Jamie Cameron

Drafting Chris Levonas gives the club back-to-back high-ceiling prep arms. View full video

The 2024 MLB Draft is just a week away. Let’s step back and take stock of the class as a whole and dig into some under the radar profiles to know ahead of July 14th. Image courtesy of © Nicole Mullen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK We’re about a week away from the opening night of the 2024 MLB Draft. The Consensus Board will go through a ton of updates by then as everyone seems to like to release a very ‘last minute’ version of their boards. The overall constitution won’t change much, though. It’s shuffling at this stage. So what can we make of this class? How does it compare to last year? Who are some favorites further down the board? Let’s dig in. However a class is initially labeled is usually an impression that sticks. In this case, ‘it's a poor class’. There’s truth to that. This is most evidenced by the shortstop and prep bat demographics. In 2023, there were 22 shortstops with top 100 profiles in the consensus board. In 2024, that’s just 14, with a number likely to move off the position. Looking at prep bats in general, there were 28 in the top 100 in 2023, compared to 20 this year. There’s a solid crop of college bats in this years’ class through pick 65, so I’d expect model based teams to load up on bats early. The lack of shortstops bolsters the infield crop this year. There’s 17 college infield profiles (1B, 2B, 3B) in the top 100 this year, compared to 11 last year. Move to the top of the board, and that becomes more stark, with two first base only defensive profiles (Caglianone, Kurtz) in the top ten. That’s not my flavor of risk profile. Overall, there’s a lack of premium, up the middle defense. Instead of thinking about what demographics of a class are strong, I find it more helpful to mine which demographics are strong in a particular area of the board. While prep bats are not a strong demographic, there are five prep shortstops in the 30-40 range (Gillen, Sanford, Johnson, Lewis, and Lindsey). Catching is an improved demographic from 2023, with 3 profiles (Moore, Janek, and Lomavita) sitting in the 20-30 range, and two more (Cozart and Bazzell) in the 40-60 range. So what is the strength of this class? After the college bats in the first half of the top 100, it’s pitching depth, both college and prep. 43 of the top 100 profiles in this class are pitchers, evenly split between college (21) and prep (22). There’s even a healthy amount of lefties (15), compared to just 8 last year. There’s diversity in the profiles, too; power, spin, control, it’s all represented. I suspect in five to seven years when we look back on this class, organizations who did well had good process and good luck with their pitching selections. What about some under the radar player profiles? As usual, in our coverage on DTS and this site, we’re drawn towards profiles linked to the teams we cover. Who are some profiles I’m bullish on heading into the draft? I detailed some below along with some information on each profile and their current consensus board position. With these picks, I worked to stay away from players ranked in the top 35 on the consensus board, to shine a light on some prospects further down the board. Tyson Lewis, SS, L/R, Millard West HS, NE (38) Headline: Prep shortstop with a chance for speed and power Lewis is a left-handed hitting prep shortstop prospect in a class in which that demographic is a significant weakness. The Arkansas commit has gained a ton of strength in the last year, which has translated into better bat speed and more power. Lewis has a quick swing supported by lightning fast hands that at present profiles as a line drive machine. While some don't love his high hand placement it's been working well for Lewis. His athletic frame offers plenty more in the tank in terms of future power if he's able to get to his new found bat speed with more consistency. Defensively, Lewis has plus speed and great quickness which aids his defense at shortstop. Solid actions and an above average arm give him a good chance to stick there as a pro. This is a potential power speed combination that won't remain on the board for long in July. Joey Oakie, RHP, R/R, Ankeny Centennial HS, IA (46) Headline: Lower launch prep arm with potent fastball/slider combination Throwing from a lower launch and lower three quarter slot, prep righty Joey Oakie has some of the best stuff of any high school pitcher in the 2024 class. A long athletic frame with projection left and a quick, whippy arm are indicative that there is likely more in the tank for Oakie, velocity wise. On the mound he throws a fastball that's been up to 97 mph with a ton of run. It's one of the most movement heavy fastballs in the class. One wonders, given his release, if he might add a four seamer to play up in the zone further down his development path. For secondaries, Oakie has a nasty slider. It has downward bite and a ton of sweep and has generated upwards of 20 inches of horizontal movement, with gaudy spin rates to match. Oakie also has a changeup, that is a fringy, developmental pitch (that he hasn't needed much). Kyle DeBarge, SS, R/R, Louisiana-Lafayette (59) Headline: Undersized, spark plug infielder who does everything well DeBarge is one of the better contact hitters in the entire draft class. In the box, it's a quiet operation with a short, compact swing aided by lightning fast hands. DeBarge has excellent bat to ball skills, and rarely chases. He doesn't strike out much, but doesn't walk much either. There's some sneaky power to the pull side. Through the end of his 2024 season, DeBarge hit .356/.418/.699 (1.117) with 21 home runs (43 XBH), 24 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 60 games played. That's a significant step forward in almost every offensive category. DeBarge can impact the game with his other tools, too. He has plus speed with good instincts on the bases and a plus arm (he used to play catcher). While he might not be the smoothest operator at shortstop, his arm and lateral quickness aid his range, and he has a decent shot of sticking there as a professional. Chris Levonas, RHP, R/R, Christian Brothers Academy, NJ (66) Headline: Prep righty with improved stuff, affinity for spin, and projection left Levonas is a gangly right-handed prep pitcher currently committed to Wake Forest. He has a package of interesting traits and skills on the mound. His fastball has taken a significant velocity jump this spring, up from the 90-92 mph range, now sitting 93-95 mph and touching 98 mph. It's an offering with good spin that is likely to be a plus pitch, if it isn't already. Levonas has also shown great proficiency in spinning the baseball, with a slider/curveball breaker pairing that carry spin rates between 2800-3000 rpms, in addition to some feel for a changeup. Levonas commands and moves these pitches around the zone well, in addition to getting good extension at release. A loose, quick arm, with a four pitch arsenal he commands well, a proclivity to spin the baseball, and plenty of projection. It's an up arrow for this profile heading into July. Aidan May, RHP, R/R, Oregon State (78) Headline: College righty with a devastating sweeper, tweener starter/relief profile May has long been an arm watched by evaluators. After stops in JUCO and at Arizona, he settled at Oregon State in 2024 after injuries and inconsistency hampered his first few years of college baseball. Throwing from a three quarters slot, May throws a sinker in the 92-94 mph range that has been as high as 97 mph and is a solid above average offering. It's paired with a sweeping slider that