The 2024 Major League Baseball Draft is just two months away. While college players are expected to dominate the first round, there are plenty of high school prospects who could hear their name called on the first day of the draft.
Read on for a look at the top 10 prep prospects ahead of this year's draft, which will be held July 14-16 at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Theo Gillen led Westlake to the Class 6A state semifinals in Texas last season and has seen his stock soar this spring. (Photo: Robbie Rakestraw)
The clear choice as the top high school player, Griffin is the leading contender for MaxPreps National Player of the Year. In addition to being among the national leaders in runs scored (70) and stolen bases (78), Griffin also has excelled at the plate (.570, 9 HR) and on the mound (10 wins). Mock drafts have Griffin as the first high school player off the board around pick No. 6 or 7 as an outfielder.
Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
A three-time MaxPreps Underclass All-American, Rainer wasn't necessarily a first-round pick back at the beginning of the high school season. That's changed as Rainer now ranks as a possible top 10 pick thanks to a season that has seen him hit near .500.
Cam Caminiti, P, Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)Expected to be the No. 1 high school pitcher to come off the board, Caminiti has removed doubts about his arm strength after registering 16 strikeouts in a game twice this year. The cousin of former MLB third baseman Ken Caminiti, Cam could go somewhere around No. 18 in the first round.
Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake (Austin, Texas)Gillen is one of the fastest-rising players among high school seniors. Nowhere to be found in mock drafts back in December and January, the Westlake shortstop now sits firmly in the lower half of the first round. Gillen is described as being one of the top hitters in the Class of 2024 and his power numbers during his senior year certainly reflect that with seven home runs, including two in one game.
William Schmidt, P, Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.)Schmidt and the Bears have been in the spotlight all season long as the top player on the No. 1 team in the country. He has climbed into the first round after posting a 7-0 record with 81 strikeouts in 49.1 innings pitched. Could be the first prep pitcher taken as some mock drafts have him as high as Caminiti.
Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee (Wauchula, Fla.)
Another senior who has jumped into the first round after a strong season, Lindsey has impressed with his athleticism and speed. Batting .344 on the year, Lindsey could stay at shortstop or could move to the outfield to take advantage of his quickness. More recent mock drafts have him going in the bottom third of the first round.
Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View (Jonesboro, Ark.)Caldwell has slipped a little in the most recent mock drafts. Seen as a pick in the lower half of the first round at the start of the season, he is now seen as falling to the compensation rounds or round two. Caldwell is batting near .500 for Valley View as the team's lead-off hitter.
P.J. Morlando, OF/1B, Summerville (S.C.)Ranked as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2024 by Perfect Game, Morlando is another player who could possibly drop out of the first round after being a strong first-round candidate prior to the start of the season. Morlando is batting .500 on the season but has only two home runs according to stats submitted to MaxPreps. Several drafts still have Morlando going somewhere in the bottom of the first round.
Braylon Doughty, P, Chaparral (Temecula, Calif.)Doughty has impressed with a fastball that is hitting at 96 miles per hour. Not a first-round prospect early in the year, he has posted 85 strikeouts and a 1.11 ERA in 50.1 innings pitched. Will likely be a pitcher at the next level but has shown power at the plate with eight home runs.
Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B, Okemos (Mich.)Bonemer has held steady as a possible end-of-the-first-round selection or possibly an early second round pick. Still doesn't have a lot of games under his belt this spring due to Michigan's late start so he could rise as the season progresses.
Carter Johnson, SS, Oxford (Ala.)A member of Team USA last fall, Johnson continues to rise in the mock drafts as a possible late-round selection. Could eventually move to second or third base and has been mocked as high as the No. 24 overall pick.
