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

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

We started with the top catchers, and now we'll focus on first basemen.

There are hundreds of outstanding first basemen 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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Jake Beaver, Sr., Flowery Branch

A versatile player who can contribute in the outfield and on the mound as a left-handed pitcher as well, the 5-10, 180-pounder has given a consistent boost to the Falcons throughout his career. He's signed to play college baseball at Georgia State.

Tysen Benford, Sr., North Paulding

The 6-4, 250-pound senior already has a man-sized frame and has a game to match, using a blend of size, power and speed to be a major producer at the plate and on the basepaths. Benford is equally adept in the field, and was a major cog in the Wolfpack's Class 7A state runner-up finish last year.

Ely Brown, Jr., Savannah Christian

After a massive sophomore season in which he earned all-state honors in Class A Private, the 6-0, 180-pound multi-position and multi-sport (he also plays for the Raiders' football team) athlete is back to make things happen this spring.

Bryce Clements, Jr., Irwin County

The 6-1, 185-pound junior has been a big part of Irwin County's 16-0 start to the season, and comprises one of the state's best corner infield combinations with teammate Cooper Yanzetich.

Lawson Cole, Sr., Stratford Academy

Cole is hitting .375 average through the team's first eight games. The 6-1, 205-pound Mercer commit also sees time at third base and on the mound as a pitcher, which gives Stratford added versatility. He was also the starting quarterback on the Eagles football team last fall.

Ty Dalley, Sr., Vidalia

Dalley and his big lefty bat has helped Vidalia bounce back somewhat from a very slow start to the 2022 campaign, and is primed for a strong second half. At 6-4 and 195 pounds, the Mercer signee provides a big target at first base, and is coming off a junior season in which he hit .471 with 26 extra-base hits, including five homers.

Andrew Dunford, Jr., Houston County

At 6-7 and 235 pounds, the junior casts an imposing shadow whether he's at first base, on the mound as a right-handed pitcher or in the batter's box for the defending Class 6A state champion Bears.

Barrett Eldridge, Sr., Walton

Another large (6-5, 215) first baseman, the Georgia Highlands signee has had an equally big impact on the Raiders' season thus far. Through the early weeks of the 2022 season, more than half of his hits have gone for extra bases as part of a .419 average, and he was second on the team in RBIs through nine games. As many runs as he's helped create for the Raiders, he's also saved a lot with his steady glove work.

Lukas Farris, Sr., North Cobb Christian

Coming off a huge junior season in which he hit .390 with five homers, the 6-4, 200-pound Western Kentucky signee has had plenty of big moments so far this spring for the Class A Private Eagles, including a walk-off grand slam to beat Class 7A Campbell.

J.R. Fordham, Sr., Bleckley County

The stocky 5-10, 185-pound senior is also a catcher and an outfielder, but produces no matter where he plays in the field. Has committed to play college baseball at Augusta University.

Aiden Hosford, Sr., Northwest Whitfield

The 6-0, 185-pound senior gives the Bruins pop at the plate and an impressive physical presence in the field at either corner infield position, but we have him listed at first base after a strong junior season in 2022, during which he hit .407 with 22 RBIs and a .985 OPS.

Jonathan Jaime, Sr., Brookwood

Though the Broncos have struggled at the plate as a team so far this spring, the 6-2, 195-pound senior has been a dependable left-handed bat in the lineup and glove at first base. A four-year starter who has also seen time in the outfield and in the starting rotation as a left-handed pitcher, the Georgia Southern signee hit .324 with 24 RBIs and five doubles last year.

Charlie Jones, Sr., King's Ridge Christian

The powerfully built (6-3, 208) senior gets high marks from scouts for the jump he gets on the ball off his bat, as well as his glove work in the field. Ranked the No. 4 first baseman and 53rd overall senior in Georgia by Perfect Game, Jones is committed to play college ball at Air Force.

Josh McDonald, Jr., Troup

Already a large part of the Tigers' program in every sense of the word, the 6-2, 240-pound junior continues to grow into his role as a right-handed power hitter, in the field at first and on the mound.

Jett Pimentel, Sr., Duluth

Though his batting average has struggled to reach the .443 he posted a year ago, there is nothing wrong with the 6-1, 220-pound senior's power stroke this spring. He's already surpassed last year's home run total with six, and is halfway to last year's RBI total with a team-high 10 and boasts a 1.027 OPS thus far.

Max Puckett, Sr., Blessed Trinity

The third Mercer-committed senior who has plenty of experience at first base, the 6-4, 210-pounder, a first-team preseason all-state selection by Georgia Dugout Preview, has just as impressive a resume as future teammates Lawson Cole and Ty Dalley.

Dylan Reid, Sr., North Springs

After a slow start, the uncommitted 5-11, 185-pound senior's bat has started to heat up in recent weeks. A versatile athlete, Reid is also a strong right-handed pitching prospect, and can help out at third base and in the outfield.

Blake Rodgers, Jr., Gordon Lee

The 6-0, 203-pound junior has some impressive tools at his disposal, including a strong power swing to all fields. He has also has contributed to the Trojans from the left side on the mound.

T.L. Saxon, Sr., Oconee County

The 6-4, 255-pound senior broke out in a big way in the second half of last season as his approach at the plate matured, and his success at the plate has carried over into the 2022 campaign. A preseason first-team all-state selection by Georgia Dugout Preview, Saxon has been on fire of late with four of his seven homers on the season coming in the Warriors' past five games.

Riley Stanford, Sr., Buford

Stanford had a huge junior season playing primarily in the outfield in which he hit .366 with four homers, 35 RBIs and a 1.024 OPS and was selected to the 2021 Perfect Game All-American Classic last summer. The 6-4, 225-pound senior has moved over to first base and has a larger pitching role during his senior campaign for the nationally ranked Wolves. His powerful bat and arm have made the Georgia Tech signee a consensus top 200 prospect in this June's MLB Draft.