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Top 50 High Schoolers To Reach Campus From 2024 MLB Draft Class

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Image credit: RHP William Schmidt (Photo by Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images)

Now that the 2024 draft signing deadline has passed, we know which high school players will be making it to college campuses this fall. Below are the top 50 players who either didn’t get picked in this year’s class or opted not to sign and instead take their talents to the college game.

Righthander William Schmidt is the top-ranked player to make it to campus. The LSU commit announced his decision to make it to school before the draft took place and he is the lone prospect ranked as a first-round talent to reach campus.

Not only does LSU land the top-ranked high school player to make it to campus, the Tigers lead all programs with five of the top-50 ranked high school players. Tennessee is second with four, and four other schools (Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M and TCU) each have three players from this top-50 group.

Top 50 Draft Prospects

BA 500 RankPlayerPosCommit
22William SchmidtRHPLSU
45Dax WhitneyRHPOregon State
53Garrett ShullOFOklahoma State
57Tegan KuhnsRHPTennessee
69Hunter CarnsC/OFFlorida State
74Chris LevonasRHPWake Forest
76Sawyer FarrSSTexas A&M
77Derek Curiel*OFLSU
78Carson WigginsRHPArkansas
79Charlie BatesSSStanford
87Owen PainoSSOle Miss
92D’marion TerrellOFAuburn
93Mason RussellLHPArizona
95Duncan MarstenRHPWake Forest
97Connor GatwoodRHPAuburn
99Anson SeibertRHPTennessee
100Casan EvansRHPLSU
103Tyler BellSSKentucky
112William KirkLHPVirginia
119Jace SouzaOFTexas Tech
122Anderson FrenchCVirginia Tech
125Cade ArrambideCLSU
127Rustan RigdonSS/OFVanderbilt
132Brendan LawsonSSFlorida
133Terrence Kiel IIOFTexas A&M
135Erik ParkerSSGeorgia
137Jay AbernathySSTennessee
139Michael RyanSSLSU
140Cole GiblerLHPArkansas
141Tyler HeadOFNC State
143Jason FloresRHPTexas
153Cade TownsendRHPOle Miss
158Manny MarinSSTennessee
159Joshua WhritenourRHPFlorida
162Noah FrancoOF/1BTCU
163Christian ChattertonRHPAuburn
166Lazaro ColleraRHPMiami
169Drew RerickRHPTexas
171Jackson BarberiRHPFlorida
173Jack DetienneRHPXavier
188Adam HaightSSOregon State
190Myles Bailey1BFlorida State
192Michael TorresOF/LHPMiami
195Charlie FosterLHPMississippi State
198Mason BrassfieldLHPTCU
199Burke-Lee MabeusCOregon
200Marc BarnhardRHPTexas A&M
203Smith BaileyRHPArizona
206Cade Brown3BGeorgia
209Sawyer StrosniderOFTCU

*Derek Curiel officially withdrew from the draft and was removed from our BA 500 rankings, but for these purposes he’s been slotted back in where he would have ranked had he remained eligible.

Scouting Reports For Every Player

William Schmidt

Few pitchers in the 2024 class can spin the baseball like Schmidt. A lanky, 6-foot-4, 180-pound righthander, Schmidt has a projectable pitcher’s frame with long limbs and plenty of room to add more strength. He works from the first base side of the rubber, has plenty of length in a deep arm stroke and throws from a three-quarters slot with a bit of effort and some recoil in his finish. Schmidt has slowly added more velocity over the last year and a half or so, and during the 2024 spring season he ran the pitch up to 98 mph while consistently pitching in the mid 90s. While Schmidt’s fastball progression is encouraging, the foundation of his upside is built on his devastating high-spin curveball—which many scouts believe is the best curve in the draft class. It’s a low-80s hammer with huge depth and 12-to-6 shape with spin rates that are consistently in the 2,900 rpm range or higher. Schmidt has done a nice job landing his curve, despite its large movement profile, in the zone and using it as both an in-zone swing-and-miss offering and a chase pitch below the zone. He has thrown a low-to-mid-80s changeup, but it’s a distinct third offering now that will need more development to become a significant piece of his arsenal. Schmidt’s control is fair and imprecise, and he will need to continue refining his delivery as he progresses. Schmidt is committed to LSU but has first-round talent and could be the first prep pitcher selected.

Dax Whitney

Just four high school players have been drafted and signed from the state of Idaho in the top 10 rounds this century. Whitney could be the fifth after establishing himself as the top arm in the Northwest region of the country this spring. A 6-foot-5, 195-pound righthander with a great pitcher’s frame, Whitney has shown an impressive four-pitch mix with flashes of big velocity, advanced control and loads of projection to dream of more coming. He has thrown his fastball up to 96 mph but typically sits in the low 90s and mixes in a curveball, slider and changeup. His curveball looks like his sharpest secondary at the moment. It’s an upper-70s, 12-to-6 hammer with sharp, downward biting action that could make it a consistent swing-and-miss pitch. He has also thrown a shorter slider and a changeup that could give him a complete four-pitch mix. Whitney throws with a compact and tight arm action and has a slight crossfire landing, attributes that add a bit of deception. Whitney does a nice job repeating his delivery and throwing strikes. The only blemish on his scouting report is the fact that he wasn’t seen all that frequently on the showcase circuit, but the number of high-level scouts flying in to see him this spring should make that a non-issue for most teams. Whitney is committed to Oregon State but has a chance to get drafted inside the first two rounds.

Garrett Shull

Shull has one of the more well-rounded tool sets in the 2024 high school position player class. The Oklahoma prep has a strong and lean frame at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds and packs a punch from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter. Shull was a solid performer at the 2023 Area Code Games, where he went 5-for-14 with five balls hit harder than 97 mph. He’s got a simple swing from both sides of the plate with good rhythm and a slight uppercut bat path, but his lefthanded hack is a bit looser and more natural at the moment. Shull should have solid-average game power, but it might come with elevated swing-and-miss tendencies. In general, he has shown solid swing decisions and hasn’t chased out of the zone at an alarming clip. Shull has played third base in the past but profiles as a solid outfielder whose average speed and above-average arm strength will make him a better fit for left or right field than center. He should have enough hitting ability and power to profile in an outfield corner, but because he turns 19 just a day before the draft, many teams might prefer to see him get to campus and prove his hitting chops. He’s committed to Oklahoma State and will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2026, but before then he has a chance for a top-three-rounds selection.

