Introduction to the 2024 MLB Draft: Prep pitchers

A look at some of the top prep pitchers available in the 2024 draft.

We have now covered some of the top college hitters and pitchers, while last week, looking at the prep-hitting side of the 2024 draft.

This week will be the final ‘introduction to the 2024 draft’ article, looking at some of the best prep pitchers available.

Cam Caminiti

A cousin of former big leaguer Ken Caminiti, Cam was ranked initially by Baseball America as the third-best prospect in the 2025 class before reclassifying. The left-handed Caminit has the potential for four at least average pitches, including a fastball already topping out in the mid-90s.

You can see the upside in the stuff, but it’s very raw, which isn’t surprising for someone who usually wouldn’t be draft-eligible till next year. At some points, he was losing his release point, but he looks to be a very solid pitching prospect among the prep class.

Tegan Kuhns

One word continually thrown around with Kuhns is ‘projection,’ as he’s already throwing in the low-to-mid-90s with plenty of room to still fill out in his 6’3” frame. It has good movement, especially up in the zone that he can get swings and misses with.

The curveball is the best pitch, which he throws in the high-70s-low-80s, with a very tight spin to it that reportedly can get up to 3000 rpm of spin. Between MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and Prospects Live, there are reports of him throwing upwards of six different pitches (four-seam, two-seam, curve, slider, change-up, splitter).

Joey Oakie

Oakie, a righty from Iowa, might have some of the best stuff in this prep class in 2024. He throws from a lower arm slot, which allows for added arm-side movement on his fastball, which can get up to 97 mph.

The slider/sweeper makes Oakie stand out from the rest of the class, as it already has a 65 grade from Pipeline, and Prospects Live mentions it has gotten up to 25” of horizontal run on it.

While there is a lot of arm-side run on the pitch, he has shown the ability to throw the fastball on both sides of the plate and hit his spots. When he throws the sweeper front hip against righties, it almost looks like it starts behind the hitter before breaking in for a strike.

William Schmidt

Where Oakie may have the best slider in the prep class, you can argue that Schmidt has the best curveball. He’s throwing in the low-90s right now, reaching 95, but he also has room to fill out and potentially add some velocity.

The curveball has a lot of break to it but still showed the ability to throw it for strikes. It’s more 12-6 than anything, and when thrown off his fastball up in the zone, Schmidt is difficult to hit.

Levi Sterling

Pipeline believes Sterling could end up with four above-average or better pitches by the time it’s all said and done. He may be one of the most polished high school pitchers in this draft, all the while also being one of the youngest.

He won’t turn 18 until September, so he will spend most of the 2025 season in the minors at that age. The curveball has plus-plus potential while mixing in a slider and change-up.

The off-speed stood out in the early video I watched, and there is still plenty of projection in his frame to add velocity to his fastball.

Anson Seibert

Standing at a massive 6’8”, Seibert still has some projection to his frame, mainly due to learning how to use his size and his plus arm speed. His fastball is his carrying pitch, which has gotten up to 96/97 already.

The slider shows promise but still needs some work. As a Tennessee commit and a draft-eligible sophomore in 2026, he could be a hard sign for teams.

Carson Wiggins

With perhaps the best fastball among prep pitchers, Wiggins has reached 99 while recently sitting in the mid-90s. There is some reliever risk, but he also pairs the fastball with a slider and splitter.

The slider has shown some promise, with Pipeline grading it at a 55.

David Shields

Another pitcher who reclassified for the 2024 draft, Shields will be one of the youngest players available. A Miami recruit, Shields hails from Mt. Lebanon in Pennslyvania and has one of the more polished pitch mixes among the prep players.

The fastball velocity continues to creep up, reportedly as high as 94, currently sitting more in the 89-92 range, but you can see more coming due to his age. It has late movement up in the zone, helping to get misses despite the lower velocity. He also commands the pitch very well within the zone.

He also mixes in a sweeper and change-up, with the former graded a 55 on Pipeline.