2024 Baseball Roster
Finley, Leighton
Jersey Number 12
Leighton Finley
- Position:
- RHP
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 235
- Class:
- Sophomore
- B/T:
- R/R
- Hometown:
- Richmond Hill, Ga.
- High School:
- Richmond Hill HS
- Exchange Profile:
- Pitch an NIL Deal
Bio
UGA Career (2023-2025): Appeared in 54 games with 31 starts and owns an 11-5 record, 4.76 ERA and five saves in 172 innings...Tallied 190 strikeouts and 64 walks...Part of two NCAA Regional teams that were No. 7 national seeds and one that advanced to an NCAA Super Regional...A three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
2025 (Junior): Selected in the 6th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox
*Made 16 appearances including 14 starts for the Bulldogs as they went 43-17 (18-12 SEC) and played host to an NCAA Athens Regional as a No. 7 national seed
*Posted a 3-2 record with a 4.85 ERA in a team-high 68.2 innings with 26 walks and 83 strikeouts
*Limited opponents to a .216 batting average overall and .213 in SEC action where he went 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in 10 starts
*Tallied wins over Illinois Chicago, at No. 13 Florida to complete a sweep and over Binghamton in the NCAA Athens Regional
*In line for victory versus top-ranked Arkansas (5.2 IP, 1ER, 8K) but got a no decision in eventual Bulldog win in extra innings
*Tossed a career-high 7.1 innings at Missouri, allowing one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts but got a no decision
*Also a no decision against Texas A&M despite providing six innings and giving up two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts
*Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll
2024 (Sophomore): Made 17 appearances including 16 starts on a team that went 43-17, advanced to an NCAA Athens Super Regional and finished with a final ranking of No. 10 nationally
*Posted a 6-1 mark and one save with a 4.14 ERA in a team-high 76 innings, tallying 76 strikeouts and 28 walks
*Evened NCAA Super Regional series with No. 10 N.C. State, winning game two by going 6.2 innings and allowing just one run on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts
*Picked up first save in only relief outing of season, pitching final inning of NCAA Athens Regional Final over Ga. Tech
*No decision versus Florida after leaving up 3-1 (6 IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 8K)
*Beat No. 14 South Carolina 11-5 in Columbia to clinch series
*Earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after blanking No. 13 Vanderbilt as part of a three-hit shutout, providing six innings and 11 strikeouts, both career highs
*No decision in start at No. 1 Texas A&M (5 IP, 3H, 2R, then career-high 7K)
*Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll
2023 (Freshman): Made 21 appearances with one start on a team that went 29-27 and advanced to the SEC Tournament
*Posted a 2-2 mark with a 6.26 ERA and four saves in 27.1 innings, tallying 31 strikeouts and 10 walks
*Went 4-for-6 in save situations, collecting them against No. 10 Kentucky, at No. 2 Florida, at Clemson and No. 18 Tennessee while blown saves came both at Missouri
*Registered three straight strikeouts with the bases loaded against No. 5 Arkansas to preserve a 6-4 lead as Bulldogs won 6-5
*Wins came over Jacksonville State (3.1 IP, 0R, 2K) and Kennesaw State (4 IP 1R, 4K)
*Made two appearances versus No. 5 LSU and allowed a pair of runs on two hits with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings
*First career start came on March 21 versus Ga. State at Coolray Field (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and did not factor in the decision (2.1 IP, 3H, 2R, 2K)
*Went 0-for-2 at the plate, made debut as a hitter against Charleston Southern
*Named to the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
High School: An Honor graduate of Richmond Hill where he was a four-year letterman in baseball
*Set the single season wins and strikeout record for the Wildcats going 13-0 with 104 Ks and a 1.63 ERA as the Wildcats finished 24-9, won a region title and advanced to the sweet 16 of the 2022 state playoffs
*An All-State selection by Georgia Dugout Preview magazine
*Posted an 8-2 mark with a 0.80 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 56 innings plus hit .385 with 28 RBI as a junior for the Wildcats
*Went 7-3 with a 1.30 ERA in 50 innings plus batted .385 with 23 RBI during his first two seasons on the varsity
*Named team MVP, Region Player of the Year and FCA All-Star in leading Wildcats to the sweet 16 of the state playoffs
*Honor Roll student and recipient of Wildcat Pride Award
*Played summer baseball for Game On Vipers that won a pair of titles as well on the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team at the 2021 WWBA World Championships
*Spent part of the summer of 2022 with the Savannah Bananas of the Coastal Plain League, going 1-0 with a 3.17 ERA in 10 relief appearances covering 11.1 innings with two walks and 15 strikeouts…All four earned runs allowed came in one outing
Personal: Born March 11, 2004
*Son of Mitch and Beth Finley