is already a plus pitch. May can generate north of 3,000 rpms on the pitch and has the ability to move it around the zone. There's also a changeup there with some fade, that could use greater velocity separation from his fastball. While some have already penciled May into a relief role, I think it's likely a drafting organization gives him a shot to start. There's an injury track record, but there's enough traits and enough of an arsenal to stick at starter as a pro. Cole Mathis, INF, R/R, College of Charleston (79) Headline: Data darling with great batted ball metrics and otherworldly Cape performance Mathis plays for a smaller school at College of Charleston but has forced himself into the day one conversation through a combination of outstanding batted ball metrics in 2023 and an otherworldly Cape performance in 2023. He smacked 11 home runs in his summer stint, in addition to posting consistently strong exit velocities in his 2023 college season, up there with some of the best in the nation. There's plenty to like about his approach and swing as he walks more than he strikes out, leading to a strong on-base platform. As you might expect, Mathis has excellent bat speed and punishes pitches in the zone with consistency. He'd previously been a two way player, up to 97 mph on the bump but is focused on hitting in 2024. He warmed up after a little but of a slow start. His final line in 2024 was .335/.472/.650 (1.122) with 14 home runs (33 XBH), 46 walks, and just 32 strikeouts in 52 games. Gage Miller, 2B/3B, R/R, Alabama (91) Headline: JUCO transfer who mashed in the SEC with uncertain defensive home After spending some time dominating JUCO competition in Alabama, Gage Miller has made a seamless transition to SEC play in a loud breakout season that could see him end up a day one pick. Miller finds the barrel of the bat plenty and has a good approach at the plate, not chasing too much out of the zone. There's good bat speed and that, combined with his natural strength, give him some pull side power. In his first 50 games for the Crimson Tide in 2024 he has 19 home runs, 26 walks, and just 23 strikeouts, buoying an impressive offensive output. He'll have to hit well as there's only fringy to average other tools. There's not much speed and it's an average arm and glove at best that might transition Miller to a corner outfield spot eventually. Still, putting up the kind of offensive season he has transitioning to the SEC is an impressive feat. Miller finished 2024 with a .381/.474/.702 (1.176) line with 18 home runs (32 XBH), 27 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 55 games for the Crimson Tide. That’s outstanding production against a leap in competition. Peyton Stovall, 2B, L/R, Arkansas (94) Headline: Potentially plus hitter with better underlying numbers than his solid 2024 production Stovall is a really good hitter whose offensive profile is underpinned by a picaresque left handed swing. It's line drive power all over the field, he can pull a home run. The power tool projects to be average at best. Stovall fits best as a second baseman professionally, with a solid glove and arm, and above average speed. Coming off surgery in the back half of 2023 to repair his labrum, Stovall has finally had a clean bill of health and the opportunity to show what he can do over a full season in 2024. He ended the season with a .340/.409/.535 (.944) line with 9 home runs (19 XBH), 20 walks, and 42 strikeouts in 48 games for the Razorbacks. There's plenty to like here in an offensive profile headlined by a potentially great hit tool. Daniel Eagen, RHP, R/R, Presbyterian (118) Headline: Large-framed right hander from a small school who dominated the competition in 2024. Eagen's fastball took a velocity jump this spring after he moved into the rotation full time. It sits 93-94 mph but can get up to 96 mph with some carry, thrown from a high slot. Eagen throws a pair of breakers, a downer curveball in the low 80s, and a slider, both of which have been good bat missers in 2024. There's also a changeup in the arsenal, but it's seldom been used and needs more velocity separation from his fastball. Eagen had a great 2024 season. In 77.2 innings of work, he posted a 2.67 ERA, walking 28 and striking out 121. Eagen has taken a step forward in strike throwing in 2024. The combination of size, a little projection left from added strength, and the current arsenal give him a good chance to stick as a starter at the next level. Ryan Campos, C, L/R, Arizona State (148) Headline: Work-in-progress catcher with excellent track record of collegiate offensive production Campos is a left-handed hitting backstop who has gotten better and better at everything in his time at Arizona State. It's a very hitterish profile, with a strong approach at the plate. He walks plenty, doesn't strike out much, and has good bat to ball skills. Additionally, Campos has been getting to more impact in 2024, with 36 XBH, compared to 16 in 2023. Campos is a work in progress behind the plate. It's an average arm and the supplementary skills (blocking, receiving etc.) need some work. He draws rave reviews for his baseball IQ, character, and work ethic however, qualities that should give him the best shot at getting to average or fringe average defense. If Campos can't stick behind the plate, the bat has enough about it that other positions, such as first base and corner outfield, are a possibility. Campos finished 2024 with a .364/.461/.610 (1.072) line with 11 home runs (36 XBH), 40 walks and 25 strikeouts in 48 games. Sean Keys, 3B, L/R, Bucknell (188) Headline: Extra-base hit machine with good power and bat-to-ball skills Keys has one of the more analytically trendy profiles in the college hitting demographic this cycle and is coming off a monster season at Bucknell, with a Cape performance track record to back it up. A strong lower half anchors a violent swing which has done serious damage in 2024. Keys pairs this with an excellent approach at the plate, and impressive bat to ball skills (14% InZoneWhiff% in 2024). There's some question about the viability of Key's defensive profile at third base. If he can stick there, it'll be a significant value add, such that he could wind up a top 100 pick. If not, the offensive profile will play at first base. In 2024, Keys put together a .405/.535/.798 (1.333) line with 35 extra base hits (13 home runs), 35 walks and 25 strikeouts in 46 games. LP Langevin, RHP, R/R, Louisiana (199) Headline: Some of the best fastball traits in the class led to a whopping K% in 2024. Langevin is a JUCO transfer who made his way to Louisiana-Lafayette and put up staggering strikeout numbers, thanks to one of the best fastballs in the draft class. Hailing from Quebec, Langevin throws his fastball in the 92-94 mph range (top 97 mph). He throws from a lower slot, generates a ton of spin and produces plenty of ride from a low launch, a combination that produced a miss rate north of 45% on his fastball in 2024. Langevin has an average slider and a lagging changeup. He sometimes worked as a starter in college ball, but the future is likely as a reliever after putting up 15.2 K/9 in 2024. Who are your favorite under the radar prospects for the 2024 draft? Join the discussion with a comment below. View full article

