2026 High School Team Preview: Richmond Hill 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: Richmond Hill Wildcats
Head Coach: Hill Thomas
Classification: GHSA Class 6A
Region: 1-6A
2025 Record (Finish): 17-14, First Round.
Team Strengths: Hard workers, speed, power, strike throwers, fundamental defense, and “walk-on” mentality. 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

Coach Thomas and the Wildcats lost ten seniors to graduation but return a gritty group with speed, power, strikes, and fundamental defense as strengths, and they look to surpass their first round exit from a year ago. South Georgia State commit and pre-season 1st team all-state, 2026 C/1B Grant Wagner, powers the Wildcats offense. The senior possesses immense strength and projection with real impact in the barrel, and will be relied upon as a major source of power in the middle-of-the-order. Another committed senior, OF Braxton Helsel (Piedmont), brings a potent hit/speed combo to sparkplug the lineup at the top. 2026 OF Joey Succi provides senior leadership and supplies the lineup with another dependable stick. Senior C Bryce Smith boasts a strong defensive makeup behind the plate and looks to be a consistent piece for the offense. Leading the way in the rotation is senior RHP/OF Noah Stone (South Georgia State) who provides an immense two-way impact as he yields high-floor tools with “gamer” qualities throughout. Another big piece in the rotation is 2026 RHP Landon Walker who follows Stone and bolsters the staff as he returns key innings. Walker put up strong numbers in ‘25 as he pitched to a .270 ERA across 54 IP. Two underclassmen including 2028 RHP Kallen Gordan and 2029 RHP Brandon Gay round out the rotation and will be tasked to give quality innings on a nightly basis. 2027 UTL/RHP and QB1 Gunner Mobley brings tons of athleticism and has a chance to carry an important two-way role. A trio of juniors including OF Aiden Babcock, MIF Jace Henderson, and SS Jax Pursley all look to step into key roles with the ability to earn everyday time. Underclass talent in the lineup comes from sophomore SS Bryson Helsel who has a chance to break through and make an impact. 2029 OF Gage Witham showed well in our look this Fall and has a chance to carve out a role with plenty of upside. Two Sophomore arms including LHP Jacob Zwicker and RHP David Willis strengthen the depth of the staff and could take on larger roles this season. It may be trial by fire to start the year with guys getting their feet wet at the varsity level, but Coach Thomas and staff will have this group ready to go on February 9th.

Find more information on the 2026 Richmond Hill program below:

+ Follow them on X: @RH_Wildcat_Base
+ 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