2025 Georgia Preview: Irwin County Indians

The 2025 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Georgia.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the GHSA or GIAA state playoffs, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Georgia. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason top-10 rankings in each GHSA classification and Power 25.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.

Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week, updating the top-10 ranks in each GHSA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Irwin County Indians
Head Coach: Drew Tankersley
Classification: GHSA Class 1A- Division II
Region: 2-1A
2024 Record (Finish): 27-5, Elite 8
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
Team Strengths:  Pitching and athleticism

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Irwin County Indians move over from A-DI to A-DII, and draw what looks like a brutal region with four teams that reached the playoffs a year ago. With a series against last year's State Champs in Lanier County, State Runner-Ups in Charlton County, and another playoff team in Clinch County. However, the Indians return a ton of experience starting with dual-sport athlete, 3B Jaylen Martin, who sets the tone at the top of the order bearing a considerable blend of hit and speed. The athletic 6-foot-1, 181-pound senior also chips in quality innings as part of a strong starting rotation. 2026 RHP Thadd Royal headlines the rotation with an electric SNK/SL combo coupled with advanced pitchability. The SNK is thrown in the low-90's with heavy sink and run, and the SL is landed at will with innate feel to spin in the low-70's. Royal looks to build off a strong campaign last year where he posted a 1.66 ERA in 33 IP with 42 K's. Royal also holds down the 6 on defense as well as being an essential component to the offense's success. Junior INF/RHP Peyton Reeves completes the rotation behind Royal, as he further bolsters the starting rotation and gives the battery a reliable innings eater. At the plate, Reeves is a pivotal asset in the middle of the order flashing a budding hit-tool by delivering a well-leveraged barrel in an all-fields approach. Plus, furnishing the infield as a versatile piece on defense by being able to play multiple positions in the dirt at a high level. Two senior GMC football commits, INF/RHP Luke Snyder and C Brodie Suggs, hold vital experience and supply steady bats to the middle of the order for the Indians. Synder also provides depth to the bullpen as one of the top options. After earning 1st team All-Region honors a year ago, senior OF Tripp Poole returns as an important run producing threat in the heart of the order. Senior Zack Young and junior Case Wilson contribute veteran experience to the backend of the line-up. The Indians are always well-coached by Head Coach Drew Tankersley and staff. They head into 2025 intending to triumph through a tough region and make noise in the 1A- Public State Playoffs.

Find more information on the 2025 Irwin County program below:

+ Follow them on X: @IrwinBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2025 HS Team Previews

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