EDITOR’S NOTE: The following rankings and evaluations by FSS PLUS are based on subjective analysis and industry sources, and do not influence, are not influenced by, or are affiliated with the opinions and reports of Future Stars Series scouting and development staff.
The 2024 MLB Draft is shaping up to feature some of the most unique talents any draft has seen in a handful of years. Whether it’s two-way stars like Konnor Griffin or Cam Caminiti, or outfield unicorns like PJ Morlando or Michael Mullinax, there’s a ton of intrigue surrounding some of the names who will hear their names called next July.
1. Konnor Griffin, SS/OF — Jackson Prep (Miss.)
Considering the size and physicality of Konnor Griffin, it’s incredible to think he’ll barely be 18 years old on draft day. Griffin reclassified out of the 2025 draft class after overmatching his peers. He has the frame scouts dream on, a long, levered body with projectable strength and present athleticism. The upside here is tremendous.
Griffin plays shortstop and centerfield now, but most think he projects best in the grass where his plus speed and rangy routes will play best. He’s got a strong throwing arm and the twitch necessary to make a good first step. He has every chance to stick on the dirt, but the hands are probably solid average and there’s a high likelihood he’ll grow off the position. He could probably be an above average defender at either spot.
Already an accomplished slugger, Griffin has huge bat speed with over-the-fence juice and should grow into 60-grade, potentially even 70-grade game power. A true 5-tool prospect.
2. Bryce Rainer, SS — Harvard-Westlake (Calif.)
Rainer is a highly-decorated two-way player with a well-leveraged left-handed swing and legitimate game-power. He finishes on his heels, aiming for loft, a la Christian Yelich.
Rainer has a big opposite field approach right now when facing velocity, an inside-out cut with late loft. When he’s out of front of spin, the pull-side juice is considerable. Rainer’s swing can corkscrew a bit when he over-swings, but the offensive upside here is sky-high.
On the dirt, Rainer may ultimately grow off the shortstop position to third base or the outfield, but the bat is the seller here. Regardless of his eventual position, the frame is long, the bat speed is big, and the overall ceiling is significant.
3. Cam Caminiti, LHP — Saguaro (Ariz.)
Caminiti reclassified from the 2025 class into 2024, and will still be just 17 years old on draft day. Models will love it. That said, his stuff is superior to all his high school peers, and he looks to potentially be the top high school arm available in the 2024 class.
Some believe Cam Caminiti should play on the two-way game thanks to his significant raw power, but his pure ability on the mound will almost certainly trump what he’s capable of with a bat in due time.
Caminiti was already touching 97 as a 16-year-old with a firm, low-80s slider that he commands well. He’ll mix in a curveball and a changeup too, though both have development ahead of them. Caminiti’s feel for the mound, his operation, his athleticism and his bloodlines point to a future impact starter at the next level. The upside, especially as a left-handed pitcher, is enormous.
4. PJ Morlando, OF — Summerville (SC)
Morlando might be the most physically imposing high school bat in the 2024 class with exceptional bat speed and high contact rates to boot. Morlando has long had the bat speed to out-slug his peers, but it’s his mature approach and willingness to take the walk that has scouts raising eyebrows.
Defensively, Morlando projects an average corner outfielder where his average speed and solid average throwing arm fit nicely. So long as he doesn’t outgrow his athleticism and force his profile to first base, this is a high, high-level bat that teams will covet in the early.
5. Michael Mullinax, OF — North Cobb Christian (Ga.)
Mullinax is a tool shed with a power/speed combination that is certainly tough to come by.
The bat speed here is impressive with notable pull-side power as a left-handed hitter, but more hitterish from the right. Mullinax has plus, maybe even plus-plus speed and projects to stay in centerfield. He features a plus throwing arm that can play in any spot and be a huge weapon as well. A patient hitter that lacks much swing-and-miss in his game, scouts like the approach and his willingness to get on-base and use his wheels to create chaos.
Mullinax has been streaky in summer tournaments, but most believe the lack of slug is more of an enigma instead of any sort of indicator of what his eventual profile will be. Another five-tool potential guy.
6. Derek Curiel, OF — Orange Lutheran (Calif.)
Curiel can really hit. It’s polished and composed in the box. The immediate thing that stands out is the calm, balanced rhythm about his game. He’s got a sweet left-handed swing and never looks anxious or tense at the plate. He’s advanced beyond his years with the bat and the body only projects more and more impact on the way.
He oozes athleticism in every aspect of the game, a plus runner with long strides and above average bat speed. Scouts think he’s mostly hit-over-power for the time being, but the power potential and trajectory here suggests a future plus hitter with above average power or more. He’s likely to shift to a corner as he matures, but the bat plays anywhere. The profile isn’t too dissimilar from Riley Greene at this same stage, though I think most scouts would agree Curiel is a bit more hit where Curiel presented more power upside.
7. Owen Paino, SS — Roy C Ketcham (NY)
Paino is a lean, strong, left-handed hitter with present juice and a smooth stroke with an up-the-middle approach. He tends to work to the pull-side a bit more in game, but it’s a mature batting practice session, unwilling to sellout for power.
Paino has long arms and legs, but he glides on the dirt and the arm strength and hands will work well at either shortstop or third base. How he puts on weight in the coming years will dictate where he ends up. It’s not totally dissimilar from Colson Montgomery from 2021, though for our money, Paino is a better glove at this same stage. He’s also a strong enough runner and athlete to handle the outfield should the role come calling.
8. Slade Caldwell, OF — Valley View (Ark.)
While Caldwell may lack the tangible physicality from his frame that some of his peers have, what he lacks in size he more than makes up for with dynamic athleticism and explosiveness in every part of his game. Already a double-plus runner, Caldwell is a headache on the bases and can really go get it in the field.
In the box, Caldwell has a sweet, left-handed swing with an ideal attack angle. He extends really well, dragging the barrel through the zone with whip and intent. Don’t let the physique fool you, he can mash. Pound for pound, one of the more impressive bats in the class and some of the sneakiest bat speed in the class too.
While Caldwell doesn’t have a great arm, he’s the prototype profile for left field and could play a solid average centerfield too. He’s got a lot of fans in the scouting community.
9. Noah Franco, LHP — IMG Academy (Fla.)
Franco re-classified from the 2025 class into the 2024 class. He’ll be young for the class, but his stuff is already as imposing as most of his peers.
Franco is an explosive lefty with tons of athleticism on the mound. He’ll work up to 92, though most expect he’ll be sitting in the mid-90s by the time July rolls around. He’s got real feel for a fading changeup, but it’s his deep, two-plane slider that has been a nightmare on both lefty and righty bats.
Franco is committed to Mississippi State, though he’ll be a popular name in draft war rooms.
10. Charlie Bates, SS — Palo Alto (Calif.)
Bates is a smooth operator on the dirt with loose hands, athletic actions and the ability to make every play in all directions. He projects a shortstop moving forward thanks to a fluidity and rhythm to his game that can be tough to find.
Offensively, it’s a smooth, left-handed strong with a gap-to-gap approach and a patient approach, taking the barrel to the zone and going with pitches instead of forcing pull-side. Bates has been one of the steadier performances on the tournament circuit and has made a name for himself in front of front office executives.
A Stanford commit, Bates might be a tough sign, as many Cardinal commits in the past have been.
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