Georgia's top high school baseball players: Meet the state’s best catchers

By David Friedlander | Photo by Jamie Spaar

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top baseball players in Georgia.

We'll start with the top catchers.

There are hundreds of outstanding catchers 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.

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Keagan Baxter, Sr., Jones County

The Georgia College and State University commit is known for his athleticism behind the plate, which has also made him remarkably nimble for a catcher when he's on the base paths. He has also been a valuable member of the Greyhounds' football program as a receiver.

David Bell, Sr., Greenbrier

Power is the buzzword for this 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior, thanks to his powerful build, power bat at the plate and powerful arm behind it. Named to Georgia Dugout Preview's North Georgia Big 10, Bell will play his college ball at Georgia State.

Rand Bestermann, Sr., Peachtree Ridge

The 6-3, 200-pounder is off to a flying start in his senior season, leading the Lions in batting average (.472) and OPS (1.290 and is second with 13 RBIs through the team's first 14 games. He is slated to play his college ball at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.

Gavin Black, Sr., North Oconee

The 6-1, 180-pound senior has an athletic frame to make him one of the more valued senior backstops in the state. He also contributes for the Titans on the mound. Has signed to play collegiately at Florida Southwestern State College.

Bryce England, Jr., Cherokee Bluff

One of four junior catchers on our list, England was a major contributor in helping the Bears to the Class 3A state quarterfinals last season. He hasn't committed to a college program yet, but that will likely change with another strong season.

Kolby Davis, Sr., Pepperell

Though somewhat small in stature at 5-9 and 195 pounds, Davis has played a lot bigger for the Dragons. Davis was an all-state selection in Class 2A as a junior last season, and was also tabbed preseason all-state this spring.

Paul Davis, Jr., Hart County

A very versatile player who is also adept on the mound and in the infield, the 6-2, 200-pound Duke commit is perhaps at his best behind the plate, where he can not only use his physical skills, but also his leadership. Was named All-Region 8-3A and Class 3A all-state last year.

Dawson Griffis, Jr., Appling County

After an all-state sophomore season in which he hit .374 and drove in 45 runs, the 6-2, 220-pound junior is primed for even bigger things this spring. Griffis also starred for the Pirates' football team.

Collin Helms, Sr., Greater Atlanta Christian

One of the latest in a long line of standout catchers in the baseball hotbed of Gwinnett County, the 6-0, 180-pound senior was second-team all-county and first-team all-state in Class 3A last year. Will play his college ball at Division II Harding University in Arkansas.

Bryce Hubbard, Sr., Wesleyan

While not quite as decorated as star teammates Druw Jones and Cooper Blauser, the 6-1, 205-pounder has caught the eye of defending Division I national champ Mississippi State with a powerful left-handed bat, which has gotten even stronger this spring. Hubbard also has outstanding skills behind the plate.

Tyler Jackson, Sr., North Springs

The Southern Wesleyan commit has grown quite a bit throughout his high school career, including gaining more than 30 pounds in muscle over the past three years. He's been a force for the Spartans both offensively and defensively thus far in 2022, hitting .357 with a home run, 11 RBIs and five doubles over his first eight games.

Jared Jones, Sr., Walton

The Raiders' star backstop is big in every sense of the word. At 6-5 and 230 pounds, he casts an imposing figure in the batter's box and the catcher's box. Jones had already drawn 16 walks and hit .600 with two home runs and nine RBIs through Walton's first nine games. And his defensive work has be just as impressive. Jones, who played in last year's Perfect Game All-American Classic, is committed to play college ball at LSU, but may not make it there, since he is a consensus top 50-projected prospect in this June's MLB Draft, including as high as the top 20 in some projections.

Sammy Leis, Sr., Denmark

The 6-2, 175-pound senior is valued as one of the top defensive catchers in the state, and has also produced at the plate. Ranked as the No. 3 catcher and a consensus top 50 overall player in Georgia, Leis is committed to play college ball at Alabama.

Tyler Minnick, Jr., Mount Paran

At 6-4 and 195 pounds, Minnick possesses all the physical tools to make him one of the state's top catching prospects in the Class of 2023. He was a key contributor to the Eagles' Class A Private state championship team last spring, is committed to play collegiately at Georgia Tech and is already being eyed as a possible MLB Draft prospect next year.

Mason Moore, Jr., Social Circle

The 6-3, 180-pounder burst upon the scene as a sophomore last spring by not only winning the Walton County batting title with a .531 average, but being named the Region 8-A Public Player of the Year. Moore has plenty of aplomb defensively, and is a two-sport standout as a safety with the Social Circle football program.

William Mosley, Sr., Allatoona

The 5-11, 195-pound Western Kentucky signee has shown plenty of pop in all areas of his game so far this season. Mosley leads the team with five homers and 19 RBIs, to go with a .419 average and a 1.519 OPS in helping Bucs to a 15-0 start. He's also a strong defensive prospect, particularly with an arm that has produced a 1.82 pop time.

Cannon Stafford, Sr., Heritage-Catoosa

Stafford was a big part of a Heritage's state quarterfinal run last spring, hitting .361 with a homer and a team-best 33 RBIs and .505 slugging percentage. And the 5-11, 185-pound senior has picked up where he left off with a big start to the 2022 campaign, including a five-RBI night in the season opener last month. He has signed to play college ball at Cleveland State Community College north of the border in Tennessee.

Grayson Taylor, Sr., North Paulding

With his 6-1, 200-pound frame, accurate throwing arm and powerful left-handed bat, Taylor has opened a lot of scouts' eyes. He was a critical part of the Wolfpack's Class 7A state runner-up team in 2021, and will play collegiately at a strong Sun Belt Conference program, South Alabama.

Jonathan Vigoa, Sr., Rome

Though athletic and versatile enough to play multiple positions, the 5-10, 175-pound senior is too valuable to the Wolves to move from his main position behind the plate, where he earned all-state honors a year ago. Signed to play college baseball at Miami (Ohio).

Jack Wise, Sr., Westside-Augusta

The 6-1, 205-pound right-hander is known for his strong work on the mound. However, he has also been an adept contributor for the Patriots on the other end of the battery and as a hitter, which has given him a very good command of the strike zone from three different perspectives. That should serve him well on the college diamond, when he heads to the Sun Belt Conference to play at Georgia State.