(Photo by Chris Todd)
We are well on our way into the college baseball season and are already approaching March! When the college season kicked off, it would be a great time to look at some college draft prospects that the Royals could be thinking about at #6 in the 2024 MLB Draft. Now that we are well through March, most high schools have kicked off their seasons. So, what better time than to look at some prep prospects the Royals could consider in the draft this year?
OF/RHP Konnor Griffin (Jackson Prep, MS)
Commitment: LSU
I will say that the prep class doesn’t feel as strong as it did in 2023, but one guy stands out above the rest: Konnor Griffin. Griffin will be 18 and two months on draft, given that he reclassified from the 2025 class. He’s been putting up video game numbers, as you can see in the video below. The Royals have been looking for a centerfield, and honestly, Griffin has the athleticism, ability to track down balls due to his range, and speed to stick as an everyday centerfield. The arm will play there as well.
At the plate, he’s got some really fun power. The hit tool could use some work, but he’s been shown to have good swing decisions regardless of the inconsistencies. On the mound, he’s been up to 97 mph and has a breaking ball that could be developed into a great second pitch. He’s already jumped up rankings greatly. Most mocks have him either just outside the top 10 or right inside the top 10. His stock might continue to grow, but there is still a good chance he could be there at number 6 given the crop of college talent that could go before him. The upside is immense with Griffin and if the Royals wanted to continue the high-upside prep route, Griffin is your guy.
3B Caleb Bonemer (Okemos, MI)
Commitment: Virginia
Bonemer is my second favorite bat in this class outside of Griffin. The third baseman out of Michigan is likely to go into the draft as a shortstop, but given his size and stature, he will eventually move to third base. He’s got a high baseball IQ and it shows on the field. He has quick instincts and a strong arm that could play well at third base. Despite his size, he’s graded out as an average run, so he won’t be a clog on the base paths either.
Bonemer’s calling is, not surprisingly, his power. He generates some insane over-the-fence power with his size and quick hands. The swing is nice-short and compact. Bonemer does show some struggles with swing-and-miss, so improving his plate discipline and swing decisions this spring are going to be vital for his draft stock. Despite some of the poor swing decisions, he does pick up spin fairly well so there is an opportunity for him to really develop in the hit tool department.
RHP William Schmidt (Catholic, LA)
Commitment: LSU
William Schmidt has been flying up boards, and for good reason. The more videos I watch of him, the more I’m falling in love with his potential upside. I’m sure most Royals fans are ready this now and are like, “Not another prep pitcher!” which I totally get. He’s been up to 98 mph on the mound with some good ride on his fastball. He pairs his fastball with a curveball that has been at 3000+ RPMs. For his third pitch, he’s working on a changeup that has already flashed as a decent pitch. The 6’4, 180lb righty also has tons of room to grow, and there are a lot of projections left in his frame. All the makings you want in a prep arm. He may enter the draft with two plus pitches, which you don’t always find. He has a pretty good repeatable delivery but can overthrow once in a while, but the arm speed and presence on the mound are explosive. If the Royals wanted to take a shot on an arm, Schmidt would likely be my favorite option.
LHP Cam Caminiti (Saguaro, AZ)
Commitment: LSU
You’ll notice that three of these prep prospects are committed to LSU. Kudos to Jay Johnson on getting one of the strongest recruiting classes to note. How many end up on campus is an excellent question. Outside of Griffin, Caminiti might have the highest upside. He originally wasn’t part of the 2024 class but reclassified recently. He will be 17 years old on draft day and has be been touching 99 on the mound which is insane. On top of the fastball, he has two different breaking balls in his slider and curveball. The slider looks to be the better of the two pitches, as it has a really good sprint to it. He’s also got a decent changeup with decent fading life, but it’s a pitch he goes to a lot less. Given his long frame, there is a very good chance that more velocity comes. The 6’2, 205lb lefty has a great feel on the mound and has a mature presence, given his age. He isn’t afraid to come at hitters, and the delivery is very smooth.
OF Slade Caldwell (Valley View, AR)
Commitment: Mississippi
Given the whole “the Royals need a true centerfield prospect” theme, I could leave Slade Caldwell off this list. The already 60-grade outfielder is one of the funnest defensive prospects in the draft. He’s not the most physical player, but man is he an explosive athlete who goes out and plays with absolute grit. He covers a ton of ground in center field and isn’t afraid to make the divings play. He gets good jumps on balls and does a great job tracking them down. The only real problem with him defensively is he lacks the arm strength needed to stick in center. That could improve over time, but if it doesn’t, he’s likely slatted for left field. He has excellent plate discipline and an already polished hit tool at the plate. He draws many walks and doesn’t chase much out of the zone at all. He lacks the power you’d like to see in a prep prospect though. He has that double-plus speed both on the base paths and in the outfield. He’s just a really fun athlete and could be an exciting under-slot option if the Royals decided to go that route.