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

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.