Tegan Kuhns

The projection arrows are pointing in the right direction for Kuhns, a Pennsylvania high school pitcher who has some of the best stuff in the 2024 class and should have a lot more in the tank. He’s a lanky, elastic righthander with lots of room on his slender 6-foot-3, 177-pound frame to add weight. Added strength would help amplify a fastball that has been up 97 mph with riding life up in the zone and solid control for his age. Kuhns throws with a long arm action from a higher arm slot and features a bit of trunk tilt toward first base as he delivers to the plate. He was inconsistent this spring with his velocity, at times pitching more in the 89-92 mph range, but he should have a plus heater in the future with a chance for multiple quality secondaries. His best secondary now is a 78-82 mph curveball with spin rates approaching 3,000 rpm with sharp, two-plane biting action. He also has toyed with a slider that has more sweeping shape and has thrown both a changeup and a splitter. The latter has hard dropping action but needs a bit more refinement. Kuhns is old for the class and will be 19 on draft day, and if he makes it to campus at Tennessee he’ll be draft-eligible once again in 2026.

Hunter Carns

Carns is a quick-twitch athlete who can catch and play the outfield and has surprising power out of a 6-foot, 195-pound frame. He had an eye-opening performance in the fall at Perfect Game’s annual Jupiter tournament, where he went 11-for-20 (.400) with three home runs and a triple. Carns has explosive hands at the plate and sets up with an open stance. He has the ability to crush an elevated fastball for a home run to his pull side. His swing operates nicely when he’s on time and attacking the inner third, though he has struggled adjusting to soft stuff away. There’s a bit of swing-and-miss in Carns’ game that might need to be ironed out, but he has a strong track record of in-game performance and impact even with some miss involved. He’s a real plus runner and standout athlete who needs to improve across the board defensively behind the plate, but his athleticism and speed gives him a real chance to play center field or stick in an outfield corner. Carns is quite old for the class and turned 19 in April, but he offers a rare power-speed combination for a prep catcher and could be drafted on day one and signed out of his Florida State commitment. He’s reminiscent of Mariners 2021 first-rounder Harry Ford.

Chris Levonas

Levonas is an athletic New Jersey high school righthander with long limbs, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame and a fast, whippy arm that gives him exciting future projection. During the 2023 summer, he pitched with plenty of effort, including an aggressive head whack and fall-off to the first base side of the mound. Since then he has done a nice job adding strength and removing some of the violence in his delivery. Levonas throws a fastball in the 90-95 mph range and has been up to 97 this spring and could easily touch triple digits in the future as he adds more mass to his still-lean frame. In addition to a plus fastball, Levonas has a trio of quality secondary pitches, including a high-spin slider in the low 80s and a 12-to-6 hammer curveball in the upper 80s that also features plenty of spin and biting action. Both the breaking pitches could be above-average or plus, and Levonas will also mix in a firm upper-80s changeup that will flash significant armside fading life and looks like a quality offering against lefties. Levonas carries reliever risk thanks to his scattered control and the effort still in his delivery, but he has huge upside and has been scouted like a top-three rounds pick this spring. He’s committed to Wake Forest.

Sawyer Farr

Farr is a tall, lean and wiry switch-hitting shortstop with a 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame to dream on. He’s got an exciting package of tools and athleticism to go with his lanky frame and was also a strong performer during the spring with his Boswell High team in Fort Worth, Texas. Farr has contact skills from both sides of the plate and stood out as an underclassman for his strong pitch-recognition skills and swing decisions, though he has flashed a bit more power this spring and could grow into solid-average raw power in the future if he packs more weight onto his frame. Scouts seem mixed on his pure hitting ability, with some thinking he will make enough contact from both sides for a solid hit tool and others questioning the amount of miss that comes from a long-levered swing. No one doubts his athleticism and defensive upside. Also a talented high school quarterback, Farr is capable of making flashy, acrobatic plays up the middle at shortstop with above-average running ability and above-average arm strength. He is on the taller side for a shortstop, which means he could outgrow the position eventually. Farr is committed to Texas A&M and has been compared to previous A&M shortstop Braden Shewmake.

Derek Curiel

Curiel is an advanced pure hitter whose instincts for the game and sweet lefthanded swing have made him a prospect to know since his freshman season. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound outfielder had arguably the best swing on an Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High team that also included 2022 first-rounder Mikey Romero, but Curiel has also struggled to add physicality throughout his high school career. Curiel has one of the more advanced approaches in the class, with excellent vision, swing decisions and pitch recognition that could help him become a plus hitter. His lefty swing is calm, balanced and fluid to the ball, but scouts have wondered if he is overly passive at times and also aren’t sure about impact. He can drive balls with natural backspin in batting practice, but might be more of a line-drive singles hitter without adding more strength. Curiel is advanced defensively as well. He’s an instinctual center fielder who has better jumps and route-running ability than faster players and a chance for above-average defense with an average, accurate throwing arm. He’s turned in plus run times in the past but has more consistently turned in above-average times. Curiel is committed to LSU and will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2026 if he makes it to campus.

Carson Wiggins

Wiggins is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound righthander with some of the most electric pure fastball velocity in the high school class. He’s the younger brother of Jaxon Wiggins, whom the Cubs drafted out of Arkansas with their second-round pick in 2023. The next power-armed righthander in the Wiggins family, Carson has already been up to 99 mph and consistently sits in the 93-97 range with velocity that simply overpowers high school hitters. He’s more than just a hard-thrower. Wiggins will also snap off a hard slider in the mid 80s that looks like an above-average pitch when he’s landing it in the zone or burying it below for chases. His fastball and slider are his best pitches currently, but he also mixes in a mid-80s splitter that has potential if he can add a bit more feel for the pitch. While Wiggins operates with a low-effort delivery that belies his velocity, he struggles with his command and consistency from outing to outing. When Wiggins is putting his fastball and slider around the zone, he looks like a top pitcher in the class, but those days are rare and he has been too inconsistent from outing to outing. Wiggins will be 19 on draft day and an eligible sophomore in 2026 if he makes it to campus at Arkansas.

