Today we updated our 2024 draft list for the first time since before the summer evaluation period. This update attempts to capture all of the new information the industry has to work with from summer showcase circuits, travel ball, college summer leagues, USA Baseball’s national teams and various fall looks and events.
Below are 10 of the most notable risers on this update.
Player movement is simply the difference between their previous ranking and their current ranking. Players who were previously unranked are given rank 101 in order to create a comparison point for relative movement.
Seaver King, SS/OF, Wake Forest
Current: 8
Previous: 17
Movement: +9
King was the darling of the summer on the college front. Scouts routinely expressed their excitement with the former Division II star in regards to his physical tools, hitting ability in the box and defensive chops at a number of positions. He impressed with Team USA during the summer and he has reportedly looked excellent patrolling center field with Wake Forest this fall.
King’s offensive track record is superlative. If he maintains that sort of production with arguably the most prospect-laden team in the nation this spring in Winston Salem, he’ll provide one of the more attractive up-the-middle profiles in the 2024 class. Most industry feedback seemed to place him within the first third of the first round.
Wake Forest has never had a hitter selected inside the top 10 picks. The presence of King and first baseman Nick Kurtz could give them two such players in the same year.
Caleb Bonemer, SS, Okemos (Mich.) HS
Current: 13
Previous: NR
Movement: +88
No player on today’s ranking has had a larger jump than Bonemer. The physical righthanded hitter showed an enticing combination of physicality, hitting chops and physical tools this summer. He performed at a high level at a number of key events—most notable the Area Code Games in San Diego, where only Texas catcher Cade Arrambide had a case for a better all-around event.
Bonemer has exciting upside thanks to his plus running ability, above-average raw power and athletic actions that should keep him on the left side of the infield. His overall profile might not be all that different from recent prep shortstops like Brady House or Colin Houck. Bonemer has a chance to be the highest drafted high school prospect out of Michigan since Derek Jeter went No. 6 overall in 1992.
Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
Current:…