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2024 Overall Rankings Update

August 26, 2022
Shooter Hunt
Vice President, Scouting

A remarkable summer slate packed with action from coast to coast has allowed the hundreds of scouts in PBR’s boots-on-the-ground forces to get out and evaluate the 2024 class. From the National Program Invitational (NPI) in June straight through the PBR Future Games and beyond, the games and workouts have hardly ceased, and thus provided a clearer picture as to what this new group of prospects will deliver to amateur baseball over the next two years.

+ CLICK FOR TOP 500
RANK  NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Bryce Rainer CA Harvard Westlake 2024 SS  
2 Owen Paino NY Roy C. Ketcham 2024 SS Mississippi
3 Derek Curiel CA Orange Lutheran 2024 OF Louisiana State
4 Konnor Griffin MS Jackson Prep 2024 CF  
5 PJ Morlando SC Summerville 2024 C Mississippi State
6 Casan Evans TX St. Pius X 2024 RHP  
7 Theo Gillen TX Westlake 2024 SS  
8 JD Dix WI Whitefish Bay 2024 SS Alabama
9 Michael Mullinax GA North Cobb Christian 2024 OF Georgia
10 Jackson Sanders AL Valley 2024 LHP Auburn


A couple of familiar names rejoin the top-10 after strong summers: OF Michael Mullinax (North Cobb Christian HS, GA), a Georgia recruit, checks in at No. 9 and LHP Jackson Sanders (Valley HS, AL), an Auburn recruit, rounds things out at No. 10. Mullinax’s electric athleticism and physicality combine with a hard-nosed mentality that promises to win over many. Sanders first emerged on the prep scene as one of the most projectable pitchers in the class, and throughout this past summer he showed why there is so much to like.

Below, a look at more storylines that developed throughout a summer that saw the class graduate into prospect status:

+ Future Games Top Prospects
+ Future Games Top Pitchers
+ FAB 50: Underclass Area Code

WISCONSIN PIPELINE

The next big shortstop prospect to know comes out of northern hotbed Wisconsin. SS JD Dix (Whitefish Bay HS, WI), an Alabama recruit, was the biggest top-10 splash, landing at No. 8 overall. The square-shouldered 6-foot-2, 180-pound switch-hitter checks every box – including the way that he carries himself on the diamond. While some hope to be the best, Dix seems to expect it, and his quiet confidence shines along with his elite athleticism and willingness to play hard. A graceful defender at shortstop where he provides a polished look reminiscent of many Badger State standouts of the past, the upside of his bat might exceed his predecessors. The bat-to-ball skills and willingness to adjust standout along with the likelihood of even greater future power. Overall, Dix has positioned himself as a must-follow prospect, and could ultimately rise even higher.

CALIFORNIA DELIVERS

Beyond the one-two punch inside the top-three on the new-look board – No. 1 overall 3B/P Bryce Rainer (Harvard Westlake HS, CA) and No. 3-ranked CF Derek Curiel (Orange Lutheran HS, CA), who are nearly interchangeable in the top spot – the Golden State continued to flex with plenty of depth in this rising junior class. Representing another big arm coming out of Northern California, RHP Austin Nye (Woodcreek HS, CA), a Vanderbilt recruit, shoots up to No. 24 overall. Equipped with a full, polished arsenal and bulldog mentality, Nye shows strong signs of remaining a starter at upper levels. SS Charlie Bates (Palo Alto HS, CA), a Stanford recruit, moves to No. 31 overall with a strong end to the summer that saw him emphatically emerge as one of the top shortstops in the country. The left-handed-hitting shortstop possesses a loose stroke with a crisp all around game that is easy to like. Finally, LHP Mason Brassfield (Bakersfield Christian HS, CA), a TCU recruit, has a clear path to continue rising. His electric fastball-curveball combination, projectable 6-foot-3 frame, and loose, whippy arm make his future progressions easy to dream on. A potential two-way player, that athleticism should help provide for quick advancements.

MOKAN STUDS

The 2024 non-Big 4 region to know? MOKan (Missouri-Oklahoma-Kansas). The region boasts nine players in the top-100 with a whopping 32 players in the top-500. Oklahoma duo IF Garrett Shull (Enid HS) and LHP Kash Mayfield (Elk City HS), both Oklahoma State recruits, are already looking the part of elite MLB Draft prospects. Shull holds supreme hit/power abilities from both sides of the plate and Mayfield effortlessly looks the part of left-handed starter with a strong chance to make a big jump over the next year. Perhaps the highest ceiling in the Sooner State belongs to RHP Carson Wiggins (Roland HS, OK), an Arkansas recruit. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound right-hander played catch at 90-92 mph late in the summer, and he might have the most explosive fastball in the class. The biggest riser in the region is RHP Anson Seibert (Blue Valley Southwest HS, KS), a Tennessee recruit. The imposing 6-foot-8, 240-pound right-hander capped a standout summer with a strong showing where his 92-94 mph fastball overpowered hitters along with a sharp slider. His ability to repeat a compact arm stroke and deliver frontline stuff will likely already have scouts planning trips to Kansas for ‘24. He is joined in the top-100 by dynamic OF Cameron Carter (Olathe West HS, KS), an Arkansas recruit. Meanwhile, Missouri has the most players in the top-100 of the three states. A consummate performer and three-sport standout, Tennessee recruit SS Trey Snyder (Liberty North HS, MO) continues to lead the charge, but not without challenge from LHP Cole Gibler (Blue Springs HS, MO), an Arkansas recruit, SS Drew Dickerson (Lee’s Summit West HS, MO), a Missouri recruit, and RHP Andrew DuMont (St. Louis University HS, MO), another Tennessee recruit.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ARMS

Colorado boasts three right-handed power arms in the top-100: Mitch Haythorn (Eaton HS, CO), Athon Kroll (Valor Christian HS, CO), and Trey Gregory-Alford (Coronado HS, CO). Each of the three possess swing-and-miss stuff with marquee metrics. For Haythorn, who is uncommitted, it is a vicious slider that shows true plus potential. Kroll offers a full three-pitch mix with a quick arm and downer breaking ball as a Dallas Baptist recruit. Alford, another uncommitted name to know here, might have the highest upside of them all. At 6-foot-5, 220-pounds, the big right-hander was up over 93 mph at the PBR Future Games with feel for multiple offspeed pitches. No matter who ends up on top, this trio is sure to bring plenty of scouting eyes to the state over the next two years.

HOOS(IER) ON TOP

LHP Brayton Thomas (Bishop Dwenger HS, IN), an Indiana recruit, jumps into the top spot in a state that rivals any other in the ‘24 class. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound southpaw was up to 93 mph in his final outing of the summer where he demonstrated the ability to move the fastball around the zone before finishing with a sharp slider. An intense competitor with an intimidating frame, Thomas might only be scratching the surface with his talent, and could see significant advancements over the next couple of years.

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND

New York is likely to attract important decision-makers to the state when looking ahead towards ‘24 thanks to a pair of elite prospects. SS Owen Paino (Ketcham HS, NY), an Ole Miss recruit, continues his residency as the No. 2-ranked player in the class. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound left-handed-hitting shortstop is already firmly planted on the lists of MLB scouts, and he looks the part of an elite, premium position prospect. RHP Jason DeCaro (St. Anthony’s HS, NY), a North Carolina recruit, has all the makings of a future frontline starter. The sturdy and athletic, 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander has one of the top arsenals in the class with feel for a tighter 11/5 curveball and faded changeup to go along with a fastball that appears destined to make a considerable jump.

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