Charlie Bates

Bates is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound lefthanded-hitting shortstop whose impressive hand-eye coordination and bat control has made him one of the more impressive contact hitters in the 2024 draft. The Northern California prep does a great job manipulating his barrel against lefties and righties and against both velocity and secondary stuff, with a track record of performance against some of the best pitchers in the country. While Bates has traditionally been a gap-power hitter, scouts were impressed with the strength he added this spring, particularly to his lower half. He has begun showing more impressive raw power in batting practice that should start translating to games in the near future. Bates has a chance for an above-average hit tool and solid-average game power. He is also an above-average runner and instinctive defender who has a chance to stick at shortstop, thanks to his smooth actions, footwork, body control and soft hands. If he has to move off the position, it will be because his arm is a tick light and he might not have elite quick-twitch mobility. If he moves, he should fit at either second base or third base as a strong defender. Like all Stanford commits, Bates could be a tough sign. Palo Alto High, his alma mater, is directly across the street from Stanford’s campus.

Owen Paino

Paino is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound shortstop and lefthanded hitter who became one of the top players in the 2024 class as an underclassman thanks to his size and well-rounded baseball instincts. He’s a relaxed hitter at the plate who tracks pitches well, controls the zone and has a chance for above-average raw power, though he struggled to perform during the 2023 showcase circuit against the top pitchers in the class. Paino doesn’t have elite bat speed but has the size and strength to hit plenty of home runs at physical maturity and has always shown the sort of approach and swing decisions that should lead to strong on-base percentages. His offensive upside will ultimately depend on the quality of his hit tool, which is one of the biggest questions scouts now have with him. Paino is a fluid and graceful defender at shortstop who has reliable hands, smooth footwork and an advanced internal clock. He makes all the plays on balls he can get to, but he’s more of a slow-twitch athlete who is a below-average runner underway and might not have the quickness necessary to stick up the middle in the long run. He can throw from multiple angles with above-average arm strength and has above-average defensive tools for third base. Paino is committed to Mississippi.

D’marion Terrell

Terrell is a standout athlete to dream on with exceptional bat speed in the lefthanded batter’s box and plenty of foot speed and present strength with a 6-foot-3, 206-pound frame. He didn’t play in many high-profile events during the summer showcase period but flashed his hitting ability last fall and has been scouted more heavily this spring in Alabama. He has some of the best pure bat speed in the prep class, with a mechanically sound lefthanded swing that should lead to big-time power potential. Still, he’s raw as a hitter and needs many more reps against high-level velocity and secondaries. Terrell tends to pull out and swing over the top of average breaking pitches now, but he’s shown enough electricity in flashes in short stints for scouts to dream of his development as a hitter. He’s a plus runner now who has turned in double-plus run times in the 60-yard dash and has above-average arm strength that should give him a chance to play all three outfield positions. He probably fits best in a corner given his size and the fact that he could slow down in the future, but scouts have also raved about his defensive ability at first base. Terrell is committed to Auburn, but his physical tools and upside could have him drafted in the first three rounds.

Mason Russell

Russell is one of the top prospects in the Four Corners region of the country for the 2024 class and combines a solid pitching frame, clean delivery and impressive feel to spin the baseball into one appealing projection starter package. Listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Russell added some impressive strength and definition to his body over the offseason and had an up-and-down spring that included a standout no-hit performance at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational. In other outings, his stuff ticked down and he got hit around. He’s a solid mover on the mound who throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and will pitch in the low 90s early in outings before dipping into the upper 80s as his starts progress. He mixes in two breaking pitches, including a low-80s slider and mid-to-upper-70s curveball, both of which have high spin rates and above-average potential. He also has a mid-80s changeup that is a distant fourth offering for now. Like his velocity, Russell’s command will come and go, and he tends to be scattered overall, which leads to fairly wide ranges of opinions from the scouting community. He’s an Arizona commit who could benefit by adding more polish and track record in college but is viewed by many as a top-five rounds talent.

Duncan Marsten

Marsten generated buzz as one of the top pitchers in the 2024 class as he entered his sophomore year at Harvard-Westlake, but he missed that 2022 season with Tommy John surgery. After recovering, he has once again shown top-end pure stuff and moved up draft boards early this spring after flashing huge stuff. A 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander, Marsten has already touched 99 mph with his fastball and has flashed a pair of above-average secondary pitches with a low-80s slider and mid-80s fading changeup. His fastball velocity has been inconsistent and will touch 97 mph one outing and then be more 91-93 the next. Like his fastball, Marsten’s breaking stuff is not fully consistent yet, but he flashes his slider enough for scouts to dream of an above-average breaking ball in the future. Early feedback from scouts made it seem like Marsten was a clear first-rounder, and while he may have legitimate first-round talent, his inconsistencies and injury history probably make him more of a round two, three or four talent. Marsten is old for the class and will be 19 on draft day and an eligible sophomore in 2026 if he makes it to campus at Wake Forest. He could just as easily be drafted on day one alongside teammate and likely first-rounder Bryce Rainer.

Connor Gatwood

Gatwood is a 6-foot-5, 195-pound righthander with an excellent pitcher’s frame who has trended up significantly with his velocity since 2022. After pitching in the upper 80s, he now has one of the more impressive fastballs in the class and is regularly in the mid 90s. He even touched 98 mph this spring. Gatwood would have a chance to rocket up draft boards, but he dealt with injuries during the spring, including a broken finger in his throwing hand that ended his season. Gatwood has a prototype starter’s frame and throws with a fairly easy operation that starts on the first base side of the rubber and features a high three-quarters slot and crossfire action in his landing. While Gatwood’s fastball has become his calling card, he also showed a hard upper-80s slider that is unusually powerful for a prep breaking pitch and has legitimate plus potential. Like the rest of his arsenal, Gatwood’s changeup has ticked up in velocity over the years and now is thrown in the upper 80s, though he’ll need to make further progress with the pitch for it to become average. He’s a solid strike-thrower who should have average control in the future. Gatwood is committed to Auburn and could be a top-three rounds selection if teams are unfazed by his health status.

