Georgia's top high school baseball players: Meet the state’s best right-handed pitchers

Who are the top right-handed pitchers in Georgia high school baseball this season?

Dylan Lesko (27) photo by Jamie Spaar

Over the past few weeks, we've been taking a look at some of the top baseball players in Georgia.

We started with the top catchers, then first basemen, second basemen, shortstops and third basemen. Then we moved on to the left fielders, center fielders and right fielders.

Now we feature the pitchers, starting with the right-handers.

There are hundreds of outstanding pitchers in Georgia, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive! Tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @SBLiveGA and let us know about other athletes worthy of fans’ attention.

Note: Many high school baseball players excel at multiple positions. Don't be alarmed to see a slugging infielder or outfielder listed here as a pitcher, for example.

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Jaret Bales, Sr., North Hall

After being the ace of the staff during the Trojans' run to the Class 3A state title last year, the 5-10, 175-pound right-hander is picking up where he left off this spring. Bales is in the midst of another strong season after being named to Georgia Dugout Preview's preseason North Georgia Big 10.

Caden Brown, Sr., Elbert County

At 5-10 and just 150 pounds, the senior doesn't cast the largest physical presence. However, his savvy on the mound and command of his pitches helps him create a large impact, including helping the Blue Devils to their second straight Region 8-2A championship. Brown has signed to pitch at Limestone College in South Carolina.

Trenton Burnett, Sr., Loganville

With a fastball topping out in the low 90s and good command of a tight slider and deceptive change-up, the 6-4, 180-pound senior has been dominant once again for the Red Devils this spring. Burnett, who has committed to pitch for USC Upstate in college, threw his second no-hitter of the 2022 season just last week and included 13 strikeouts.

Jack Butler, Sr., Pope

After getting stronger while maintaining command of three pitches, the 6-3, 210-pound senior has cemented his position as a mainstay in the Greyhounds' starting rotation. Butler is part of Georgia State's impressive 2022 signing class.

Brandon Eck, Sr., River Ridge

Another smallish starter with a big arm, the 5-10, 175-pound senior has sprouted up from an even more diminutive stature as a sophomore to give the Knights a huge boost in a variety of roles in the starting rotation and out of the bullpen. Eck has signed to play college ball at Georgia Highlands College.

Max Eichenberger, Sr., Cherokee

The 6-2, 200-pound senior has been nearly unhittable throughout most of the 2022 campaign, amassing a 3-0 record with a 0.46 ERA, only 26 hits allowed and 16 walks with 60 strikeouts and a .169 opponents batting average in 46 innings over nine starts. A preseason North Georgia Big 10 selection by Georgia Dugout Preview, Eichenberger is signed to pitch collegiately at Georgia Southern.

Luke Fernandez, Sr., West Forsyth

With fastball consistently in the low to mid-90s and command of three other pitches, the 6-3, 210-pound senior has been dominant in 2022. His 3-2 record with a 1.69 ERA, .145 opponents batting average and 83 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings includes a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts on April 1 and an 18-strikeout performance a month earlier. The Georgia Dugout Preview North Georgia Big 10 selection is headed to Oklahoma State in the fall.

Lawson Gailey, Sr., Franklin County

A preseason North Georgia Big 10 selection by Georgia Dugout Preview, the 6-2, 200-pound senior has helped put the Lions in the driver's seat in the Region 8-3A race heading into the final week of the regular season. Gailey has signed to play college baseball at South Florida.

Sam Horn, Sr., Collins Hill

While football fans know all about the 6-4, 200-pound senior's exploits on the football field in leading the Eagles to a Class 7A state championship last December, Horn has also used his powerful right arm on the mound for the Eagles baseball team to nearly equal effect. Horn, who will play football and baseball at Missouri beginning in the fall, recently reached a milestone with his 150th career strikeout, 76 of which came last year.

Jake Lankie, Jr., Blessed Trinity

The 6-1, 180-pound junior has been on scouts' radar since he was in middle school, and has only garnered more attention as he's matured and refined his mechanics. Lankie is already committed to play college ball at Georgia.

