentioned
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