Anson Seibert

Seibert is an enormous righthander with a 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame and a power fastball that he uses at a tough downhill angle to overwhelm hitters. He has the sort of stuff that can make him look like the best pitcher in the class in short spurts when he’s near his top-end velocity and throwing strikes, but his fastball can taper off quickly during outings and his control comes and goes. For the most part, he sits in the low 90s with a high-spin fastball that will touch 97 mph and get into the range of 2,600 rpm spin. He also has a high-spin slider in the 2,400 to 2,600 rpm range that flashes two-plane biting action and has above-average potential. Seibert will also throw a mid-80s changeup with a bit of armside fading life and a slower curveball in the mid 70s, but he has less feel for both those pitches and primarily goes to his fastball/slider combination. Seibert has a deliberate, controlled delivery that is more synced up than scouts would expect for a player of his size, though he’ll need to constantly work on his balance and timing to repeat his release point and rein in his long levers. Seibert turns 19 shortly after the draft and will be an eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus at Tennessee.

Casan Evans

Evans is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound righthander who has been an up-arrow prospect over the last three years thanks to a great base of athleticism and velocity that has consistently tracked up and up. He threw a fastball in the 91-93 mph range during the 2023 showcase circuit and has run the pitch up to 95 at peak velocity. Evans’ heater has a bit of armside running life and is backed by a trio of intriguing secondary pitches. He throws both a slider and a curveball, but the pitches are inconsistent and can blend together at times. The slider is typically in the 80-82 mph range with solid spin rates around 2,500 rpm, though the pitch will back up to his arm side at times. Evans throws his curveball in the upper 70s with more deliberate top-down shape that can steal a strike, but the pitch will often hang up in the middle of the zone. His most advanced secondary is probably a 78-82 mph split-changeup with low spin that features impressive diving action. Evans is a scattered strike-thrower, but he’s also a two-way player at Houston’s St. Pius X High who has yet to focus exclusively on pitching. He is committed to LSU and is expected to be a tough sign but has exciting upside and top-four rounds talent.

Tyler Bell

A lean and athletic shortstop with a projectable 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, Bell established himself as a well-rounded player and solid performer as an underclassman. He’s a patient hitter with a solid eye at the plate from both sides, though there is a bit of length to his swing and it can get steep, which leads to some questions about how he might handle elevated velocity at the next level. Still, he can drive the ball hard and makes a lot of contact in general. Bell should provide average and on-base value as a hitter. He’s a solid defender at shortstop with fluid actions and above-average body control, with above-average arm strength and the ability to throw from multiple angles. While Bell went just 2-for-14 (.143) at Perfect Game’s WWBA World Championship in Jupiter in 2023, he hit a number of balls hard that just didn’t find a gap in the field. He was a standout at the 2024 MLB Draft combine, showing impressive actions at shortstop and solid raw power from both sides in batting practice. Bell is committed to Kentucky and will be 19 on draft day, making him a draft-eligible sophomore in the 2026 class if he makes it to campus.

William Kirk

A lean and wiry lefthander with a 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame, Kirk is one of the more advanced command pitchers in the class and has long stood out for his advanced pitchability and feel to mix and match his arsenal. He carved hitters last summer on the showcase circuit while topping out at around 92 mph and typically pitches in the 87-91 mph range. The fastball plays up thanks to his feel to locate it, and he does have some sink and running action. Like his fastball, Kirk has above-average feel for a pair of secondaries: a slurvy breaking ball in the mid 70s that spins in the 2,300-2,400 rpm range and an upper-70s changeup that is his most consistent swing-and-miss offering. Kirk’s feel to land the changeup is more advanced than most high schoolers, and he’s been throwing it with conviction for a long time, enough to believe it’ll become an above-average pitch as he adds more velocity to his fastball. Nothing Kirk throws currently is plus, but he has a clear starter profile with a mix that could become solid-average across the board if he’s able to grow into more power and velocity. Kirk is committed to Virginia and could be a tough sign.

Jace Souza

The top-ranked prospect out of Hawaii in the 2024 class, Souza is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound outfielder with exciting physical tools. He’s added good weight over the last six months or so and has plus speed and plus raw power, though there are some contact questions and scouts are mixed on the degree to which Souza will tap into that power in games. He has at least an above-average arm and some scouts think it’s a third plus tool which would allow him to profile nicely in right field if he has to move from center. He has a chance to stick in the middle of the outfield and be a solid defensive center fielder. Whoever drafts him will likely let him play there until he proves otherwise. Souza has a similar overall profile to 2023 Phillies third rounder Devin Saltiban and could be drafted in a similar 3-5 round range. He’s committed to Texas Tech.

Anderson French

French is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound catcher who should have a pair of big tools between his plus arm strength and plus raw power. He showcased that power in-game during the 2023 Area Code Games when he pulled a middle-middle 88-mph fastball to right-center for a towering home run. French’s swing is uphill and lofted for fly ball impact, but he has below-average bat-to-ball skills and might be a below-average pure hitter. That would be fine if he’s able to stick behind the plate, though his size would be on the extreme end for the position. He might have the best prep throwing arm of anyone in the class not named Cade Arrambide and that will help him stick there, though there’s some crudeness in the way he moves and receives that he’ll need to clean up. There was enough scouting heat in to see French this spring that it would be unsurprising to see him taken in the third or fourth round for a team that thinks he’ll stick at catcher and make enough contact to tap into his power. If not, French is committed to Virginia Tech where he would be able to prove his hitting chops and refine his receiving in the ACC.

