Macon baseball star Keon Johnson, Houston County’s Drew Burress await 2026 MLB Draft

Burress is projected as a potential top-10 pick, while Johnson enters the draft after helping FPD win a state championship.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Two baseball players with Middle Georgia ties could hear their names called during the 2026 MLB Draft this weekend in Philadelphia.

First Presbyterian Day School star Keon Johnson enters the draft after leading the Vikings to a state championship. Former Houston County High School standout Drew Burress is projected to be one of the first players selected.

FPD shortstop Keon Johnson

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.

Former Houston County star Drew Burress

Burress, an outfielder at Georgia Tech, played at Houston County High School in Warner Robins before beginning his college career.

⁠ESPN and ⁠MLB.com both rank Burress as the No. 7 prospect in the draft. MLB.com projects him as the first college outfielder to be selected and a potential top-10 pick.

According to ⁠MLB.com’s profile of Burress, scouts liked his ability and work ethic coming out of high school, but Burress told teams he planned to attend Georgia Tech unless he was selected in the first round of the 2023 draft. He was not selected.

Burress began his Georgia Tech career by hitting nine home runs in his first eight games. He finished his three college seasons with a school-record 60 home runs.

MLB.com credits Burress with a compact right-handed swing, a disciplined approach and power to all fields. Its scouting report also highlights his athleticism, baseball instincts and work ethic.

Evaluators believe Burress has a chance to remain in center field professionally. MLB.com says his bat and arm could also make him a fit in right field. Burress set a Georgia Tech record with 10 outfield assists in 2024.

How to watch the 2026 MLB Draft

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+.