North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia, has one of the premier baseball programs in the state, and at the heart of its success is standout shortstop Jay Abernathy. Over the past few years, Abernathy has led the Warriors to consecutive state championships, establishing himself as one of the top players in the region.
Abernathy’s game is a blend of offensive prowess and defensive excellence. He consistently sprays the ball across the field and is a constant threat on the basepaths. His smooth fielding makes him a complete player, ready to take the next step in his baseball career.
Ranked No. 122 in the 2024 MLB Draft class by MLB Pipeline, the future looks promising for Abernathy. But his journey to success has been years in the making, driven by a lifelong passion for the game.
Abernathy’s love for baseball started early, with memories of wearing a baseball onesie and hitting off a tee at just three years old. By the time he began playing travel ball at nine, his passion for the game was undeniable.
“I fell in love with it,” Abernathy said. “And I haven’t lost any passion for the game at all.”
As his talent developed, college programs began to notice. But Abernathy had his sights set on one place: the University of Tennessee. After receiving an offer from Tony Vitello, he committed in August 2022 during his junior year of high school. The decision was influenced by family ties and the electric atmosphere at Neyland Stadium, where his cousins Ralph David and Micah played football in the 2010s.
“Just seeing the crowd, I was like, ‘I want to go here,’” Abernathy said. “I had that dream. Being able to accomplish it is one of the biggest achievements of my life.”
The excitement surrounding Tennessee’s baseball program has grown, especially with nearly $100 million in renovations underway at Lindsey Nelson Stadium and the team’s first national championship win in June.
While Abernathy is thrilled about the opportunity to join such a prestigious program, he also values his role as a student-athlete. “I’m more than just a baseball player,” he said. “I’m a student-athlete. Being a student comes first for me because that puts down a lot of principles for yourself. Being able to stay in the books and keep your grades up is really big on my part.”
Whether he ends up at Tennessee or goes pro after the MLB draft, Abernathy is focused on continuing to grow as a leader. And, of course, he has his sights set on stealing bases, with dreams of challenging Rickey Henderson’s all-time record.
“I want to take Rickey Henderson’s spot,” Abernathy said. “I know that’s a reach, but that would be great.”