Leighton’s brother Jackson pitched at Georgia Tech from 2020-23 before turning pro as an eighth round pick of Oakland
*Major: Sport Management
2025 (Junior): Selected in the 6th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox
*Made 16 appearances including 14 starts for the Bulldogs as they went 43-17 (18-12 SEC) and played host to an NCAA Athens Regional as a No. 7 national seed
*Posted a 3-2 record with a 4.85 ERA in a team-high 68.2 innings with 26 walks and 83 strikeouts
*Limited opponents to a .216 batting average overall and .213 in SEC action where he went 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in 10 starts
*Tallied wins over Illinois Chicago, at No. 13 Florida to complete a sweep and over Binghamton in the NCAA Athens Regional
*In line for victory versus top-ranked Arkansas (5.2 IP, 1ER, 8K) but got a no decision in eventual Bulldog win in extra innings
*Tossed a career-high 7.1 innings at Missouri, allowing one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts but got a no decision
*Also a no decision against Texas A&M despite providing six innings and giving up two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts
*Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll
2024 (Sophomore): Made 17 appearances including 16 starts on a team that went 43-17, advanced to an NCAA Athens Super Regional and finished with a final ranking of No. 10 nationally
*Posted a 6-1 mark and one save with a 4.14 ERA in a team-high 76 innings, tallying 76 strikeouts and 28 walks
*Evened NCAA Super Regional series with No. 10 N.C. State, winning game two by going 6.2 innings and allowing just one run on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts
*Picked up first save in only relief outing of season, pitching final inning of NCAA Athens Regional Final over Ga. Tech
*No decision versus Florida after leaving up 3-1 (6 IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 8K)
*Beat No. 14 South Carolina 11-5 in Columbia to clinch series
*Earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after blanking No. 13 Vanderbilt as part of a three-hit shutout, providing six innings and 11 strikeouts, both career highs
*No decision in start at No. 1 Texas A&M (5 IP, 3H, 2R, then career-high 7K)
*Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll
2023 (Freshman): Made 21 appearances with one start on a team that went 29-27 and advanced to the SEC Tournament
*Posted a 2-2 mark with a 6.26 ERA and four saves in 27.1 innings, tallying 31 strikeouts and 10 walks
*Went 4-for-6 in save situations, collecting them against No. 10 Kentucky, at No. 2 Florida, at Clemson and No. 18 Tennessee while blown saves came both at Missouri
*Registered three straight strikeouts with the bases loaded against No. 5 Arkansas to preserve a 6-4 lead as Bulldogs won 6-5
*Wins came over Jacksonville State (3.1 IP, 0R, 2K) and Kennesaw State (4 IP 1R, 4K)
*Made two appearances versus No. 5 LSU and allowed a pair of runs on two hits with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings
*First career start came on March 21 versus Ga. State at Coolray Field (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and did not factor in the decision (2.1 IP, 3H, 2R, 2K)
*Went 0-for-2 at the plate, made debut as a hitter against Charleston Southern
*Named to the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
High School: An Honor graduate of Richmond Hill where he was a four-year letterman in baseball
*Set the single season wins and strikeout record for the Wildcats going 13-0 with 104 Ks and a 1.63 ERA as the Wildcats finished 24-9, won a region title and advanced to the sweet 16 of the 2022 state playoffs
*An All-State selection by Georgia Dugout Preview magazine
*Posted an 8-2 mark with a 0.80 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 56 innings plus hit .385 with 28 RBI as a junior for the Wildcats
*Went 7-3 with a 1.30 ERA in 50 innings plus batted .385 with 23 RBI during his first two seasons on the varsity
*Named team MVP, Region Player of the Year and FCA All-Star in leading Wildcats to the sweet 16 of the state playoffs
*Honor Roll student and recipient of Wildcat Pride Award
*Played summer baseball for Game On Vipers that won a pair of titles as well on the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team at the 2021 WWBA World Championships
*Spent part of the summer of 2022 with the Savannah Bananas of the Coastal Plain League, going 1-0 with a 3.17 ERA in 10 relief appearances covering 11.1 innings with two walks and 15 strikeouts…All four earned runs allowed came in one outing
Personal: Born March 11, 2004
*Son of Mitch and Beth Finley
Leighton’s brother Jackson pitched at Georgia Tech from 2020-23 before turning pro as an eighth round pick of Oakland
*Major: Sport Management
Georgia Baseball - NCAA Regional vs Oklahoma State - Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, June 01
Georgia Baseball - NCAA Regional vs Duke - Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, May 31
Georgia Baseball - NCAA Regional vs Binghamton - TV Highlights
Friday, May 30
Georgia Baseball - NCAA Regional vs Binghamton - Postgame Press Conference
Friday, May 30
