2026 High School Team Preview: Duluth Wildcats

The 2026 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: Daniel Buice
Classification: GHSA Class 6A
Region: 7-6A
2024 Record (Finish): 12-15
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
Team Strengths: Returning experience

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Wildcats return a strong senior class and look to get back into the 6A state playoffs under first year head coach Daniel Buice. Senior Alabama A&M commit Manny Guarate will power the offense and boasts some of the biggest raw power at the dish in the state, along with splitting time between catching and first base. Jose Molleja has been a pivotal player on varsity all three years and provides veteran experience with the ability to stick anywhere in the lineup. Senior Jesus Pacheco supplies a reliable stick in the order after leading the team in batting avg. last year at .392 as well as offering depth to the pitching staff. Senior leadership comes in the way of Emmanuel Barrios who looks to fill many roles for the Wildcats. Sophomore Santiago Fuenmayor offers a high-level glove behind the plate with positional flexibility across the diamond and thump in the barrel from both sides of the plate. Looks the part of a 4-year impact player for the Wildcats after posting a strong freshman campaign where he batted for a .310 Avg. along with 3 HR. Sophomores Kaileb Watts and Grayson Scheinbaum will be relied upon to take on valuable roles on both sides of the ball after gaining crucial experience as freshmen. Freshman Derion Richardson has a chance to come in and make an impact from day 1. The Wildcats are in a tough region with the likes of North Gwinnett and Parkview, but could be a team to watch in region 7-6A backed by confidence in the starting lineup on any given night.

Find more information on the 2026 Duluth Wildcats program below:

+ Follow them on IG: duluth.baseball 
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2026 Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL GEORGIA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Georgia on X
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Facebook
+ Podcast: Peach Fuzz on YouTube

UPCOMING EVENTS