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 43 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie talk through the pitching demographic of the forthcoming 2024 MLB Draft. The two talk through both the college and the prep ranks, highlighting the depth and diversity of arms available within the top 100 prospects overall. The guys speculate about the Cubs recent tendency to draft power arms, and possible prep fits for the Twins and Brewers given their luxury of picks and bonus pool money. Draft prospects discussed include Brody Brecht, Trey Yesavage, Ben Hess, Luke Holman, Ryan Johnson, Gage Jump, Ryan Prager, Braylon Doughty, Joey Oakie, Chris Levonas, Dasan Hill and David Shields. 4:08 Housekeeping Notes 9:20 Pitching, Pitching, Pitching 20:52 College Pitching Depth 38:41 Prep Pitching 55:30 Closing and reminders You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

The Brewers acquired the 34th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft in the Corbin Burnes trade, significantly boosting their bonus pool. Here are some intriguing targets for the Brewers with their second pick in the proceedings. Image courtesy of © Larry Murphy/Correspondent for Asbury Park Press / USA TODAY NETWORK We’re only a couple of weeks out from the 2024 MLB Draft, so we’re going to highlight some potential targets for the Brewers at pick 34th overall that they received from the Orioles in the Corbin Burnes trade. This is obviously not meant to be a predictive exercise. I think it can be useful in mining the caliber and scope of talent that might be available at that pick. Given the number of picks and the strong financial position the Brewers are in ahead of the draft, I’d expect them to be creative with their bonus pool, as they were in 2023. Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke (35) At 6'2", 205 pounds, Jonathan Santucci is one of two collegiate left-handed pitchers (along with Hagen Smith of Arkansas) who profile as possible first-round selections, although durability and inconsistency may have cost Santucci in the second half of the college season. An excellent athlete, Santucci got some at-bats at DH and in the outfield for Duke, though he won't take on those roles in pro ball. A promising 2022 season was cut short by surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. There's still some projection in the frame for Santucci, with a lean body and fluid, repeatable delivery offering more upside with pro instruction. Santucci's repertoire is headlined by a plus fastball that has taken a step forward in velocity, sitting 93-95 mph and grabbing 96 mph consistently in 2024. It jumps out of the hand and has good carry, generating plenty of whiffs. Santucci also features a slider he throws in the low 80s (which often fools hitters, with late break), and a mid-80s changeup that has good fading action (although he needs to develop better command of the pitch). With a combination of up to three pitches that could develop to be plus, and his excellent athleticism, a healthy, moderately productive 2024 should cement Santucci in first-round consideration. Carter Johnson, SS, Oxford HS, MS (36) Carter Johnson is one of the better prep profiles in the 2024 class, thanks to a well-rounded skill set in which everything grades out as average or better. At 6'2", 180 pounds, there's plenty of projectability left in an already strong athletic profile. At the plate, Johnson has a clean, smooth left-handed swing. Everything looks good; quick hands, consistent bat path, an ability to recognize pitches well. He uses the entire field. At the moment, the hit tool is more advanced than the power tool, but there's plenty of time to add strength and in-game power in what is more of a gap-to-gap approach at present. Johnson has average speed. Growth and increased strength may eventually move him off shortstop, even though he has the arm, defensive actions, and hands to stay there. While the defensive profile is average to above-average, the bat is exciting, and Johnson is one of the most well-rounded offensive profiles of any prep player in the class. Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS, CA (40) Doughty is a prep right-handed pitcher out of California who is one of the biggest risers on the pitching side of the class. While the Oklahoma State commit doesn't have a prototypical starting pitcher's frame, he's a great athlete who moves exceptionally well on the mound behind a compact, efficient, repeatable delivery that points to more projection and a good chance to stick as a starter. On the bump, Doughty has a fastball that sits 92-94 mph, with solid late life and has grabbed 96-97 mph. It's backed up by one of the best breaking pitches in the prep class, a two-plane slider that has a ton of sharp break. Doughty generates upwards of 3,000 RPM on the pitch, commands it well, and in general, has shown a real propensity to spin the baseball. Doughty also throws a changeup that's more of an emerging pitch. The combination of athleticism, ability to spin the ball, and two above-average pitches gives him a great chance to continue to start and is getting his name mentioned in the day one mix. Ryan Johnson, RHP, Dallas Baptist (47) Johnson is one of the most fascinating pitchers in all of college baseball, and has carried over some impressive results in the tail end of 2023 into 2024. At 6'6", 215 pounds, he's a slender but imposing presence on the mound Johnson leverages a quick pitching motion with more of a drifting step than a typical windup, and wastes little time between pitches, operating efficiently. He throws from a lower arm slot. It's definitely an unusual look, with some deception. While some evaluators might not love the high-effort delivery, it hasn't impacted his ability to fill up the strike zone. Johnson has a fastball that's flirted with 100 mph. It sits 93-95, with armside run. The fastball is not a bat-misser, but Johnson has a repertoire that doesn't require it to be. He throws his sweeping slider close to half of the time. It has plenty of lateral movement, late bite, and Johnson commands it extremely well. Johnson also throws a cutter as a bridge pitch between his fastball and slider, and a changeup with good fade but lots of room for improvement. Johnson had loud performances early in 2024, with 13, 14, and 15 strikeout performances in three of his first six starts. He's a unique pitcher who fills up the zone. There are a ton of interesting traits here for a drafting organization. Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls HS, NJ (104) Dickerson has been a late riser on draft boards this spring, as cold-weather bats often are. There's plenty of room in this draft class for a hitterish profile like his, though, particularly one that has power potential to boot. Dickerson is a multi-sport athlete (hockey), and has a ton of strength in a fire-hydrant type frame. It's a solid right-handed swing that is producing increased power, and he's shown the ability to drive the ball the other way (in addition to strong control of the strike zone). Defensively, Dickerson has plus speed, he's played shortstop, and has good actions and hands in the infield. It might not be enough arm to stick at the position long-term, but he should be able to play second base or even center field with his excellent athleticism. Dickerson is a Virginia commit, but has increasing buzz as of mid-June. I'd expect him to take a jump up the board as the industry releases their final round of rankings here in early July. What player demographics would you like to see the Brewers select from with the 34th overall pick? Add your thoughts with a comment below. View full article