Cade Arrambide

Arrambide entered the spring as the clear top catching prospect in the high school class thanks to a strong showcase circuit performance, plus raw power and tremendous arm strength from behind the plate. Things didn’t go great for the 6-foot-3, 210-pound backstop this spring, as he received consistent down arrow feedback after struggling with swing decisions and in-zone contact against Texas high school competition. Even when Arrambide was performing on the circuit, there was a bit of miss to his game, but he showed enough strength and raw power to the opposite field—including a standout Area Code Games effort with six balls hit harder than 90 mph and two homers—for scouts to think he had a chance to get to 20-25 homers. Now there are more questions about just how often he’ll get the bat on the ball as he faces better and better pitchers. Defensively, Arrambide has huge upside. He’s a loose and agile mover behind the dish despite his size with solid receiving chops and clear 70-grade arm strength that has allowed him to command the running game and record pop times in the low 1.7-second range—elite pop times for a catcher at any level. His arm strength plays up with excellent throwing mechanics and a rapid exchange. Despite those tools, Arrambide has been inconsistent enough behind the plate to the point where some scouts think he’s just a fringy defender. Previously considered a first-round talent, Arrambide might now make it to campus at LSU where he would have a chance to reclaim his top-of-the-class stock by performing and showing more consistency in the SEC.

Rustan Rigdon

Rigdon is a 6-foot, 185-pound switch-hitter and ambidextrous thrower who is one of the most exciting athletes and overall prospects in Georgia. He grinds out at-bats and is a disciplined hitter who will work deep counts, spoil tough pitches and show the patience to take his walks. Rigdon’s swing is more advanced from the left side and he has solid hand-eye coordination and doesn’t swing and miss much. It’s mostly doubles power and he doesn’t project to be a big home run threat, with his value coming more from his on-base skills. Rigdon is a plus runner whose bat has been his calling card, and during the 2024 season he played center field and threw with his left hand after sustaining a right elbow injury during the fall of 2023 that required Tommy John surgery. Rigdon attended the 2024 MLB Draft combine in June and was still not throwing with his right arm at that event, though he did take ground balls at shortstop. Some scouts view him as a long-term second baseman, but he has a chance for an up-the-middle profile in some capacity to go along with his solid table-setting offensive skills. He’s committed to Vanderbilt.

Brendan Lawson

Lawson is the top-ranked Canadian prospect in the 2024 class, though the 6-foot-3, 205-pound shortstop moved to South Carolina for the 2024 spring season. He played for the same P27 Academy that has produced sixth-rounders Alfonsin Rosario (Cubs, 2023) and Logan Wagner (Dodgers, 2022) in each of the last two drafts. Lawson has an intriguing blend of hitting ability and power that has translated to games, with a sweet swing that comes from an unusually high handset. He starts with his hands above his head before drawing them down and back to generate torque as he transfers his weight with plenty of force. Lawson drives his hands through the zone with above-average bat speed and does a nice job sequencing the moving parts to stay on time with extra-base power to all fields now that could turn into plus raw power in the future. He has a well-developed lower half that leads to some questions about whether he’ll stick at shortstop. Lawson’s hands and defensive actions are sound, and his above-average arm strength is enough for the position, though his range and mobility might ultimately make him a better fit for third base. Lawson didn’t play much this spring after dealing with a sinus infection and surgery that lowered his stock a bit. He’s committed to Florida.

Terrence Kiel II

Kiel is a tremendous athlete, which isn’t much of a surprise considering his father was a four-year safety with the San Diego Chargers. Kiel is also a talented wide receiver and cornerback for his high school football team and set the Pace Academy career touchdown record in 2023. His explosive athleticism is obvious on the baseball field, where he’s a 70-grade runner and potentially 70-grade defender in center field thanks to his pure speed and ball-tracking skills. Kiel has plenty of strength in his 6-foot, 180-pound frame. While he might only hit 12-15 home runs annually, his ability to drive doubles and triples into the gaps should inflate his slugging percentages. There are some moving parts to his swing with a decent amount of bat waggle in his load and scouts think he looks like a fringe-average pure hitter. Kiel is a switch-hitter, though his swing is better from the right side and he might wind up dropping the lefthanded swing entirely. He’s expected to be a tough sign out of Texas A&M—the same school his father played football at.

Erik Parker

Parker is one of the younger players in the 2024 class and sticks out right away for his tall, athletic and highly projectable build. Listed at 6-foot-3, 188 pounds, Parker is long and lean with broad shoulders on a high-waist frame. He is a quick-twitch athlete with a ton of space left for significant strength gains to come. There’s a lot of physical upside with Parker, who’s already a plus runner with good body control and a strong arm at shortstop. There’s some length to his actions at shortstop, but he’s better in games than in workouts and throws well on the run. At the plate, Parker is one of the more patient hitters in the class. He has a good eye for the strike zone, takes borderline pitches and works deep counts to take his walks. For a young, long-limbed hitter, Parker doesn’t have too much swing and miss, but he is still learning to sync up his swing and transfer his weight more efficiently. There’s occasional over-the-fence power now with Parker, and if he’s able to make those adjustments, there’s a chance for a significant jump in power once he layers on more strength. He can spray the ball to all fields in batting practice, but has been slightly pull-heavy in games. He is committed to Georgia but is viewed as a top-five round talent.

Jay Abernathy

Abernathy is a quick-twitch athlete with a lean and wiry 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. He stands out for his running ability, which is consistently a 70-grade tool, and his bat-to-ball skills from the left side of the plate. Abernathy has solid bat speed but he lacks power and is going to be the sort of hitter who slaps the ball to all fields, hits low line drives and ground balls and pressures defenses with his acceleration out of the box. He could grow into double-digit home run power in the future thanks to his bat speed, but he’ll need to add a lot of strength to get to that stage. After earning a strong reputation as a high-level defender who can make acrobatic defensive plays at shortstop as an underclassman, scouts now think he’s more likely to play second base thanks to fringe-average arm strength. His glove work can get a bit rigid at times as well, which could open the door to him moving to the outfield, where he would have more than enough speed for center. Abernathy is committed to Tennessee but is viewed as a top-six round sort of talent.

