PJ Morlando

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #52 prospect in 2024 draft
  School: Summerville (S.C.) HS Commit/Drafted: South Carolina
  Age At Draft: 19.2
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 50. Arm: 50.
  
  Morlando earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous hitters in the 2024 high school class thanks to a strong combination of contact skills, plate discipline and raw power. He is powerfully built with well-developed musculature throughout a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame and easy plus raw power thanks to well above-average bat speed. Morlando’s hitting setup is unorthodox. He uses an extremely wide stance and no leg kick or stride, but rather a quiet and simple lower-half weight transfer. He has no wasted movement with his hands or head throughout the swing. The fact that he’s able to generate standout game power with that setup is a testament to his strength, bat speed and pure hitting ability. Notably, he didn’t show the sort of offensive performance scouts expected this spring, and teams might want to get him less grounded in the future. Morlando’s contact skills and swing decisions should make him an above-average hitter who will also take his fair share of walks. An outfielder and first baseman, he might be best at first base, where his below-average speed and upright, heel-striking running stride won’t limit him quite as much. Morlando is old for the class and will be 19 on draft day, which, combined with a first base profile, will make him a polarizing prospect. He’s committed to South Carolina but could be drafted on day one if he’s signable.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #2 prospect in 2024

• 2024 High School Top 100 Draft Prospects
  School: Summerville (S.C.) HS Committed: South Carolina
  Age At Draft: 19.2
  Morlando is one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the 2024 class thanks to an excellent combination of contact skills, plate discipline and power. A 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefthanded hitter, Morlando has elite bat speed, which along with his strength and leverage in his swing generates some of the most raw power in the prep class. It’s an easy plus power projection that should allow him a chance to be a 30-plus home run threat in his peak seasons.The way Morlando is able to generate that power is especially impressive and allows it to translate in games. He doesn’t have many moving parts to his swing, setting up with a wide base and a simple lower half load, keeping his head locked in to help him track pitches well. He has quiet hands before unleashing a tight, compact and pretty swing with clean, fluid path through the hitting zone, enabling him to punish the ball for extra-base damage to all fields with easy, explosive pop. Morlando has shown the ability to barrel mid-90s velocity with the plate coverage to hammer fastballs in any part of the zone and is especially effective on fastballs up. The best chance for hitters against Morlando is to try to get him to swing through soft stuff down and away, but he’s a patient hitter who will take his walks. Morlando has caught in the past, but his most likely defensive homes are corner outfield or first base, though an upright, heel-striking running stride could make him best suited for first base where he could be a quality defender. Morlando’s offensive ability gives him a chance to be the first high school player selected. He is committed to South Carolina.