Dylan Lesko, Sr., Buford

It's hard to argue against last year's Gatorade National Player of the Year as the best arm (right- or left-handed) in Georgia this spring. The 6-2, 190-pound Vanderbilt signee lives in the mid-90s on the radar gun and has shown increasing spin rate on his curveball, and is consistently projected as a top-five prospect for this June's MLB draft. 

Colin Linder, Sr., Lambert

Given his powerful 6-3, 210-pound frame, the senior should become even more impressive as his mechanics continue to develop. That said, Linder is already a mainstay in the Longhorns' rotation and an important member of Texas A&M's 2022 recruiting class.

Dylan Lonergan, Jr., Brookwood

Like Horn, the 6-2, 215-pound junior is known as much, if not more, for his prowess on the gridiron as a four-star quarterback prospect as he is on the baseball diamond. He was a first-team, All-Gwinnett County selection last year after going 7-1 with a 1.40 ERA, a .162 opponents batting average and 64 strikeouts in 50 innings. And he's shaken off a slow start after recovering from the football season and is rounding back into what made him one of the top Class of 2023 hurlers in the nation. Lonergan is looking to play both sports in college and plans to announce his top five choices this week.

Parker Marlatt, Jr., Hebron Christian

The 5-11, 185-pound right-hander made a splash in 2021 by becoming the Lions' ace and earning second-team all-county honors from the Gwinnett Daily Post with a 5-2 record, 2.59 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 46 innings. And he's continued the momentum this spring with a strong junior season that includes a no-hitter. Marlatt is already committed to pitch in college in the SEC at South Carolina.

Nick Milbrandt, Sr., South Effingham

After recovering from an injury suffered while playing for South Effingham's football team, the 6-2, 255-pound senior has recovered nicely to bring a power arm to the Mustangs' rotation. Milbrandt has committed to play college ball at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Justin Moore, Sr., Callaway

After a junior season that saw him roll up an 8-4 record and 1.55 ERA in helping Callaway to the Class 2A state semifinals, the 6-2, 185-pound senior and the Cavaliers are looking to take the next step this spring. So far, so good, with Moore currently at 6-3 with a 1.01 ERA and 74 strikeouts with opposing hitters managing just a .183 average against him in 55 1/3 innings. Moore will be headed next door to Alabama to play college ball at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

Hayden Murphy, Sr., Tiftarea Academy

To some, the 6-3, 192-pound senior may seem like an off-the-beaten-path selection since he plays for a program in the Georgia Independent Schools Association, made up of smaller private schools. Make no mistake, however. Every college and pro scout knows about Murphy, who is once again crushing it this spring on the mound (6-0, 0.42 ERA, 66 K, just 14 H and 10 BB and a .119 opponents BA in 33 IP) and at the plate (.571, 5 HR, 16 RBIs, 1.851 OPS) through the team's first 13 games. Murphy is signed to play collegiately at Auburn, but is also consistently listed among the top 100 prospects for this June's MLB Draft because of a fastball consistently in the low to mid-90s and a plus change-up.

Tyler Rowland, Sr., Greenbrier

The 5-9, 170-pound senior proudly proclaims on his Twitter account that Tyler Rowland is his name and pitching is his game. It's hard to argue with the results after Rowland earned All-State honors in helping the Wolfpack to the Region 8-5A title and a spot in the state quarterfinals before falling to eventual champ Starr's Mill last year. Rowland has continued his success into this spring, and will continue his career in college next year at USC Aiken.

Landon Stripling, Jr., Parkview

The 5-11, 185-pound junior enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in which he went 9-1 with a 2.33 ERA, 65 strikeouts and just 17 walks in 66 innings as the No. 2 starter for the Panthers en route to their third straight Class 7A state title last season. He is now the ace of a loaded Parkview staff this spring with a 6-1 record, 0.72 ERA, 55 strikeouts against just six walks and .152 opponents batting average in 38 2/3 innings. He is already committed to play collegiately at Mercer.

Manning West, Sr., Apalachee

At 6-6 and 235 pounds, the senior casts an imposing shadow on the mound, and his pitching — highlighted by a low to mid-90s fastball, surprisingly refined change-up and sweeping curveball — has been just as intimidating. Through the first half of the season, the Oklahoma State signee was 5-0 with a 0.59 ERA, 62 strikeouts and only four walks and .192 opponents batting average in 35 1/3 innings.