High school baseball national strikeout leaders

Alabama flamethrower leads nation with 184 Ks while several top recruits follow.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Thomas Frey
By
Jun 11, 2025, 2:00pm
According to statistics submitted to MaxPreps, senior Demetrius Hardnett of Lakeside School (Eufaula, Ala.) leads high school baseball nationally with 184 strikeouts. The Gulf Coast State College pledge has a 0.53 ERA in 93 innings for the Chiefs, who won the state championship.

Zack Hankins of Taft (Lincoln City, Ore.) and Jackson Peavy of Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.) are tied for fifth with 160 strikeouts each. Hankins is a junior who pitched 72 innings and didn't allow an earned run until his final game of the season.

Peavy is a Georgia commit with 160 punch-outs in 73.2 innings of work. In a five-game span starting in February, the left-hander struck out 60 batters in 26 innings.

Read on for a complete look at the nation's strikeout leaders.
Senior Cooper Underwood is tied for 10th nationally with 148 strikeouts. In 73.2 innings of work, the Georgia Tech commit had a 0.48 ERA. (PHOTO: Ed Turlington)
Senior Cooper Underwood is tied for 10th nationally with 148 strikeouts. In 73.2 innings of work, the Georgia Tech commit had a 0.48 ERA. (PHOTO: Ed Turlington)
1. Demetrius Hardnett, Sr., Lakeside School (Eufaula, Ala.), 184 strikeouts
IP: 93 ERA: 0.53 Committed: Gulf Coast State College

2. Blake Moore, Sr., California City (Calif.), 173
IP: 83 ERA: 0.59 Committed: William & Mary

3. Jake Sproul, Jr., Myrtle Point (Ore.), 167
IP: 81 ERA: 0.69

4. Johnny Nutt, Sr., Wilcox County (Rochelle, Ga.), 162
IP: 70.2 ERA: 0.30 Committed: Georgia Southwestern State College

T5. Jackson Peavy, Sr., Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.), 160
IP: 73.2 ERA: 1.33 Committed: Georgia

T6. Zack Hankins, Jr., Taft (Lincoln City, Ore.), 160
IP: 72 ERA: 0.10

7. Jacob McCurry, Sr., Whitwell (Tenn.), 150
IP: 69 ERA: 0.20 Committed: Bryan College

T8. Brayden Harris, Jr., St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park, Fla.), 149
IP: 76.1 ERA: 0.55 Committed: Florida State

T8. Trey Morris, Sr., Washington Union (Fresno, Calif.), 149
IP: 71.2 ERA: 0.29 Committed: Oregon State

T10. Cooper Underwood, Sr., Allatoona (Acworth, Ga.), 148
IP: 73.2 ERA: 0.48 Committed: Georgia Tech

T10. Jerek Turlij, Jr., North East (Pa.), 148
IP: 56.2 ERA: 0.62 Committed: Penn State

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