We're just a few weeks from the 2024 MLB Draft. Who might the Brewers take at 17th overall? We dig in on five great options. Image courtesy of © Mitch Alcala/For The Oklahoman / USA TODAY NETWORK It’s time to get weird. We’re only a couple of weeks out from the 2024 MLB Draft, so we’re going to highlight some potential targets for the Brewers at pick 17th overall. This is a tough exercise at the best of times. This year, it might be impossible. After the first 10 picks, the first round promises to be an overwhelming mess. We could make an argument for many more players than we have time to cover. Let’s do our best anyway. Instead of looking at these articles as predictive in any way, I’d rather folks view them as a talent barometer. Here’s an overview of the caliber of talent and some of the names the Brewers might target at pick 17. It should go without saying that if any of the consensus top-10 names fall to 17, I’d think the Brewers would have to consider them. I’d think college hitters like Nick Kurtz, James Tibbs, Seaver King or Cam Smith would appeal to the Brewers, or even prep shortstop Bryce Rainer. Of that group, only King and Smith feel like they have a shot to be around at 17. Here’s some names they might consider, in the order they currently appear on the MLB Draft Consensus Board. Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State (15) Benge played as a two-way player at Oklahoma State. Despite a fastball that he cranked up to 97 mph, he'll be drafted as an outfielder. Benge has an exciting offensive toolkit led by good bat speed that produces consistently high exit velocities. This is paired with a chase rate under 20% and a contact% over 80%, a potent combination. The thorn in Benge's side in 2023 was a very high ground ball rate that he'll need to clean up in 2024 in order to properly leverage the rest of his offensive skills. Benge has average speed, a plus arm, and above average glove that should lend itself to a really solid right-field profile defensively. It's been a strong 2024 offensively. Benge hit .335/.444/.665 (1.109) with 18 home runs, 24 doubles, 49 walks and 51 strikeouts through 61 games. He's firmly a middle of the first round prospect, for me. William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS, LA (17) At 6'4, 185 pounds, there's a ton of projection left on a wiry frame. It's a little bit of an effortful delivery, but Schmidt absolutely has starter traits. He has an above average fastball that's already taken a velocity jump at the beginning of 2024. It sits 92-94 mph but has grabbed as high as 98 mph with late life. Schmidt's best pitch is his curveball. It's maybe the best prep breaking pitch in the class. He throws it in the high-70s-low 80s and it has hammer downward action that drops away from hitters, regularly hitting spin rates of over (3,000rpms). Schmidt has also shown a feel for a changeup with good fade, although he's needed it sparingly to date. Schmidt has all the physical attributes you look for in a prep starter (high waist, long limbs etc.) and his ability to spin the ball might be a separator for him come July. Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa (18) Brecht is an exceptional athlete with an incredibly quick arm who has added some deception to his delivery by shortening his arm stroke in his time at Iowa. The stuff is 'Skenesian', headlined by a fastball that averaged 97.5 mph in 2023. He cranks it up to 101 mph, but it sits in the high 90s in games, with plenty of run. Brecht's best secondary offering is a diabolical slider that he throws leveraging two different shapes, one with more bite, and the other with more sweep. It has the potential to be a double plus pitch and generates a ton of whiffs. Brecht has also added a splitter, which is newer in his arsenal, and thrown a curve, although less frequently than the FB/SL one-two punch. Entering 2024, Brecht's Achilles heel was control and command, with consistent strike throwing having proven a challenge. He walked 61 in 77 innings in 2023 for the Hawkeyes, and there's significant reliever risk to the profile unless that improves as a pro. Brecht did reduce the number of free passes in 2024, going from 7.1 BB/9 to 5.6. It's tantalizing arm talent, but also feels like one of the widest potential range of outcomes of any first round pick. Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford (22) Moore was one of the better prep bats in the 2022 class and one of the highest ranked players not to sign. Moore made it to campus at Stamford and will be extremely young for the class (20) as a draft eligible sophomore in 2024. Moore had an extremely unusual setup at the plate that he has simplified this season. However strange his operation was, it was effective in his freshman season in Palo Alto, to the tune of 15 home runs and 20 doubles. Moore’s approach and swing decisions have improved in 2024 and he has walked more this season. He has excellent bat to ball skills but seems to have suffered some bad batted ball luck. Moore has an OK 2024 offensively. Some bad batted ball luck contributed to numbers which don't tell the entire story of his season. He maintained the pop (.967 OPS, 16 home runs), while increasing his walk rate and decreasing his strikeout rate. Moore is a question mark behind the plate. A solid arm is offset by the need to refine his blocking, receiving, and footwork. Moore has the offensive profile to stick in the first round regardless of defensive position, but if he can develop his catching skills, he has a chance to provide really good value. Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State (32) Kaelen Culpepper is an exceptional athlete who has shifted defensively from 2B/3B to SS in his junior season at Kansas State. With a strong offensive performance in 2024, he could provide a jolt to a weak draft demographic that's usually coveted (college SS). At the plate, Culpepper has a strong overall skill set. He generates good bat speed, although a flatter bat path hasn't produced much loft to date. Additionally, he has good contact skills, solid plate discipline, although he does expand the zone a little too much at times. Culpepper has had a solid 2024 season in which he’s walking more and has amassed 32 extra base hits in 61 games, in addition to 17 stolen bases. Defensively, it's a plus arm, with good defensive actions and athleticism. Regardless of whether Culpepper ends up sticking at SS as a pro, or slides over to 2B or 3B, it should be an above average defensive profile. Culpepper made some mechanical adjustments to his swing that helped him catch fire at regionals, hitting a home run off Hagen Smith and hitting for the cycle in the process. This is a solid all around college hitting profile. Honorable Mention: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky (29) Whom do you want to see the Brewers take at 17th overall? Join the discussion with a comment below. View full article

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 41 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie talk through the Twins releasing Keoni Cavaco, their first round pick from the 2019 MLB draft. They talk through the risks of the pick, and how MLB teams evaluate their draft classes. The guys go on to talk through the College World Series and some of the prospects on show, before digging into (and complaining about) the MLB Draft Combine. They preview the first base demographic of the forthcoming 2024 MLB Draft, including an intriguing sleeper pick who has some of the best batted ball data in college baseball. Finally, the guys talk through some listener questions. 3:11 Housekeeping Notes 5:00 Keoni Cavaco 17:28 College World Series 25:53 Draft Combine 46:34 First Basemen previews 1:04:47 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

Janek is the best catcher in the class, for me. .364/.476/.709 (1.185) with 17 HR (37 XBH), 40 BB, and 45 Ks isn't that questionable lol. I think he'll be solid average offensively at worst, in which case he'd accrue plenty of value.

