2025 Georgia Preview: Duluth Wildcats

The 2025 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Georgia.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the GHSA or GIAA state playoffs, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Georgia. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason top-10 rankings in each GHSA classification and Power 25.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.

Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week, updating the top-10 ranks in each GHSA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Duluth Wildcats
Head Coach: Ryan Turner
Classification: GHSA Class 6A
Region: 7-6A
2024 Record (Finish): 14-12, First Round
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3
Team Strengths: Offense

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Wildcats lost a great deal of talent to graduation, however they return some key pieces in the lineup along with adding a top underclass talent as they look to make the 6A State Playoffs once again. Coach Ryan Turner has a trio of skilled offensive players behind the plate and at first-base, which should all find themselves together in the same line-up regularly. The trio consists of Manny Guarate, Jose Molleja, and Santiago Fuenmayor. Powering the offense is junior Manny Guarate, a massive run producer for the Wildcats in the middle of the order. An ultra physical bat that holds an enormous power profile at 6-foot-2, 225-pounds with present strength to all-fields. Junior Jose Molleja highlights another substantial piece to the line-up with impressive bat-to-ball skills. Molleja looks to build off a stellar sophomore campaign after posting a batting average of .362 and an OBP of .506. Santiago Fuenmayor, a top player in the state for the 2028 class, polishes off the trio as he looks to come in right away and make an impact from day one. Fuenmayor, possesses a physicality in the box standing at 6-foot, 180-pounds coupled with good barrel skills in an advanced all-fields approach. The freshman also holds a strong defensive profile behind the plate exhibiting present arm-strength. Fuenmayor has showcased a lively fastball on the mound in the low to mid 80's, which could help him see valuable time on the mound this Spring. 2025 INF/RHP Jordan Muller produced a solid junior season last year and looks to pace the line-up at the top of the order in '25. Providing a threat to reach base at a high clip along with the ability to pile up the runs scored. The senior should also see significant time on the mound, whether that be in the rotation or out of the bullpen. 2025 LHP Cristian Esquivel appears to be in line as one of top options in the rotation. Esquivel, a crafty lefty, limits hard contact and should be an essential innings eater for the club. Duluth will lean on their upper class offensive talent, while the underclassmen gain experience with a potential back-to-back-to-back playoff berth in line.

Find more information on the 2025 Duluth program below:

+ Follow them on X: @DCatsBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2025 HS Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL GEORGIA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Georgia on X
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Facebook

Upcoming Events