Macon baseball star Keon Johnson awaits 2026 MLB Draft

ESPN and MLB.com rank the Vanderbilt commit among the draft’s top 120 prospects after he helped the Vikings win the GIAA Class AAAA championship.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — First Presbyterian Day School star Keon Johnson could hear his name called this weekend when the 2026 MLB Draft begins Saturday in Philadelphia.

ESPN ranks Johnson, a Vanderbilt commit, as the No. 99 prospect in the draft. MLB.com lists the shortstop at No. 119.

The draft comes after Johnson helped FPD win the 2026 GIAA Class AAAA state championship. Johnson homered in the title game as the Vikings defeated rival Stratford in Statesboro.

Johnson had already established himself as one of Georgia’s top high school players before his senior season.

As a junior, he was named the 2025 Gatorade Georgia Baseball Player of the Year across all classifications in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association and Georgia High School Association.

During an awards banquet shared on social media last month, FPD baseball coach Greg Moore praised Johnson’s preparation and work ethic, describing a player who arrives hours before scheduled team activities, helps prepare the field before batting practice and is ready to leave before his teammates reach the team van. Moore also mentioned that Johnson holds school records in doubles, home runs, career hits, hits in a season, career stolen bases and career runs.

Moore also recalled children from opposing schools waiting for Johnson’s autograph and an opposing player asking to keep a ball after Johnson hit a home run.

MLB.com’s scouting report credits Johnson with taking advanced at-bats and making contact more consistently than most high school players. MLB.com also points to his bat speed, strength, quick hands, arm strength and instincts in the field.

The first four rounds of the MLB Draft are scheduled for Saturday, July 11. Coverage begins at 1 p.m. with a preview show and the first 10 selections on NBC and Peacock.

Picks 11 through 40 are scheduled to air beginning at 2:30 p.m. on MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV and MLB+. Picks 41 through 135 will follow beginning at 4:30 p.m. on MLB’s digital platforms.

Rounds five through 20 are scheduled for Sunday, July 12, beginning at 11:30 a.m. on MLB.com, MLB.TV and MLB+.