We’re just over a month from the opening day of the 2024 MLB Draft. We’re starting to see steam connecting prospects and teams. Check out our second mock draft of the cycle. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp We’re starting to see a trickle of creditable steam surrounding draft picks and fits. We’ll have at least three more mocks in the coming weeks, including a dualing installment next time up. Given how chaotic this draft should be after pick 11 or so, we’ve opted to switch things up significantly. 1. Cleveland Guardians - Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State There's been steam connecting the Guardians to Bazzana in recent weeks. Whether accurate or not, he’s closed the gap between himself and Charlie Condon. Their composite rankings are 1.88 and 1.55 respectively. At this point, it’s close to a toss up who the industry prefers at the top. 2. Cincinnati Reds - Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia The Reds lucked out in the lottery big time. They’ll land one of the two best players (if they so choose) and have the financial flexibility to tap into prep talent further down the board. Condon won’t be on the board long if the Guardians pass. 3. Colorado Rockies - Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest There are some decent pieces in the Rockies system, but they need talented arms if they are ever going to reemerge into relevance. Burns could be a game changer for their rotation. 4. Oakland Athletics - Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida Caglianone’s future is as a hitter. He’s improved his chase rates and bat to ball skills in 2024, to go with the 80 grade raw power that ameliorates the first base only profile on defense. 5. Chicago White Sox - Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard Westlake HS, CA The White Sox are in no hurry. They’ll likely strengthen their farm significantly before the trade deadline. They’ve been connected to Rainer and Griffin, the top two prep players on the board. Here we’ll go with Rainer, a polished, left-handed hitting shortstop. Braden Montgomery also makes plenty of sense here. 6. Kansas City Royals - Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M This is a great spot to be picking, despite getting some raw luck in the lottery (again). Montgomery has had a special 2024 season. Through regional play, he’s slugged .730 and hit 26 home runs. He’s better from the left side, and a plus arm makes him one of the best outfield prospects in the class. This would be a great get for KC. Rainer and Griffin could fit here, too. 7. St. Louis Cardinals - Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest The Cardinals have roared back into relevance in the NL Central in 2024 after looking down and out. They have a difficult choice here. It’s hard to pass on Hagen Smith, but in Nick Kurtz, they have one of the best hit/power combos in the draft class. 22 bombs and a 1.294 OPS after a slow start will play. 8. Los Angeles Angels - Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas We know the Angels type. They target players who can move and debut quickly at the MLB level, despite little evidence their strategy is working well. Smith could go as high as three, but his floor is likely around here after a dominant season in the SEC (164 Ks in 84 innings at the time of writing). 9. Pittsburgh Pirates - J.J. Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia Wetherholt was 1:1 coming into 2024. Lingering soft tissue injuries have cost him playing time and exposure at shortstop (having previously played second base). If he can remain healthy, he could be the steal of the top half of the first round, with the best hit tool in the class. 10. Washington Nationals - Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep HS, MS Griffin is one of the best athletes in this class and could go several spots higher. The Nationals tend to like high upside prep players, and Griffin has that in abundance. It’s a high risk, high reward play. 11. Detroit Tigers - Trey Yesavage RHP, East Carolina The Tigers have a relatively new team at the helm for their draft and came away with a promising 2023 haul, led by Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle. They’ve had less success developing college pitching in recent year, but Yesavage has firmly established himself as SP3. 12. Boston Red Sox - Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest Seaver King has one of the wider range of outcomes for any first round college player. It’s athleticism, bat speed, and impact in abundance, but it’s still pretty raw. He’s one of the higher upside plays in the class on the college side. 13. San Francisco Giants - Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS, AZ Caminiti, to his credit, has maintained his draft stock throughout the process. It’s either him or Kash Mayfield for prep LHSP1. We’ll go with Caminiti here, despite some lingering concerns about his ability to spin the baseball. 14. Chicago Cubs - James Tibbs, OF, Florida State This might be the most mocked pick this cycle. Tibbs to the Cubs makes tons of sense. It’s a pretty safe bat. If he’s off the board, Seaver King, Cam Smith, and Christian Moore all make sense). 25 home runs and a 1.267 OPS highlight an incredible season for Tibbs through regionals. If he was more athletic, he’d be a top eight pick. 15. Seattle Mariners - Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS, OK The Mariners leaned into a strong prep position player class in 2023 with plenty of flexibility courtesy of abundant picks (and money). Their system could use some refreshing on the pitching side. Mayfield has one of the best deliveries in the draft class (college or prep) and would be my pick for prep LHSP1. 16. Miami Marlins - Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State The Marlins need bats. Smith is a great option who had an outstanding 2024 season anchoring the Florida State offense with James Tibbs. It’s a solid defensive profile and an offensive skillset full of impact. 17. Milwaukee Brewers - Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa The Brewers are ‘up there’ with the Mariners with the quality and consistency of their pitching development. Brecht might have the best one-two punch in the class between his fastball and slider. If he’s a first rounder, he’ll also set a record (high) for walk rate for a college pitcher. He improved in the second half of the season. If anyone can harness the immense ceiling, it’s Milwaukee. 18. Tampa Bay Rays - Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky Waldschmidt is one of my favorite prospects in the 2024 cycle. He’s done everything for Kentucky offensively on one of the best teams in the SEC. There’s solid tools across the board. He’s a sure first round profile, for me. 19. New York Mets - Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina Honeycutt has the best tools of any college position player. Elite center field defense, plus speed, and the chance for plus power. There’s legitimate swing and miss worries though, and a K% north of 25% is an orange flag. 20. Toronto Blue Jays - Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee Moore is 35 on the consensus board currently. It’s way too low. A 1.229 OPS and 29 home runs through regional play in the SEC is a first round profile. Any number of teams should be thrilled to get him in this range. 21. Minnesota Twins - Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS, AR Caldwell is one of only three sure fire prep players who will go in the first round, for me. While it might seem antithetical to the Twins typical approach (lean into the strength of the draft), Caldwell would be a top 10 pick if he was 6’0 (he’s 5’9). It’s plus speed in centerfield and a great approach at the plate in a very hitterish profile. 22. Baltimore Orioles - Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake HS, TX Gillen has been described as the best hitter in Texas. That ought to be good enough for a still loaded Orioles system. 23. Los Angeles Dodgers - Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS, FL Lindsey is one of a handful of prep shortstops who will go in the 20-40 range. He’s an explosive athlete, an 80-grade runner, and the Dodgers make superstars out of prospects with these type of athletic tools. 24. Atlanta Braves - Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State A two-way player who should focus on hitting over pitching, Benge has gotten over his groundball whoas of 2023. Benge has a nice balance of power and bat to ball skills in his profile. He’s a high floored college bat who could go ten picks higher. 25. San Diego Padres - Ryan Sloan, RHP, York Community HS, IL One of the best prep righties in the class, Sloan has an enticing combination of frame, velocity, and pitch mix. That’s exactly the type of clay the Padres like to mold. 26. New York Yankees - Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State A switch pitcher who will likely focus on pitching right handed as a pro. Cijntje has earned Marcus Stroman comps and has legitimate first round steam at this point. 