10 Surging High School Prospects In The 2024 MLB Draft Class

Anderson French, C, Red Land HS, Lewisberry, Pa.
Current Rank: 105
Previous Rank: 287
Movement: +182

French jumped into the No. 2 high school catcher slot on the board in our most recent update and had the most significant up-arrow movement of high school players who were already ranked inside the top 300. French has had significant scouting crowds watching him consistently this spring and boasts a pair of exciting tools with his plus arm strength and plus raw power potential. The range of opinions on French could be wide because there is some hit risk and teams vary significantly with how they prioritize the high school catching demographic, but he has earned plenty of early day two buzz.

Sawyer Farr, SS, Boswell HS, Fort Worth, Texas
Current Rank: 82
Previous Rank: 232
Movement: +150

Farr hasn’t quite jumped into the range of prep shortstops who are threatening to jump into the first round (we’ll get to a few of those soon), but his combination of athleticism, speed, defensive actions and size has him trending in the right direction. Farr has also shown a solid approach at times, though like many high school players in this range the big question is what the pure hitting ability will be in the future. Teams who think he can hit will have him higher than this, while others could be a bit more skeptical and hesitant to sign him out of a Texas A&M commitment.

Drew Rerick, RHP, Fargo (N.D.) Davies HS
Current Rank: 147
Previous Rank: NR
Movement: +147

There’s plenty of pitching talent in this year’s high school class and Rerick is yet another name throwing himself into the day two mix. He is big and physical with a 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame and pitches in the 92-95 mph range with his fastball and has already been up to 97. North Dakota is not exactly a prospect pipeline for the draft, so he could become the highest-ever drafted high school player from the state if he’s signable out of his Texas A&M commitment.

Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine (Texas) HS
Current Rank: 55
Previous Rank: 195
Movement: +140

Hill was one of my breakout picks for the 2024 class and so far has done everything I’d hoped for him. A lanky lefthander who still has a skinny frame, Hill went from pitching in the 88-92 mph range to sitting 92-94 and touching a few 96s this spring. He’s also improved the consistency of his breaking ball, which now looks like a plus slider and the strike throwing has been solid as well. Hill entered the spring as a projection lefty with an intriguing build. He now has a lot more present stuff that could make teams feel safer with a big price tag on day one or early day two—with the benefit of more physicality and strength to dream of more power coming. Hill now ranks as the fifth-best lefthander in the class and the second-best southpaw after Arizona-based Cam Caminiti. 

Cam Sullivan, RHP, Mt. Vernon (Ind.) HS
Current Rank: 94
Previous Rank: 215
Movement: +121

Sullivan is one of the top-ranked arms from the upper Midwest and was one of the prospects who this year popped at Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 showcase. At that event, he showed a fastball that touched 97 mph and he has a nice combination of good movement on the mound, a projectable 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame and a pair of pitches between his fastball and slider that project as plus offerings. Whether or not teams think he’s more likely to start or relieve at the next level could be the key differentiator. 

Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS, Omaha, Neb.
Current Rank: 110
Previous Rank: 180
Movement: +70

Like Sullivan, Lewis is also an upper Midwest prospect who had a great showing at PBR’s Super 60 event. He looked more physical with more strength and a better swing at the event and pairs an intriguing power/speed toolset with a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and a chance to stick at shortstop. He’s had significant crosschecker and decision making–type scouts flying in to get looks this spring, which indicates a potential top three–round selection. 

Griffin Burkholder, OF, Freedom HS, South Riding, Va.
Current Rank: 50
Previous Rank: 88
Movement: +38

Northern Virginia–area high schools have produced a handful of intriguing prep hitters in recent years, including James Triantos (2021, second round), Bryce Eldridge (2023, first round) and Jonny Farmelo (2023, first round). Burkholder looks like the next in line and has a profile that has some shades of Farmelo. Burkholder’s power and speed tools are the most exciting pieces of the package now, and he’s a 70-grade runner who should be able to handle all three outfield positions with an above-average arm. He’s not the most natural or fluid hitter, but his swing is mechanically sound and he’s shown a decent approach with an ability to make adjustments. 

Theodore Gillen, SS, Westlake HS, Austin, Tex.
Current Rank: 33
Previous Rank: 62
Movement: +29

Gillen is the highest-ranked prospect on this list of risers and has gotten more first-round buzz than any player we’ve discussed. I recently mocked him in the back of the first round to his home state Texas Rangers on the back of his excellent hitting ability. Some scouts believe he’s the best pure hitter in the state—which includes No. 5 prospect Braden Montgomery at Texas A&M—and he pairs that pure hitting ability with solid power from a strong 6-foot-3, 198-pound frame and plus running ability that could allow him to play center if and when he has to move off shortstop. It seems likely that Gillen takes advantage of a down high school hitting class on draft day. 

Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence HS, Frisco, Texas
Current Rank: 39
Previous Rank: 56
Movement: +17

Sanford has moved neck and neck up the board alongside Gillen this spring as an impressive up-the-middle prep Texan. Where Gillen stands out for his great hitting ability, Sanford excels with the glove. He has some of the best shortstop actions in the class and defends with confidence, consistency and the flair you typically see from major league shortstops. He has all the tools to stick at the position and be an impactful defender there—how high a team takes him will depend on how high they are on the hit tool. It’s a contact-over-power bat but he has flashed a bit more in-game pop this spring.

Helium

Grant Shepardson, RHP, Mountain Vista HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Current Rank: NR

Shepardson didn’t crack the most recent top 400 update, but that’s reflective of me missing him more than anything he didn’t do to get on the list. He’s gotten lots of helium this spring and has taken a step forward with his stuff. After pitching around 89 and touching 93 in 2023, Shepardson this spring has pitched in the 90-95 mph range with a hard slider that flashes above-average potential. He’s also shown an advanced feel to mix and match and change speeds. He could be tough to sign out of his San Francisco commitment—where his brother Blake currently pitches—but if he’s signable, he fits as a day two arm. He’ll rank inside the top 200 on our next draft update.