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The return of Ryland Zaborowski gives Georgia a boast

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson05/20/25JeremyO_Johnson
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Georgia infielder/outfielder Ryland Zaborowski (20) during Georgia’s game against Texas A&M at Foley Field in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)

Georgia baseball got immediate dividends from inserting Ryland Zaborowski back into the starting lineup on Saturday. Zaborowski had been out of the lineup since April 26.

He had a big hit in Georgia’s win over Texas A&M on Saturday. Zaborowski’s single drove in two runs to help Georgia push by the Aggies in the regular season finale.

Zaborowski was 2-for-4 on the day. He was considered a ‘game-time decision’ over the weekend. The Georgia fan base stood and applauded Zaborowski as he stepped back into the box for the first time. It was a confidence boast.

“It was so awesome in my first at bat to get that standing ovation and the cheers that just boosted my confidence,” Zaborowski told reporters after the game. “I just came back smiling. It’s awesome to be back.”

Zaborowski was able to stay engaged by being around the team and doing his own hitting routine leading into his return.

“Mentally it was tough at first, but staying with my process, staying with my stretching routine and being able to do the things that I can do really helped me with my recovery,” Zaborowski said. “Just being around the guys helped a lot. We talked about hitting stuff when I wasn’t hitting.”

Ryland Zaborowski has a chance to be a key piece for Georgia in Hoover and regionals

Georgia now turns its attention to the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama.

Zaborowski’s return figures to be a big piece of the puzzle for the Bulldogs. The Miami (Ohio) transfer hit .376 in 41 games this season. He hit 16 home runs and drove in 60 runs.

Georgia head coach Wes Johnson feels Zaborowski’s return changes the dynamic of Georgia’s lineup going into Hoover, even if it takes him some time to get back into his home-run hitting rhythm.

“I think part of this is we gotta get the length back to the lineup,” Johnson told reporters after the game on Saturday. “I think Ryan Black now being able to go left on left is really helping our lineup. When I say that length back, I mean, get Robbie (Burnett) back in there. You saw what I mean, Zabo did. It’s like I told him, sometimes it doesn’t have to be pretty, be a homer. He got the chopper over the third baseman’s head. You just get that length back, man, it puts pressure on people. That’s what we’re going to get back to.”

Zaborowski is excited to have the chance to play some postseason baseball. He has been in college for five years and hasn’t had the opportunity yet.

Georgia opens SEC Tournament play on Wednsday at around 1 p.m.

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