27. Philadelphia Phillies - Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee Amick’s momentum was slowed midseason by appendicitis. He’s handled third base better than expected. It’s a power over hit profile with some swing and miss concerns. 28. Houston Astros - Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State We haven’t talked much about Jordan. He might have the best bat speed in the class. There are major strikeout issues, and the contact rate is in the sixties. If the right player development team can help make it work, there’s massive impact in the profile 29. Arizona Diamondbacks - William Schmidt, Catholic HS, LA Schmidt was an early riser in the cycle. The fastball took a velocity jump and it might be the best breaking ball in the prep class, an absolute hammer curveball. 30. Texas Rangers - Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford This feels like a value play at this point. Moore has had a poor year offensively, but is still floating around the back half of the first round on most boards. 31. Arizona Diamondbacks - Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS, NE There’s tons of steam on the Diamondbacks and Lewis, who has risen quickly up boards. It’s a potential hit, power, speed combination at shortstop. 32. Baltimore Orioles - Kaelen Culpepper, SS/3B, Kansas State A consistent performer throughout his collegiate career with no real gaps in his profile, and no real carrying tool either. 33. Minnesota Twins - Joey Oakie, RHP, Ankeny HS, IA Given the Twins combination of picks and bonus pool, it makes too much sense for them to tap into a deep prep pitching class sometime in their first four picks. Oakie is one of my favorites with a nasty combination of running fastball and a sweeper with a ton of lateral movement. 34. Milwaukee Brewers - Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State Janek is the best catcher in the class for me. He controls the run game with a plus arm and is a good defender. The offensive profile isn’t spectacular but he does everything well. If the Brewers take two college players, expect things to get weird from then on out. They have money and picks to leverage creatively. 35. Arizona Diamondbacks - Jared Thomas, OF, Texas An impactful college bat who should stick in centerfield. Thomas has taken a step forward in 2024 with his offensive impact. It’s an appealing, well-rounded profile. 36. Cleveland Guardians - Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS, CA While Doughty doesn’t have a prototypical frame, it’s a smooth repeatable delivery, a good fastball, and a real ability to spin the baseball. A scary prospect in Cleveland’s player development system. 37. Pittsburgh Pirates - Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence HS, TX A spring riser, Sanford has a solid overall offensive profile for a system that’s very arm heavy. 38. Colorado Rockies - Caleb Lomavita, C, Cal A value play at this point. I don’t love Lomavita’s offensive profile, personally, it’s a wild yet high impact approach. He’s had steam in the teens 39. Kansas City Royals - Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern Sirota has had a down year, but the tools and performance have been there before. He won’t last too long. View full article

He's popped big time, this spring. First round buzz now. Might be a bit rich for me, but really intriguing profile

We're in the thick of draft season. Let's take a look at five prospects whose stock is skyrocketing. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp We’re in the thick of draft season now. To break up our positional previews, we’re going to highlight some helium profiles. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it’s typically reserved for prospects that rise late in the cycle, and/or emerge suddenly. Here are five names to watch who have gained significant steam throughout the spring. For each prospect, you’ll find their name, position, school, and current ranking on the MLB Consensus Draft Board. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky (31) Waldschmidt is an all-round prospect who transferred from Charleston Southern to Kentucky after his sophomore season. Despite not having a carrying tool, he can chalk up value in a number of different ways. It's a little bit of everything at the plate, as strong bat-to-ball skills combine with good on-base ability (in his first 29 games of 2024, Waldschmidt has walked 22 times and struck out just 16). There's sneaky pull-side power here, too, with a line-drives-to-all-fields impact at the plate. GET THAT CELLY GOING BC WALDY WENT YARD AGAIN??‍♂️? ?https://t.co/YwQE2KVTIU (@SECNetwork)#WeAreUK x #SECBSB | @ryanwaldy21 pic.twitter.com/zH2NVd5VZk — Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) May 23, 2024 Waldschmidt has good speed, which aids him defensively and on the bases. In the outfield, he takes efficient routes and has a good shot to stick in center as a pro. Waldschmidt missed the beginning of 2024, recovering from a torn ACL. Through Regional play, Waldschmidt had a .359/.482/.657 line with 14 home runs, 24 stolen bases, and almost as many walks as strikeouts. He’s a first-rounder for me. Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS, FL (37) Lindsey simply appeared on the consensus board one day this spring in a top-35 slot.. A two-sport star who is committed to Florida to play football and baseball, the shortstop/outfield profile is underpinned by some of the most impressive athleticism in the entire class. There's a ton of projection left in Lindsey's frame. He's already posted 80-grade run times that should translate to him being a plus defender, whether he sticks at short or in center, in addition to being a menace on the base paths. Lindsey has also received rave reviews for his offensive improvements thus far in 2024. Quick hands, excellent bat-to-ball skills, good barrel control, and an emerging ability to backspin the baseball make Lindsey a serious helium prospect and someone who could have significant impact as a first-round pick come July. He’s the type of athlete I’d expect the Dodgers to target. Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS, NE (39) Lewis is a left-handed hitting prep shortstop prospect, in a class in which that demographic is a significant weakness. The Arkansas commit has gained a ton of strength in the last year, which has translated into better bat speed and more power. Lewis has a quick swing supported by lightning-fast hands that (at present) profiles as a line-drive machine. While some don't love his high hand placement, it's been working well. His athletic frame offers plenty more upside in terms of future power, if he's able to get to his newfound bat speed with more consistency. Defensively, Lewis has plus speed and great quickness, which aids his defense at shortstop. Solid actions and an above-average arm give him a good chance to stick there as a pro. This is a potential power-speed combination that won't remain on the board for long in July. There’s some steam connecting Lewis with the Diamondbacks and their slew of picks starting late in the first round. Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State (43) No. Your eyes do not deceive you. Cijntje is a switch pitcher. The native of Curaçao has a glove that fits both hands. A natural left-hander, Cijntje is better as a right-handed pitcher and will likely stick there as a professional. He's been on the radar as a prospect for a while, due to his unique skill set, but there's a unique athlete in this profile, too. From the right side, the fastball sits in the 93-95 mph range and has touched 97 mph, with good carry. There's an above-average slider with good bite and an average changeup. From the left side, it's less velocity and more of a fastball-slider combination. If he does make it to the majors using both arms and has to navigate the Pat Venditte Rule, he'll always be choosing to pitch righty when a switch-hitter comes up. While Cijntje doesn't have an ideal frame, he's stocky and strong, and has made a good deal of progress with his control in 2024--although the command of his pitches could still improve. An incredibly unique profile, it'll be fascinating to see what a drafting organization does here. My bet is a starting role from the right side to begin with. He’s in contention to be a first-round pick. Dax Whitney, RHP, Blackfoot HS, ID (84) It's not often that senior evaluators travel to Idaho to see a prospect ahead of the MLB draft, but that's exactly the case for Dax Whitney, one of the biggest pop-up prospects in the 2024 class. Whitney hadn't had a ton of exposure on the showcase circuit, preferring to play for his legion team instead, but he has evaluators pouring in after a pop in both movement and velocity this spring. He has a great pitcher's frame, at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, with plenty to dream on in terms of future projection. That's all added up to be a clean, repeatable delivery that has him consistently throwing strikes and pounding the zone. On the mound, he throws a fastball that sits 92-94 mph, but can grab as high as 96 mph. That's backed up by an excellent 12-6 curveball, a shorter slider with real tilt, and an emerging changeup that he's shown consistent feel for. Whitney is one of the biggest up-arrows and buzziest names ahead of the draft this spring. He went from not ranked on this board to debuting at 81. There's a good chance he's a top-50 pick in July, with the combination of size, stuff, and polish that's easy to dream on. What do you make of some of the rapid risers in this year’s draft class? Any other names you’d throw into the mix? Join our draft discussion in the comments below. View full article