Michael Ryan

Ryan is a 6-foot, 185-pound shortstop with a short and compact swing. He impressed at Baseball Factory’s All-American game at Globe Life Park in Texas, where he showed plus bat speed from the right side and an ability to hit hard line drives to all fields. Ryan didn’t show a ton of raw power, and he might never be a huge power threat, but he has a chance to be an above-average hitter thanks to his ability to make adjustments and a solid track record against quality competition. There’s a bit of swing and miss in his game that is somewhat surprising given how compact and direct Ryan’s swing has been. Still, his feel for the barrel and rhythm in the box should fare well against pitching at the next level. He’s a plus runner who gets out of the box quickly and has a quick first step that is an asset for him on the bases and in the field, where he has the tools to be a solid-average defender at shortstop with above-average arm strength. Ryan is committed to LSU and has the sort of well-rounded profile that could look extremely appealing with a few years of SEC production under his belt

Cole Gibler

Gibler is a pitchability lefthander with a 6-foot, 175-pound frame. After sitting in the upper 80s and touching 92 during the 2023 showcase season, Gibler has pitched around 90-91 and touched 93 early in the 2024 season. He spins the baseball reasonably well and has a chance for an above-average curveball in the upper 70s, but he’s also introduced a low-80s slider to his repertoire. Gibler mixes in a solid low-to-mid-80s changeup to give himself a solid four-pitch mix. While nothing projects as plus currently, he moves well on the mound with a clean arm slot and has a chance to be an above-average or better strike-thrower. Gibler is committed to Arkansas, and teams might prefer to let him get to campus and add more power to his pitch mix, though he’s not the biggest player and might not have significant physical projection to dream on.

Tyler Head

Head is a projectable, 6-foot-3, 190-pound outfielder with a body and physical tools to dream on. He’s a multi-sport athlete who has also played football and basketball in high school. On the baseball field, he provides plus speed and solid power potential. Head’s swing comes with some moving parts in his load and setup and his bat path can get a bit lengthy and steep at times, but it’s easy to see him growing into more power as he fills out his frame. He was one of the most heavily scouted prep hitters in Florida this spring and some scouts are quite high on his approach and offensive potential with more development. He has solid instincts in center field that could allow him to stick at the position even as he adds strength and mass. Because of his taller frame and tweener profile, Head draws some comparisons to current NC State outfielder and 2024 prospect Eli Serrano III. Head is also committed to NC State and if he reaches campus he’ll be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2026

Jason Flores

Flores is a big and physical 6-foot-2, 210-pound Texas righthander who posted consistently throughout the 2023 showcase circuit and travel ball season. He was also one of the more heavily scouted arms at Perfect Game’s Jupiter tournament—an event where many top arms have already shut down for the year—and pairs a low-90s fastball that has been up to 96 with a slurvy breaking ball in the 78-81 mph range. He has also thrown an occasional 85-87 mph cutter and will mix in a low-80s changeup with soft fading action to lefties. Flores has heavily relied on his fastball and does a nice job attacking the zone with the pitch. He will utilize distinct four- and two-seam variations with solid control of both. His secondary feel needs to improve, but he looks like a workhorse arm who will only throw harder in the near future. Flores is committed to Texas.

Cade Townsend

Townsend is a lean righthander with a 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame who stood out thanks to his projectable frame and feel to spin the baseball. After pitching mostly in the 88-92 mph range and touching 94 during the 2023 showcase circuit, Townsend put together a loud bullpen session at the June draft combine where he threw in the 95-96 mph range and touched 97. While he typically sits in the low 90s, that sort of velocity in the tank will excite teams about his future fastball. He has advanced feel to spin a breaking ball and has a chance for an above-average slider and curveball. The latter is perhaps his more advanced breaking ball now that features powerful biting action and hard finish. He has mixed in a mid-80s changeup that features solid tumbling life and also flashed an 86-87 mph cutter at the combine which gives him an intriguing five-pitch mix. Townsend works from the third base side of the rubber and throws from a high three-quarters slot that gets almost fully over the top at times, and also has a bit of violence with a downer head whack in his finish. That effort might add some reliever risk, but his deep arsenal should give him a chance to start. He’s committed to Ole Miss and will be 19 on draft day, as well as an eligible sophomore in 2026 if he makes it to campus.

Manny Marin

Marin is among the best defensive shortstops in the 2024 class. He pairs silky smooth actions with standout defensive instincts at the position, and was USA Baseball’s 18U national team starting shortstop in 2023. Marin has plus defensive potential at the position and above-average arm strength. He also was second on the team in hitting, though he was primarily buried at the bottom of the lineup during the team’s nine games in Taiwan. Marin has a line drive swing with solid rhythm in the box, but he lacks power now and doesn’t project for much in the future with a small, 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame. He’s old for the class, will be 19 on draft day and if he makes it to campus at Tennessee he’ll be a draft-eligible sophomore. Marin is a glove-first prospect who could improve his stock tremendously if he shows a bit more with the bat in a few seasons in the SEC.

Joshua Whritenour

Whritenour is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound righthander with tons of athleticism and arm speed on the mound. He works from a fairly simple and rudimentary stretch-only operation on the bump but throws with easy plus arm speed from a three-quarters slot. That arm speed should allow him to continue making progress with both his fastball and slider in the future—both pitches that have steadily improved over the last few years. He now sits in the low 90s and has been up to 96-97 at peak velocity with riding life that should allow him to miss plenty of bats at the top of the zone. He also snaps off a mid-80s slider with sharp biting action that has out-pitch potential and two-plane movement. Whritenour will mix in the occasional low-80s changeup as well. He’s got tons of upside with a lively arm that includes some reliever risk, but scouts think Whritenour could also be a tough sign out of his Florida commitment.

