It has been more than six months since the initial 2024 Overall Rankings released, and in that time PBR’s “boots-on-the-ground” staff has diligently been scouring the country for the top talent in the young freshman class. Full winter workouts and a spring season gave greater insight to this budding group of ballplayers, as PBR remains committed to giving the most credible and comprehensive list.

Now, as the summer season opens up, and college coaches from coast-to-coast make plans to get back on the road for the first time in well over a year, the 2024 Overall Rankings expands by 100 to feature 300 total players. There is sure-to-be movement in the future as players continue to develop, and even more are uncovered by the 100+ scouts within the PBR ecosystem.

And we will be there to follow and update each step of the way…

+ Click for Top 300

 

Bryce Rainer (March 2021)

Ascending to the top overall spot in the class is SS/OF/RHP Bryce Rainer (Harvard Westlake HS, CA). A do-it-all athlete with eye-opening tools, Rainer’s right-now ability is only outpaced by his future projection. Long-limbed at 6-foot-2, 170-pounds with a wiry frame, he is an elite athlete with polish in all facets of the game. An early spring look saw the tall right-hander comfortably pump fastballs to all quadrants at 88-92 with the moxie and quiet confidence that has become synonymous with a long list of prospects coming out of the Harvard-Westlake program. The polish and mound presence is obvious, and the innate ability to spin a swing-and-miss slider at 74-78 stands out right now, and should only get better.

But while the radar gun is easiest to read and to quantify for the rise, his abilities as a position player, and even more so as an “athlete” are what make Rainer so intriguing as a future prospect. The left-handed hitter sits comfortably in a crouch at the plate, and the fluid rhythm that the approach shows combines with advanced tracking capabilities even against some of the top upperclass arms in the country. There is present quickness to the hands, and the barrel works short-to-long with considerable lag in the zone. Amplifying his status as the top player in the class, Rainer runs like a gazelle with long, smooth strides and the ability to get to top speed in a matter of steps.

Bryce Rainer (April 2021)

While there is still much to be developed in his game, the UCLA recruit has the natural tools and present foundation to continue making even greater advancements. The challenges he will face against the country’s top talent in southern California, and playing in a quality developmental program like Harvard-Westlake, both bode well for his path over the next three-plus years.

Manuelle Marin (February 2021)

Sunshine Shoutouts
Florida boasts 10 players in the top 50 and a whopping 48 overall in the top 300, and there are many more to come. Arguably the state with the most talent year in and out, the 2024 group appears no different, and the PBR Florida (and national) staff continues to comb the talent-rich Sunshine State for even more. Leading the way is dynamic LHP/1B Talan Bell (Hagerty HS, FL), a Florida State recruit, whose quick arm is already producing fastballs up to 89 mph with a polished delivery and arsenal. Jumping up to number two in the state, and number 12 overall, is talented SS Manuelle Marin (Doral Academy HS, FL). The Miami recruit looks the part as future standout shortstop, and already provides gap-to-gap power thanks to a simple right-handed stroke that allows his quick hands to work freely. At 6-foot-1, 160-pounds, there is plenty to like about his future projection. Rounding out the top three is RHP Mekai Griffin (Mount Dora Christian Academy, FL). The 6-foot-1, 165-pound right-hander exploded into the top 20 of the overall rankings thanks to the upside that he possesses and showcased all spring. The fastball has been up to 90 mph with considerable hop through the zone, but his feel for two potential above average secondary offerings including a swing-and-miss curveball (74-77) are what will likely continue to carry him in the future.