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 39 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie sit down with Carlos Collazo, Draft Expert at Baseball America. The guys talk through the top of the 2024 draft class, including who Carlos would take at 1:1. They then dig into demographics in more depth, including catching, prep shortstops, and prep arms. The guys go on to talk through who might be good options for the first pick for the Cubs, Brewers, and Twins, respectively. We then put Carlos on the spot and ask him to give us some under-the-radar players to watch in addition to asking him to make some tough calls on similar player profiles. 3:50 Top of the class 5:20 Who does Carlos take 1:1? 7:46 Where does the chaos start on Day 1? 13:10 College catching 18:48 Prep shortstops 21:17 Prep arms 26:59 The Cubs pick 30:24 The Brewers pick 32:21 The Twins pick 38:30 Under the radar 41:14 Either/Or 45:05 What's next for Carlos or BA? You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

The first Brewer Fanatic Mock Draft has been posted and Jamie Cameron tells fans a little bit about Cameron Smith as well as some other players to keep their eye on. View full video

2024 MLB draft coverage is kicking off with positional previews. We continue with third base. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp We’re excited to ratchet up 2024 MLB Draft content in the coming weeks. We’ll start with a series of articles detailing each positional demographic. These pieces aren’t meant to be an exhaustive list, rather, an overview of the caliber of talent at the position. For each player, we'll run down some basic information, in addition to some strengths and weaknesses. You’ll also find their current position on the Consensus MLB Draft Board in parentheses next to their name. The third base class in 2023 was strong, with five profiles in the top 25 in an extremely talented overall class. 2024 is a thinner crop and the demographic will be influenced by tweener shortstop types. Let’s dig in. Cameron Smith R/R, Florida State (13) After appearing as a top-100 prospect on draft lists ahead of the 2022 draft, Smith made it to campus in Tallahassee. After a freshman campaign that saw evaluators question his hit tool, he's been making strides since a summer stint on the Cape to answer those questions and put himself in a strong position as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024. Smith has an athletic profile built for good power, with a flatter bat path indicative that more home run power could be on the way, if Smith can lift the ball with more consistency. Advances in the hit tool have raised his stock over the summer. Smith has begun chasing less and improved his contact rate significantly enabling him to get off to a scorching 2024 season. Smith is a good runner and mover for someone his size but that's a fringe average grade overall. Defensively, he has a plus arm and moves well, making third base a viable long term home as a professional, one that he should be above average at defensively. Smith is definitely an up arrow prospect thus far in 2024 with an increasingly well-balanced offensive profile at the hot corner. Tommy White R/R, LSU (23) Tommy White became instantly famous as a freshman at NC State, earning the 'Tommy Tanks' moniker after a ridiculous 27 home run first college season (and three in his first ever college game). He transferred to LSU in 2023 and helped the Tigers to a national championship, protecting Dylan Crews in the middle of a stacked lineup, mashing another 24 home runs and slugging .725 in the process. At the plate, White has a crouched stance and a very wide base. He has excellent bat speed, consistently finding the barrel of the bat for great power to all parts of the field. White's bat to ball skills have improved throughout his collegiate career although he has a high chase rate that could be exposed as a professional. It's a legit hit and power combo though, with not many holes in his offensive approach. White isn't a great athlete, and doesn't offer a ton of additional avenues to accrue value. He's played third base defensively but isn't a great fielder. He has an average arm but as a way below average runner, limiting his impact to the offensive side of the ball. White is a polarizing prospect for me. The bat is explosive, but there's not much else on offer. He'll have to hit a ton to be worth it, which he has the skill set to do, but it's a narrower path to success than other first round prospects. Billy Amick R/R, Tennessee (33) Amick is an up arrow player this spring. After receiving limited playing time at Clemson in 2023, he transferred to Tennessee after a strong summer on the Cape and has started the 2024 season hot. Possessing a simple, quietly loaded right-handed swing, Amick has serious strength and has started to put up some impressive exit velocities to go along with solid bat to ball skills. Amick does chase a bit too much and his aggressive approach might limit his ability to get to his power in game unless he can dial it back, but this is a potentially average hit, above average power profile with an increasing track record of performance to back it up. The one question for Amick remains swing and miss, with a contact rate of under 70% a flag for me. Amick has taken a step forward value wise defensively in 2024. The stocky prospect has manned third base with surprising athleticism. While it's fringe average defense at the moment, an above average arm helps ameliorate some of the rawness and there's increasing confidence he can at least start his pro career at third base. Not blessed with great speed, Amick will need to keep hitting to force his way up draft boards, the offensive profile is well rounded and impactful, though. Carson DeMartini L/R, Virginia Tech (48) DeMartini is the latest in a line of college bats to come out of Virginia Tech, following first rounder Gavin Cross and second rounder Tanner Schobel in 2022. DeMartini is a third baseman who primarily played at DH in 2023 due to a shoulder injury and had a procedure to repair his labrum that impacted his preparation for the 2024 season. When it's all said and done, DeMartini is a power over hit profile that projects as a slugging corner infielder or outfielder. In the box, it's a quiet operation with good bat speed and a swing designed to lift the ball. DeMartini has some chase in his game (although not as much as you might think) and improved his bat to ball skills significantly in 2023, dropping his whiff% by 12%. He strikes out more than you'd like to see, but takes plenty of walks to add to the on-base skill set. Defensively, he has at least an average arm and a solid average glove. He doesn't have much in the way of foot speed but he projects to stick at third base as a professional. There's definitely areas of refinement in the profile, but there's a productive corner infield slugger in DeMartini's future if he continues to develop and improve. Colby Shelton L/R, Florida (66) After an outstanding freshman season playing third base for Alabama, Colby Shelton transferred to Florida with an opportunity to play shortstop after Josh Rivera was drafted in July of 2023. Shelton is a stockily-built infield prospect with a left-handed power profile that will likely appeal to teams come July. In the box, it's a very quiet approach. Shelton has little to no pre-swing movement. Good bat speed and a strong lower half help him generate plenty of loft and power in his swing. Shelton walks at a decent clip (13% in 2023) but strikes out more than you'd like to see (24% in 2023). He's been particularly susceptible to velocity and has some swing and miss to his game against secondaries too. While Shelton doesn't have premium athleticism, he's handled the move to shortstop well and, while it doesn't always look picture perfect, has made plenty of plays. I think his home will be somewhere else on the infield when it's all said and done. An average arm and glove should support a transition to second or third base as a professional. The hit tool will be what to watch for Shelton, he leveled out a previously steep swing this spring. If he can hit enough, he is going to end up having an appealing all round offensive profile. Honorable Mentions: Kale Fountain (90), Gage Miller (93), Chase Harlan (108) Who excites you from the third base class in 2024? Who are you higher on than other prospects? Jump into the draft conversation in the comments below. View full article

