EDITOR'S NOTE: The following rankings and evaluations by FSS PLUS are based on subjective analysis and industry sources, and do not influence, are not influenced by, or are affiliated with the opinions and reports of Future Stars Series scouting and development staff.
The 2026 Draft is still a year out, but it's time to preview what college stars you should focus on for the 2025 season with a look forward. This board is built on three pillars. Live looks, data evaluation, and intel/conversations provided from within the industry. These players have a ton of time and projection ahead of them, so expect this list to change considerably as we approach the 2026 Draft.
Big time favorite of Georgia area guys due to an advanced feel for hitting, as well as finding the barrel, Burress is one of the more beloved recruits in Georgia Tech history. Explosive hips and big bat speed help Burress generate power well beyond what you might expect from a smaller frame. Athletic, runs well and has plenty of arm for center field. Swing can get uppercut heavy when he really tries to lift the ball, but he's hit at every stop.
Burress has some drift in his swing and inconsistencies in terms of direction depending on where the pitch is. He'll step in the bucket at times despite loading from an open stance. It's an oddity in terms of conventionalism at the plate, but Burress has been the most impactful player in the 2206 class and it isn't terribly close. The raw power is legit and so are the tools. Until the quirks in his swing prove to be an issue, there's little reason to question his operation.
It'll just come down to how he performs over the course of the next three years and how scouts buy into the operation. It's without question, comfortably, first round talent.