 Theo Gillen (May 2021)

Lonestar State Standouts
There will assuredly be many more 2024s from Texas who continue to be uncovered as the heat is ALWAYS rising in the Lonestar State. At the top, three Texans are represented in the top 10 overall. Polished backstop, C Cade Arrambide (Tomball HS, TX), a Florida recruit, made an impact starting for one of the state’s top teams this spring, and possesses elite defensive ability thanks to soft hands and strong throwing arm along with gap-to-gap power at the plate. SS Theo Gillen (Westlake HS, TX) possesses some of the highest upside in the class with a sweet left-handed stroke that allows him to drive the ball from gap-to-gap with electric bat speed and eye-opening ability to turn the barrel. RHP Jack Frankel (Prestonwood Christian Academy, TX) brings equal parts polish and upside as a potential frontline starter at the next level. Already 6-foot-2, 186-pounds, Frankel still looks to be filling out and adding strength, and the 90 mph fastball that plays with hop through the zone will likely continue to tick up in coming years. However, his ability to spin both a sharp curveball and slider as well as subtract with a faded changeup is what elevates him into the elite category of this class. Look for Frankel to continue making big jumps in the near future.

Drew Graham (February 2021)

O-Hi-O
It is going to be a busy summer for college coaches, who have been itching to get back on the road after more than a year and a half at home, and trips to Ohio seem increasingly likely thanks to the talented classes that state currently holds. LHP Drew Graham (Avon Lake HS, OH) leads the way for the 2024s thanks to an electric left arm that is running fastballs into the upper 80s and quality feel for secondary offerings. It will be impossible for college coaches to miss the powerful left-handed stroke of 6-foot-5, 205-pound 1B Jake Hanley (Mason HS, OH), who has had a great year as a freshman for one of the state’s traditional powers. His upside as a potential impact bat will likely be monitored closely in coming years. Rounding out the top three is another electric arm in RHP Noah LaFine (Archbishop Hoban HS, OH). The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Vanderbilt recruit hunts strikeouts thanks to a quick arm that produces fastballs up to 89 mph, and a sharp pair of breaking balls (curveball/slider).

 Grant Wilson (May 2021)

A pair of two-way players at power programs, SS/RHP Grant Wilson (St. Edward HS, OH) and 3B/RHP Sawyer Solitaria (St. Ignatius HS, OH) have already made an impact at the varsity level this spring, and are eyeing big summers on the national stage. Each carries a heavy stick that includes considerable power potential along with strong right arms that are quickly running fastballs up into the mid and upper 80s. Look for college coaches to be monitoring their progress as early as this summer.

RISERS TO KNOW:

 

Tatum Marsh OF / RHP / Valley Christian , CA / 2024 Rankings  OverallRank: 30 / POS: 6 Marsh, now a Stanford recruit, wow’d in the fall at a PBR California event in NorCal thanks to elite tools and athleticism, and has shown the ability to put both to good use in-game this spring. The freshman has had an impact at the varsity level, and his ability to hit top pitching stands out right now. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Stanford recruit matches his talent level with plenty of energy on the diamond, and his lightning-quick hands produce impressively loud exit velocities.

Garrett Shull SS / RHP / Enid , OK / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 35 / POS: 9 Shull, an Oklahoma State recruit, sports a mature approach from both sides of the plate with controlled aggression throughout the swing. Slightly ahead from the left side, there is considerable power potential as he continues filling out a long, lean, and athletic 6-foot, 175-pound frame. The hands work confidently on the infield with a quick release from shortstop, and he will likely be able to play any position on the dirt moving forward, especially with the high ceiling that the swing presents.

Cole Crafton SS / 3B / Lincoln Way West, IL / 2024 Rankings  OverallRank: 67 / POS: 17 At 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, Crafton is long and lean with impressive athleticism that helps him double as a quarterback on the gridiron. The Louisville recruit has an easy approach from the left side with a natural uphill path, and quick hands that provide for lag in the zone. Already providing a glimpse of the future with some present pull side power, the Louisville recruit's upside as a middle-of-the-order type bat is highly intriguing, and will be fun to watch develop the next few years.

Anthony Perritano SS / 3B / Cathedral Catholic, CA / 2024 Rankings  OverallRank: 95 / POS: 22 San Diego keeps churning out ballplayers, and Perritano has a chance to be another. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound left side defender still looks to be physically maturing, but is already impacting the baseball with 90+ exit velocities from the right side. Working uphill with quick hands while gaining ground through impact, Perritano may have a chance to develop into a power bat while also flashing soft, confident hands on the infield with a strong (86 mph) arm across the diamond.

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