Our 2024 MLB draft coverage is kicking off with positional previews. We continue today with shortstops. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp We’re excited to ratchet up 2024 MLB Draft content in the coming weeks. We’ll start with a series of articles detailing each positional demographic. These pieces aren’t meant to be an exhaustive list. Rather, it's an overview of the caliber of talent at the position. For each player, we'll run down some basic information, in addition to some strengths and weaknesses. You’ll also find their current position on the Consensus MLB Draft Board in parentheses next to their name. The shortstop class in 2023 was loaded, with 12 profiles in the top 50 in an extremely talented class. This year's is a thinner crop, particularly at the college level. Several prep names have emerged this spring, particularly in the 25-50 range on the Consensus Board. Bryce Rainer L/R, Harvard Westlake (11) Rainer is a legitimate two-way prospect who is looking to join the likes of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Max Fried in becoming a first-round selection out of California powerhouse high school Harvard-Westlake. On the mound, it's a pretty effortless 95-mph fastball with good life, an average curveball with good downward bite, and a slider and changeup combo that are fringe-average, emerging pitches. While it's far from a finished product on the mound, his looseness and projectability point towards a fastball that might flirt with triple digits when it's all said and done. Offensively, there's good bat speed, lightning-quick hands, and plenty of raw power to tap into. His swing can get long, leading to some swing-and-miss in his profile. Defensively, he's an efficient mover with good quickness, who has posted above-average run times to go with a plus arm. Even if he moves off shortstop eventually, his profile should play well at third base. It's difficult to know at the time of writing where orgs would prefer Rainer (pitcher or hitter). That will sort itself out eventually. Either way, it's a ton of tools and projectability in an easy-to-dream-on profile. Kaelen Culpepper R/R, Kansas State (25) Kaelen Culpepper is an exceptional athlete who shifted defensively from second or third base to shortstop in his junior season at Kansas State. With a strong offensive performance in 2024, he could provide a jolt to a weak demographic that's usually coveted (collegiate shortstops). At the plate, Culpepper has a strong overall skill set. He generates good bat speed, although a flatter bat path hasn't produced much loft to date. Additionally, he has good contact skills and solid plate discipline, although he does expand the zone a little too much at times. Culpepper is having a solid 2024 season in which he’s walking more and has amassed 24 extra-base hits in 50 games, in addition to 15 stolen bases. Defensively, it's a plus arm, with good defensive actions and athleticism. Regardless of whether Culpepper ends up sticking at short as a pro, or slides back to a less demanding position, it should be an above-average defensive profile. Wyatt Sanford L/R, Independence HS, TX (28) Sanford is a projectable Texas prep shortstop with a strong set of tools and no real weakness in his game. Starting from a crouched stance with his weight on his back foot, a small toe tap gets Sanford going into a pretty left-handed swing. Good bat speed and quick hands give Sanford outstanding bat-to-ball skills. He maintains strong contact rates, particularly on fastballs in the zone. Sanford rarely expands the zone and doesn't chase often. While there's not been a ton of power in the profile, Sanford has shown more pop this spring and might get to average power as he continues to grow, add weight, and loft to his swing. Defensively, it's a really solid profile. Sanford has good actions, moves efficiently, and has an above-average arm. He should have a good chance to stick at shortstop as a professional. Caleb Bonemer R/R, Okemos HS, MI (31) Bonemer was one of the biggest board risers on the prep side this winter after a great summer in 2023 with one of the better athletic profiles and potentially one of the most exciting power/speed combinations in the 2024 class. A quiet, efficient, short swing produces good bat speed and Bonemer is already showing above average in-game power (typically to the pull side) that may eventually become plus power. Defensively, he's a solid mover with an above-average arm at shortstop who can make all the throws. He may eventually grow off shortstop to third base, but it'd be potentially plus defense there with the offensive profile to make it not matter. Bonemer has also posted plus run times, making him a threat on the base paths and in the run game. One area of opportunity is refining his approach at the plate, as there's some swing-and-miss and a bit too much chase in the profile currently. If he can work through those needs and get the hit tool to average, it's going to be a strong overall profile and one of the first prep names to go in July. Carter Johnson L/R, Oxford HS, MS (32) Carter Johnson is one of the most intriguing prep profiles in the 2024 class, thanks to a well-rounded skill set in which everything grades out as average or better. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, there's plenty of projectability left in an already strong athletic profile. At the plate, Johnson has a clean, smooth, left-handed swing. Everything looks good; quick hands, consistent bat path, an ability to recognize pitches well, a hitter who uses the entire field. At the moment, the hit tool is more advanced than the power tool but there's plenty of time to add strength and in-game power in what is more of a gap-to-gap approach at present. Johnson has average speed. Growth and increased strength may eventually move him off shortstop, even though he has the arm, defensive actions, and hands to stay there. While the defensive profile is average to above-average, the bat is exciting and Johnson is one of the most well-rounded offensive profiles of any prep in the class. Theo Gillen L/R, Westlake HS, TX (36) Gillen is rising quickly up draft boards after a loud start to the 2024 season in which his offensive impact is beginning to match his enormous potential and athleticism. After returning from shoulder surgery in 2022, he's grown a ton, now standing 6'3, 200 pounds in a frame that has plenty of projection. At the plate, Gillen starts in an upright stance with a bat tip straight behind his left shoulder. A small stride gets him moving forward into his compact left-handed swing. Gillen's offensive profile is underpinned by excellent bat-to-ball skills. While his profile used to feature more line drive power, he's begun to develop more home run juice, particularly to the pull side, with a frame that suggests that more in the tank. Defensively, Gillen is a good mover with a quick first step and good defensive actions. He might move off shortstop as he continues to grow. Additionally, much will depend on his throwing arm, which has been the subject of some of his injuries. Gillen has shown plus speed so there are plenty of defensive homes available (second base, or even centerfield). All of this likely won't matter too much, as Gillen has an impactful and well-rounded offensive profile that should put him in the Day One conversation. Kellon Lindsey R/R, Hardee HS, FL (38) Lindsey is the 'where did you come from?' prospect of the 2024 class, prep edition. A two-sport star who is committed to Florida to play football and baseball, the shortstop-outfield profile is underpinned by some of the most impressive athleticism in the entire class. There's a ton of projection left in Lindsey's frame. He's already posted 80-grade run times that should translate to him being a plus defender, whether he sticks at SS or CF, in addition to being a menace on the base paths. Linsey has also received rave reviews for his offensive improvements thus far in 2023. Quick hands, excellent bat to ball skills, good barrel control, and an emerging ability to backspin the baseball make Lindsey a serious helium prospect and someone who could have significant impact as a first round pick come July. Honorable Mentions: Tyson Lewis (44), Griff O’Ferrall (48), Anthony Silva (66), Tyler Bell (67), Charlie Bates (74), Kyle DeBarge (76), Sawyer Farr (78) 2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Catcher Who excites you from the shortstop class in 2024? Who are you higher on than other prospects? Jump into the draft conversation in the comments below. View full article