High school baseball strikeout leaders: New Mexico hurler tops national leaderboard

By Mitch Stephens Apr 26, 2022, 11:00am

New Mexico Military right-hander Luis A. Patron has fanned more than two per inning, including a 20 K no-hitter last month.

Luis A. Patron of New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, N.M.) leads all high school pitchers nationally in strikeouts this season, according to statistics submitted to MaxPreps.

Heading into play this week, the right-hander has struck out 128 batters in 53.2 innings while recording a 7-1 record and 1.17 ERA. He's also the starting shortstop for the Colts (17-6), hitting .400 with 30 hits and 21 RBI.

As good as Patron is in the field, his specialty is pitching and that showed on March 19 in a 13-0 win over Loving. Patron threw a no-hitter with 20 strikeouts, one shy of the state record set in 2006 by Roland Yazzie of Tohatchi.

After the gem — he was also 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple and two RBI — Patron was humble and generous of praise of teammates.

"I feel really good," Patron told NMMIAthletics.com. "I thank my coaches, my family, all my coaches in Mexico. I worked a lot to get this goal. I'm really thankful for the team because for me the team helps me a lot when I'm pitching and when I'm batting."



In his 11 pitching appearances this season, Patron has allowed four hits or fewer 10 times. He's struck out at least 10 eight times and walked just 17. He had a strong junior season — 6-3 with 61 strikeout in 33.2 innings — but 2022 has been absolutely dominating.

Heading into play Monday, 53 pitchers in the country have struck out at least 90. Of those 13 are pitchers from California and 12 from Texas.

MaxPreps compiles leaderboards from statistics supplied by high school coaches from throughout the country.

National Strikeout Leaderboard

Leaderboard - Player Batters Struck Out
1128
2123
3122
4120
5116
6116
7113
8111
9111
10110
11109
12108
13108
14108
15107
16106
17105
18103
19103
20102
21102
22102
23101
24101
25101
2699
2798
2898
2997
3097
3197
3297
3396
3496
3596
3695
3795
3894
3994
4094
4194
4293
4393
4491
4590
4690
4790
4890
4990
5090
5190
5290
5390
5489
5589
5689
5789
5889
5988
6088