Noah Franco

Franco was one of the premium players in the 2025 class before he announced his decision to reclassify to 2024 in the summer of 2023. A California native, Franco plays at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. and showed exciting two-way potential as an underclassman and a member of USA Baseball’s 18U national team for multiple seasons, though he had a down season as a senior on both sides of the ball. A 6-foot-3, 205-pound lefthanded pitcher, outfielder and first baseman, Franco has tons of physicality now with wide shoulders that suggests much more strength coming in the future. On the mound, he throws a low-90s fastball that has been up to 94 and flashes ability to rip off a high-spin slider and the makings of a solid changeup at 78-82 mph. While he has a solid mix of stuff and athleticism on the mound, scouts might prefer his pro upside as a hitter. He has a fluid and explosive swing at the plate and fires his hands through the zone with violence and intent to do damage. Even with that approach, Franco showed impressive bat-to-ball skills and strike-zone discipline that gives him a well-rounded offensive profile. He can use all fields well and has impressive pull-side power now that should develop into more all-fields, in-game juice as he fills out his large frame. Franco is athletic enough to play a corner outfield position, but he’s a potential plus defender at first base where he moves around the bag with deft footwork and reliable hands. Franco is committed to TCU and entered the spring as a potential first-round talent but now fits more as a day two talent if he’s signable.

Christian Chatterton

Chatterton is a filled out righthander with a 6-foot, 195-pound frame and solid feel for a four-pitch mix. He typically sits in the low 90s with his fastball and has touched 94-95. The pitch features consistent armside running life. Chatterton threw a curveball and slider that blended together in shape at times during the 2023 summer, but early in 2024 he showed a bit more separation with the two pitches and added more power to the slider. The curveball is an upper-70s bender with 11-5 shape and the slider now gets into the mid 80s. He’ll also mix in a changeup around 80 mph, though he has a tendency to choke the pitch with a more exaggerated wrist wrap in the back of his arm action which could impact his touch and feel with it. In general, Chatterton has been a solid strike-thrower. He’s old for the class, will be 19 on draft day and is committed to Auburn where he’ll be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2026 if he makes it to campus. If Chatterton does get to school, he has the stuff and feel for pitching to make an immediate impact on the team’s pitching staff.

Lazaro Collera

Collera jumped up draft boards during the 2023 showcase circuit after he showed a huge velocity uptick, going from the upper 80s and low 90s to a fastball that was sitting 93-96 mph in short bursts and topping out at 98 mph with heavy life and downhill plane. He was positioned to be a top-three round prospect entering the spring, though the Miami-based righthander saw his velocity back up this spring into the 89-92 mph range and he struggled with his performance on the mound. Listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, Collera has an imposing frame and a chance for a plus fastball in the future but he’ll need to be more consistent and bounce back to his 2023 form. Collera throws a low-80s snappy curveball that has above-average potential and impressive top-down finish. He’ll also mix in a slider with more sweeping action in the same velocity range. He has a firm changeup in the upper 80s which isn’t used much. Collera is a Miami commit.

Drew Rerick

Rerick is an extra-large righthander with a 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame and raw stuff to match it. He’s been up to 96-97 mph at peak velocity with his fastball and consistently pitches in the 92-95 mph range. It’s an overpowering heater against high school hitters and has solid riding life that should make it a consistent swing-and-miss pitch at the top of the zone and is the focal point of his arsenal currently. Rerick has also thrown two breaking ball shapes with a harder slider variant being better than a slower curveball that will pop out of his hand at times. He’s mixed in a mid-80s changeup but rarely uses the pitch currently. He has some effort in his delivery and features plenty of depth in the back of his arm stroke before throwing from a high three-quarters slot and carries a bit of reliever risk given his fringy strike-throwing. Rerick is a product of North Dakota—a state that has only produced a handful of high school draft prospects. He has the talent to be the highest-ever drafted prep from the state and fits as an early day two prospect if he’s signable. Rerick is committed to Texas.

Jackson Barberi

Barberi is a projection righthander with a 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame that’s easy to dream on. He pitches with a fastball that sits in the 91-92 mph range and has been up to 97 in 2024 and pairs that with a sweepy slider that has above-average potential with a bit more power and consistency. Barberi’s changeup is a fringe-average pitch in the 78-82 mph range that could help him in a starting role, though strikes questions currently add some reliever risk to Barberi’s profile. He throws with a lower three-quarters arm slot and both his direction to the plate and violence with a head whack in his finish impact his consistency and strikes. He could be a tough sign out of Florida, but there are some teams who view him as an early day two draft talent given his upside potential once he adds more strength to his frame.

Jack Detienne

Detienne is an ultra-lean righthander with a lanky 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame and two loud pitches. There is a bit of effort to his delivery and some length to his arm stroke, but he has been up to 96 mph with his fastball and sits in the low 90s. He has also flashed a high-spin curveball that looks like a potential plus pitch. Pitching for the Southeast-based Nationals team at the Area Code Games, Detienne struck out a pair of batters and walked three in three innings while pitching in the 91-96 mph range. He needs to improve his control to make the most of his velocity as he overthrew and yanked the pitch at times and was a bit scattered overall. His 79-82 mph curveball has excellent bite and three-quarters shape when he hits on it with spin rates in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range. When he gets around the pitch or leaves it up, the breaking ball will hang up a bit and look like more of a fringy or below-average pitch. At its best, it is a breaking ball that induces ugly chases out of the zone. He has also mixed in a low-80s changeup at times but has mostly worked off the fastball/breaking ball combo. Detienne is committed to Xavier.

Adam Haight

One of the top position players on the West Coast, Haight is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound shortstop with a well-rounded package of tools. Haight has done a nice job adding strength since the 2023 showcase season and has a chance for above-average raw power and solid bat-to-ball skills. While he might slide from shortstop to third base in the future, he has the tools to be a solid-average defender at the hot corner with above-average arm strength. He’s also an above-average runner. While Haight might not boast a single plus tool, his well-rounded package could be enough for teams to try and sign him out of an Oregon State commitment.

Myles Bailey

Bailey is a hulking lefthanded slugger with a 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame and some of the best raw power in the class. His frame and lefty raw power have drawn some comparisons to 2022 first-rounder Xavier Isaac, though Bailey at least has a chance to play either third base or a corner outfield position and has a less refined hit tool. While first base is his most likely home in the long run, scouts have praised his athleticism for his size. Bailey has a wide stance with his weight shifted to his back foot before firing a steep, uphill bat path that’s designed for impact in the air. While he has plenty of swing-and-miss, Bailey did a nice job staying within the zone on his swing decisions and showed more than enough in-game impact ability to all fields to live with some strikeouts. He’ll be 19 on draft day and is committed to Florida State, though his 70-grade power potential could make him a top-five round pick.

