Currently, Dexter McCleon Jr. has not yet made a college commitment. However, it’s clear that this Georgia athlete embodies the essence of a “dawg” and keeps impressing with his five-tool talent.
Standing tall at 6-foot-3 and weighing 200 pounds as a high school freshman, McCleon Jr. has all the attributes that aspiring baseball coaches dream of, scouts look for, and fans admire.
He can hit with power, throw with velocity, and run exceptionally well, making him a true standout on the field.
The talent runs deep—it’s simply in his DNA.
On the gridiron, Dexter McCleon made a name for himself as a remarkable athlete, becoming one of the NFL’s top defenders when it came to intercepting passes.
Additionally, he wasn’t shy about delivering impactful hits. But many might overlook the fact that this former St. Louis Rams Super Bowl champion was an accomplished baseball player as well.
Drafted in the 13th round by the Minnesota Twins out of high school in 1992, McCleon pursued both football and baseball at Clemson University, showcasing his skills as a speedy catcher, arguably one of the most athletic catching prospects ever. He held a solid batting average of .259 over two seasons with the baseball team.
Over the course of 282 at-bats, he achieved seven doubles, five triples, and swiped 16 bases before his football prowess led him to be selected as a second-round pick by the St. Louis Rams in 1997.
This narrative, however, focuses on Dexter McCleon Jr., who is now supported by his father, Dexter McCleon Sr.—a Super Bowl champion and a retired NFL veteran with ten years of experience across the Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans. Sr. appears to find joy in observing his son thrive in baseball back home in Buford, Georgia.
He isn’t alone in his enthusiasm. With each passing week, more fans and scouts eagerly anticipate seeing Dexter McCleon Jr., the consensus No. 1 high school baseball prospect in the nation for the 2028 graduating class.
Although he shares a name with his father, he is steadily carving out his own path.
Even at just 15 years old, Dexter Jr. is producing remarkable numbers that reflect his extraordinary game. As we dive into those details soon, let’s remind ourselves that we are, in fact, discussing a high school freshman.
Additionally, check out this clip from 2021 that captures the then-11-year-old dynamo hitting his 24th home run of the season. That year, he showcased his talent as a Perfect Game 11U Select Festival participant and has earned that honor every subsequent year.
To fully appreciate Dexter McCleon Jr.’s abilities and what he brings to the game, we can refer to his opening game this season with the Buford Wolves.
For a freshman to bat third in the lineup of a strong Georgia high school baseball team is unusual; rare prospects like Dexter McCleon Jr. don’t come along often.
During his first at-bat against Parkview, he struck out, which many would expect. Strikeouts are perhaps his sole hurdle this season, reminding us once again that he is still only 15 years old.
However, showcasing his innate talent, McCleon Jr. took advantage of an error when the catcher could not handle that final strike, allowing him to sprint down to first base. His impressive speed of 6.57 in the 60-yard dash (as recorded by Perfect Game) became evident.
In his second plate appearance, he faced six pitches, worked the count full, and managed to earn a walk. Moments later, he stole second base, marking his first varsity stolen base.
Although he was recorded as 0-for-1 with that initial strikeout, his record shows he successfully reached base twice, alongside a stolen base, which can be considered a form of hidden contribution.
In his solitary remaining at-bat that day, he popped out. But, much like the best players, he still managed to create an impact in another way.
As a two-way player, he was called to the mound for his first varsity pitching appearance in the top of the sixth inning while his team maintained a narrow 2-1 lead.
Battling nerves, it took him just six pitches to strike out the first batter he confronted. The second one grounded weakly to shortstop, while McCleon Jr. blazed a 92-mph fastball past the third batter to secure his second strikeout on three pitches.
Holding onto the lead in the seventh, McCleon Jr. walked the leadoff batter (a reminder of his youth at just 15), but rebounded to fan the next two batters and forced a weak grounder to preserve his team’s victory, earning his first career save.
Not too shabby for someone who’s only 15.
His second game, and first hit, arrived just a week later on February 21, igniting a remarkable streak where he logged at least one hit in 11 of the next 14 games (he also pitched an inning and struck out the side in that outing).
In a dominant 16-2 victory over Mountain View on February 26, he earned his first varsity win as a pitcher, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out six across three innings. He also contributed offensively, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, an RBI, and crossing the plate three times.
During a tightly contested 3-2 win against Walker on March 6, he finished 0-for-3 at the plate but still made his mark by walking and scoring a run. On the mound, he dazzled with four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while racking up six strikeouts and issuing no walks, playing a vital role in the team’s victory.
The allure of Spring Break seemed to turn baseballs into beach balls for McCleon Jr. in mid-March as he embarked on a hitting spree, which kicked off with his first home run during a lopsided win against Central Gwinnett on March 11.
He showcased his all-around abilities that day, going 2-for-2, earning a walk, hitting a home run, driving in three runs, and scoring three times. Additionally, he pitched two hitless innings, striking out three while issuing two walks.
When the Wolves returned to action just four days later, McCleon Jr. walked, tripled, scored a run, delivered an RBI, and pitched three hitless innings with three strikeouts in a comprehensive 10-0 victory over McEachern. Two days later, he recorded a 2-for-4 outing, featuring two doubles and four RBIs in another 10-0 triumph over Rabun Gap-Cacoochee.
Between March 11 and March 24, McCleon Jr. batted an impressive .583 (7-for-12), with four walks, two doubles, a triple, a home run, and a remarkable nine RBIs. On the mound, he pitched three times, and posted a 1-1 record, allowing four hits and two earned runs over 7.0 innings while striking out 11 and issuing five walks.
However, it’s worth noting that he’s only 15, so some fluctuations in performance are expected. He recently encountered a 2-for-16 slump that brought his overall batting average down from .341 on April 1 to a strong .281 (16-for-57). Despite this dip, he has drawn 14 walks, accumulated six doubles, a triple, one home run, and driven in 16 RBIs.
We’ve referred to him as a “dawg,” but he’s been displaying that mentality since his early days.
At just 14, Prep Baseball measured his highest exit velocity at an impressive 98.5 mph with a hand speed of 23.0 mph. Among freshmen, only Missouri’s Keelan Zumwalt has recorded a faster exit velocity at 99.5 mph.
And let’s not forget his speed. Perfect Game clocked him at 6.57 seconds in the 60, while Prep Baseball had him at 6.62 seconds with a top speed recorded at 21.3 mph. That’s an impressive feat for anyone, especially for a 15-year-old.
And good luck trying to catch him on the basepaths; he’s a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts this year.
Then we come to his remarkable arm. Prep Baseball Georgia has clocked him at 92 mph multiple times on the mound this season, with Perfect Game reporting velocities of up to 94 mph.
Using a diverse four-pitch strategy (fastball, curveball, slider, changeup), McCleon Jr. boasts an impressive 3-1 record and a 1.93 ERA this season. Over 28 innings pitched, he has given up 18 hits and six earned runs while striking out 43 and walking 16 opposing batters.
Perfect Game awarded him a perfect 10 scouting grade, commenting on the young talent (note: we have edited it only for clarity), “Top of the class tools across (the) board, 6.57 runner in the sixty, 94 mph off the mound, huge (right-handed) power, 4x Select Festival athlete.”
With an overall record of 20-6, McCleon Jr. and the Wolves aim to build on their success again this Saturday when they face Mount Paran Christian at noon.
In their previous game on April 8, McCleon Jr. went 1-for-1 with two walks, scored twice, and earned his third win as a pitcher, allowing just two hits while striking out five and not walking any batters.
That “dawg” is definitely on the hunt.
