Morgan County pitcher Ty Tillery recently flipped his commitment from Georgia to SEC rival Auburn.
Tillery committed to the Bulldogs almost three years ago, before entering ninth grade. However, last week, before the start of his senior year, he chose to commit to the Tigers and head coach Butch Thompson instead.
Tillery told the Lake Oconee News it was a tough decision because he grew up a Georgia fan, living 40 minutes from campus and Foley Field, but he felt it was the right choice for his future.
“I love UGA, but I feel like Auburn is a better fit for me at this time as a player and as a person,” Tillery said.
Tillery has been a dominant pitcher for Morgan County the past three seasons. As a junior, he was named Region 2-2A Pitcher of the Year for his dominant performance on the mound. The right-hander had a 10-1 record with a team-high 66 strikeouts as well as an impressive 2.49 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.
Tillery also played outfield and was a solid hitter, batting .379 with a .463 on-base percentage last season. He also totaled 48 hits, including 10 doubles, three triples, and two home runs, with 24 RBI and 28 stolen bases.
“It was really a blessing being able to receive this award after bouncing back from a tough football injury and developing and getting better throughout the year,” Tillery said in June after his junior season with the Dogs.
Tillery has helped Morgan make deep playoff runs as the team’s ace, especially last season when the Dogs lost to Franklin County in the Class AA semifinal. He said he hopes the team can win a state championship before he graduates.
Tillery plays travel ball with Perfect Game USA, where he has also been successful on the mound. According to PerfectGame.org, he has a sinking fastball that ranges from 90 to 93 miles per hour, along with a solid changeup and slider.
The site says the 6-foot-4, 195-pound pitcher’s top fastball velocity has reached 94 miles per hour, comparable to what most Division I pitchers, especially in the SEC, can throw.
PerfectGame and Prep-BaseballReport both list Tillery among the top pitchers in Georgia for the 2026 class.
Playing football at Morgan County over the past two seasons, Tillery has caught 59 passes for 797 yards and scored 10 touchdowns as a wide receiver for the Dogs. He also plays in the secondary on defense and earned All-Region honors as a defensive back while a junior.
With football season fast approaching, Tillery also remains excited about his baseball decision and future.
“I love the staff at Auburn and can’t wait to have the opportunity to compete when I step on campus,” he said.