Georgia pitcher Charlie Goldstein is playing his fourth season in Athens after redshirting during the 2020 season. The Alpharetta native returned to Georgia after briefly entering the transfer portal before the 2024 season. This season, Goldstein is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA. His team is 36-11 and sits at No. 9 in the national rankings.
Here, Goldstein shares his path to remaining a part of the Bulldogs’ program through a coaching change, and what he’s looking for after college.
Q: With the current state of transfer portal and NIL, what has made you stay at Georgia throughout your college career?
A: I actually entered the transfer portal after my senior year. With the draft coming up, that was kind of big for me, and then also just kind of seeing my opportunities. But I didn’t know if Strickland was going to be back or not. When I found out that Wes was coming here, I basically got re-recruited to come here. And I think the transfer portal played a big factor in that because I was really able to learn about what he wanted to do with the staff.
Q: Your team currently has the most total home runs in the nation. As a pitcher, how impactful has this offense been for the pitching staff?
A: It’s crucial. I mean, It’s much nicer to go out there knowing that we’re going to score runs, and that honestly, as a pitcher, you don’t have to tense up, not saying I tense up, but it’s just kind of more free to play and pitch.
Q: You’ve been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll multiple times. As a graduate student, how’s your experience as a student been at UGA?
A: My time as a student, I’ve loved every second of it. I mean, it’s probably the most you’ll be to being more of a student than an athlete at times, just because there’s so much to do in Athens. A majority of my friends out of high school came here, and everything about this place is just amazing for student experience.
Q: The SEC currently has six teams inside the top ten of D1 Baseball.com’s Top 25. How do you prepare as a starter on the mound when you face off against high-level competition?
A: I have multiple ways to go about it. One thing is, like, no team is better than the other, no player is better than the other. You know you’re at UGA for a reason. You’re at a top 10 team for a reason. The coaches have belief, everybody has belief in you, so it should just make your job easier. Preparation is obviously key, but just having trust in your abilities to go out there and just fill the zone.
Q: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman planning on playing college baseball?
A: With the new portal stuff and the new rules of college baseball coming up, I would just say, whatever opportunity you have, whether it goes your way or not your freshman year, I would just tell you to work as hard as possible. Make your life easier down the road.
Q: What originally made you want to play baseball at UGA?
A: I actually didn’t know very much about UGA. My mom and my dad, they both went to non-SEC schools. My dad went to FSU. My mom went to Michigan State. Those are the teams I was kind of looking for. And then all of a sudden, this one travel ball coach helped me out, and I took one visit to Georgia, and I was like, this is definitely the place I want to go.
Q: Who’s had the biggest impact on your career during your time in Athens?
A: Definitely my family. I’ve had some bumpy roads. I’ve definitely had some down parts about the ride, my collegiate baseball ride. But, my parents have always supported me no matter what, and they kind of paved the way to where I am now.
Q: What’s next for you after the season concludes?
A: Well, I hope I’ll get another opportunity in the draft for professional baseball, but I will probably be working somewhere in Atlanta.
Q: Which MLB player would you compare yourself to on the mound?
A: A lot of people call me Jon Lester on this team. Others will call me Sandy Koufax just to mess around. But yeah, I’d probably say Jon Lester. Besides some velo right now, I’m trying to build back, but yeah, I would say him.
Matthew Herren is a student in the undergraduate certificate program at the Carmical Sports Media Institute at the University of Georgia.
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