2024 MLB Draft Preview: Shortstop

[Jamie Cameron]

2024 MLB draft coverage is kicking off with positional previews. We continue 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, 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. 2024 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 CA powerhouse 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 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 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 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 SS as a pro, or slides over to 2B or 3B, 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 tool set and no real weakness in his game. Starting from a crouched, back foot weight stance, 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 some 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 6'2, 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 draft class, prep edition. A two-sport star who is committed to Florida to play football and baseball, the SS/OF 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 Preview: 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.

 

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[2wins87]

Culpepper kind of strikes me as a second round profile who probably goes in the first just due to the lack of other options at the position.  The better defensive profiles in college like O'Ferrall and Silva needed to take steps forward offensively this year and didn't.

The lack of high-end up-the-middle bats, and particularly SS, seems to really be the reason this draft is viewed as so weak.

There are some interesting high school SS, but Rainer is probably the only one I'd really like at 21, and he's definitely gone by then, so I'd probably just look more to a big college bat or an arm at 21.

[Dman]

I generally hate taking popup prospect's in the first round as they tend to get overrated IMO, but I do really like Kellon Lindsey. Love the speed, the quick hands and ability to make contact.  Kind of reminds a little bit of Royce Lewis in some regards with his plethora of standout tools.

I like Sanford as well but he seems a bit like a Miller clone and the Twins don't seem to hang onto guys with little to no power.  Could be an elite defender at short though and the bat looks solid to me.  Maybe he gains more strength as stated but the tools aren't as loud as Lindsey to me.

Most oof the other players that might fall to us don't seem like Shortstops to me.  More second or third basemen.  I really like Gillen but with the arm issue's he seems limited defensively.  Not sure that is a guy I take in round one.  Bonemer seems like a Twinsy pick.  Good athlete with big power potential.  I don't love power over hit players though and he also is more of a third baseman than shortstop IMO

[Dman]

57 minutes ago, 2wins87 said:

Culpepper kind of strikes me as a second round profile who probably goes in the first just due to the lack of other options at the position.  The better defensive profiles in college like O'Ferrall and Silva needed to take steps forward offensively this year and didn't.

The lack of high-end up-the-middle bats, and particularly SS, seems to really be the reason this draft is viewed as so weak.

There are some interesting high school SS, but Rainer is probably the only one I'd really like at 21, and he's definitely gone by then, so I'd probably just look more to a big college bat or an arm at 21.

I agree.  I think most of the HS players mentioned would maybe be in line for the supplemental first round pick or second round pick. 

[Jocko87]

No opinions yet on any individual players but I fully expect them to be hard on this market in the draft.  I could see 3 or 4 of the "shortstops" names turned in by the Twins.  

[DocBauer]

The Twins will certainly draft a few SS, as they always do, even if they aren't projected to stay there. But it's a position that feels a little weak in the system right now, so 1 or 2 guys who can stick at SS might be important. I just don't know that they would go there at 21. I think the comp pick or 2nd round seems more likely to me. But there are some HS kids that definitely seem to hold a lot of promise.

[tony&rodney]

Add Ty Southisene from Basic High School in Las Vegas to the honorable mention list. He is small and may get moved to 2B because of his size but he is really quick with his bat. Saw him play a couple of times against top competition and came away impressed. Southisene should be a second or third round pick.

[Jamie Cameron]

8 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Add Ty Southisene from Basic High School in Las Vegas to the honorable mention list. He is small and may get moved to 2B because of his size but he is really quick with his bat. Saw him play a couple of times against top competition and came away impressed. Southisene should be a second or third round pick.

Funny you mention him. I cut the honorable mention list at top 150 guys (at the moment) on my board. He's 155!

[KBJ1]

The Twins draft waaay  to many middle infielders. They are overly intrigued by "all around athletes " to the detriment of the organization.  They need to focus of 5 tool OF,  power hitting 1B & SP.

Steer, Rocker, Lee, Martin, Julien, etc...

Don't draft any more of these players!

 

[ashbury]

10 minutes ago, KBJ1 said:

The Twins draft waaay  to many middle infielders. They are overly intrigued by "all around athletes " to the detriment of the organization.  They need to focus of 5 tool OF,  power hitting 1B & SP.

Steer, Rocker, Lee, Martin, Julien, etc...

Don't draft any more of these players!

 

Rocker? If you mean Rooker he was viewed as a corner bat, if not DH, which is how it played out.  Martin was not drafted by the Twins.  Legitimate 5-tool OF prospects are highly prized by every team and they are snapped up in the early picks.

[gman]

I think the Twins need to develop a mid to later pick round draft strategy. They probably already have. They won't get any top of round picks and won't get many end of round draft picks, I expect them to pick in 20-25 position for a few years. That probably means late bloomers or players with 3-4 good to great skill sets versus true 5 skill players. I would try to stay away from players with the projected upside of a utility player, the Twins have plenty in the org. Too many of the current crop of shortstops look like utility infielders at best. Maybe focus on pitchers that need to be taught additional pitches and command.