Tre Phelps never had to search for a team to root for. Growing up in Atlanta, just over an hour away from Athens, he was immersed in Georgia Bulldogs culture before he could even spell “baseball.” While many kids flip channels between cartoons and video games, Phelps was glued to Georgia baseball broadcasts, studying every swing, every pitch, and every player who wore the iconic red and black.
Now a sophomore, Phelps finds himself not in the stands or on the couch, but in uniform at Foley Field, living out a childhood dream that once felt impossibly distant.
“I used to watch the Dawgs on TV with my dad and think, ‘One day, I want that to be me,’” Phelps said, leaning against the dugout rail after practice. “It’s still surreal. I walk into Foley Field, and I get chills. This is home.”
The journey from wide-eyed fan to collegiate athlete was anything but handed to him. Phelps wasn’t the most heralded recruit coming out of high school, and though he had flashes of brilliance on the prep circuit, he flew under the radar of many Power Five programs. What set him apart, though, was not raw athleticism alone—but an unshakable belief in what he could become.
“I never saw myself as overlooked,” Phelps said. “I just thought, ‘I haven’t shown them yet.’ Every at-bat, every rep—I treated it like a chance to prove something.”
Phelps attended a string of showcases during his junior and senior years, each time inching closer to being seen by Georgia coaches. Eventually, a breakout performance at a summer tournament in LakePoint caught the attention of a Georgia scout. From there, everything accelerated.
“When we saw Tre compete against some of the best arms in the state, his approach stood out,” said Georgia assistant coach Justin Holmes. “He’s got the kind of baseball IQ that can’t be taught. You pair that with his work ethic, and you’ve got a special player.”
Phelps committed to Georgia during his senior year at North Atlanta High School, capping off what he describes as the “best phone call of my life.”
“I remember getting that call from the coaching staff and just being overwhelmed. I looked at my parents and said, ‘I did it.’ All the work, the early mornings, the sacrifices—it was worth it.”
He arrived in Athens the following summer, eager but also aware of the leap in competition. College baseball, especially in the SEC, is a proving ground unlike any other. As a freshman, Phelps spent much of the season observing, learning the speed of the college game, adjusting to life on campus, and waiting for his opportunity.
“There were days when I wondered if I belonged,” Phelps admitted. “But then I remembered what got me here—grit. I knew I had to be patient but stay ready.”
That patience paid off. Late in his freshman season, a rash of injuries opened the door for Phelps to get his first start. He didn’t waste it—going 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. It was a modest stat line, but it ignited a fire within him and caught the attention of the coaching staff.
“He stepped in and looked like he’d been there all year,” head coach Wes Johnson said. “It wasn’t just the hits. It was the composure. He plays with a quiet confidence that you don’t always see in young guys.”
As a sophomore, Phelps has become a regular in Georgia’s lineup, earning his spot through consistency, defensive reliability, and a knack for getting on base. While he isn’t the team’s power bat or most vocal leader, his value lies in the intangibles—his hustle, his glove, and his deep understanding of the game.
“My goal isn’t to be flashy,” Phelps said. “It’s to do whatever the team needs—move a runner, make a tough play, be the guy who gets it done.”
That team-first mentality has endeared him to teammates and coaches alike. Senior infielder Corey Collins, one of the Bulldogs’ veteran leaders, says Phelps brings energy and steadiness that makes everyone around him better.
“He doesn’t say much, but you feel him out there,” Collins said. “He’s the kind of guy you love playing with because he does the little things right. He respects the game, and the game respects him back.”
Beyond his on-field contributions, Phelps has embraced the full student-athlete experience. He’s majoring in sport management and has taken on a mentorship role with some of the incoming freshmen, offering advice on time management, adjusting to college life, and staying mentally sharp through the season’s ups and downs.
“It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re new,” Phelps said. “I try to let the younger guys know it’s okay to feel that way—and that they’ve got people here who’ve been through it.”
That sense of community and shared purpose is what drew Phelps to Georgia in the first place. Now that he’s living the dream he once only imagined, he’s not taking a moment of it for granted.
“I drive past the stadium sometimes and still can’t believe I get to walk in there every day,” he said. “I remember watching these guys on TV, thinking how amazing it would be just to sit in the dugout. And now I’m playing on that field. I’m wearing that jersey.”
The support from his family has been constant, a foundation that Phelps says carried him through the tough days and kept him grounded during the good ones. His parents, longtime Georgia fans themselves, rarely miss a home game, and Foley Field has become a second home for the whole Phelps clan.
“My dad gets emotional every time he sees me run out on that field,” Phelps said with a smile. “He tells me he sees his own dream in me. That means everything.”
As the Bulldogs gear up for the stretch run of the season, Phelps remains focused on one thing—helping Georgia win. Individual accolades are secondary to team success, and he’s quick to deflect any praise thrown his way.
“None of this is about me,” he said. “It’s about Georgia. It’s about doing whatever it takes to get us to Omaha.”
Still, there’s a quiet pride in the way he wears the Georgia uniform—a reflection of years of hard work, quiet persistence, and an unwavering belief in the power of dreams. For Phelps, every pitch he sees and every inning he plays is a reminder of how far he’s come—and how far he still wants to go.
“I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid watching from the couch,” Phelps said. “Now I’m here, and I’m just getting started.”
In a sport where not everyone gets the fairytale, Tre Phelps is living his. And while the bright lights of college baseball shine on many prospects, it’s the journey from fan to Foley Field that makes his story unforgettable.