Michael Torres

Torres is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound outfielder and lefthanded pitcher whose advanced feel for the game stands out and is more impressive now than his physical toolset. He has solid feel to fill up the zone with an upper-80s fastball that gets to 90-91 from the left side and will mix in both a curveball and changeup and will have a chance to do both if he gets to campus at Miami, though his pro upside is greater as a hitter. He has a direct bat path from the left side with strong bat-to-ball skills that lead to plenty of line drives with a sound approach as well as a willingness and ability to use the entire field. Because Torres isn’t a true plus runner he winds up in the “tweener” outfield bucket for many scouts, where he isn’t quite quick enough to feel confident he will stick in center field and doesn’t have the sort of power you’d like to see from a corner outfielder. Because of that he might reach campus at Miami where adding either speed or power—as well as three years of performance in the ACC—will help his profile and allow him to climb draft boards.

Charlie Foster

Foster is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound lefthander who is part of one of the more impressive high school pitching staffs in the country at Brookwood High, which also includes 2024 prospects Jackson Barberi and Clinton Harris. Foster wasn’t at many high-profile events in the 2023 showcase circuit, but was an early up-arrow name for scouts in 2024 thanks to his feel for pitching. He mostly throws his fastball in the 88-90 mph range currently but has touched 92-93 and mixes in an upper-70s breaking ball and low-80s changeup nicely. He has a projectable frame that should add plenty of weight in the future and with that his velocity should tick up as well. Foster is a Mississippi State commit and is expected to be a tough sign.

Mason Brassfield

Brassfield is a 6-foot-4, 190-pound lefthander with a great pitcher’s frame who showed loud stuff throughout the 2023 showcase circuit. He mostly pitches in the 89-92 mph range, but he has gotten his fastball up to 94. The pitch has solid life with carry and a tick of run to his arm side. His control with the pitch is a bit erratic. Brassfield does have a bit of violence in his delivery with a head whack and a fall off to the third base side, but he also provides impressive arm speed from a high three-quarters slot. His best secondary is a low-to-mid 80s slider that has short biting action and spin rates in the 2,400-2,500 rpm range. It is especially effective against lefthanded hitters. Brassfield threw a pair of changeups in his Area Code Games outing, both at 84 mph, and they looked like fine pitches, though it was tough to get a great read of how good the cambio truly is. He looks like the sort of pitcher who will throw harder in the future and already has a solid breaking ball to his name. Brassfield is committed to TCU.

Burke-Lee Mabeus

Mabeus is a big and physical 6-foot-4, 210-pound catcher and switch hitter with power from both sides of the plate and a solid foundation of defensive skill. He’s a vocal catcher who works well with his pitchers and has above-average arm strength and a quick transfer that allows him to record above-average pop times, though he will need to maintain his frame and work on his mobility as he ages to stick behind the plate. Scouts did like his ability to receive the ball throughout the showcase circuit however. He’s a power-over-hit offensive player who is better from the left side of the plate where he can flash huge raw power to the pull side. He’ll need to improve his contact ability to fully tap into that power in games against better pitching at the next level. Mabeus is committed to Oregon and will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2026 if he makes it to campus. His father, Chris, made one relief appearance in the majors for the Brewers in 2006.

Marc Barnhard

Barnhard is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound righthander with impressive feel to spin the baseball who trended in the right direction with his stuff during the 2024 spring season. After pitching in the upper 80s and touching 92 during the 2023 showcase circuit, Barnhard has more consistently thrown his fastball in the low 90s with impressive raw spin rates for a fastball—in the 2,400-2,600 rpm range. He also has high spin rates on a low-80s slider that flashes solid bite but remains inconsistent at times and will mix in an occasional mid-80s changeup. Barnhard is a solid athlete who moves well on the mound and throws with a three-quarters slot and slight crossfire delivery. He is committed to Texas A&M.

Smith Bailey

Bailey is an extra-large righthander with a 6-foot-6, 205-pound frame that still has more room for strength gains. Bailey throws with an extremely long, extended arm action and is overly scattered at times with all three of his pitches, but he has flashed solid stuff that should continue to tick up and was the most dominant high school pitcher at the MLB Draft combine’s high school game. He pitches in the 89-92 mph range and has been up to 95 with solid arm-side running life and has added more power to a breaking ball that previously had a curveball look in the mid 70s and is now a hard, low-80s swing-and-miss slider. He also has a mid-80s changeup that looks like a strong third pitch for his arsenal. Bailey is committed to Arizona.

Cade Brown

Brown is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound third baseman with big power potential who could be a middle-of-the-order hitter at the next level. He sets up with an upright and even stance with his barrel quietly resting on his shoulder and little to no pre-pitch movement before taking a small stride and firing his hands through the zone with power that plays mostly to the pull side currently. There’s a small hitch in his load that could create some issues and he’ll need to improve his contact vs. secondaries, but he should have more than enough power to profile in a corner. A third baseman now, Brown might slide over to first base or a corner outfield position thanks to his limited range unless he improves his glovework significantly. Brown is committed to Georgia.

Sawyer Strosnider

A 6-foot-2, 190-pound outfielder and first baseman, Strosnider has an exciting toolset that features bat speed, tons of raw power and above-average arm strength. He put on a show in batting practice at the 2023 Area Code Games and showed off plus raw power to the pull side, though he is still on the raw side as a hitter. Strosnider is aggressive with his swing decisions and his bat path gets long and steep which leads to lots of swing and miss, but he has been able to catch up to 90+ mph velocity. Staying balanced with his lower half, within the strike zone on swings and showing a better job tracking and making contact with breaking stuff and off-speed will be keys for his offensive development. He has a litany of exciting tools including plus arm strength, plus raw power, plus speed and a great frame that should only pack on more strength in the future. A center fielder in high school, it would be unsurprising for Strosnider to move to a corner in the future where he should have more than enough power to profile well. Strosnider is committed to TCU and was also a talented high jumper and high school basketball player. He’s expected to be a tough sign and will be 19 on draft day.

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