When entering a FYPD it is imperative to take stock in where your team’s competitive window is, and utilize that to the best of your abilities on draft night. As a rebuilding team, I always think you should be looking for more upside, understanding that these players may take more time to make their impact on your team, but the reward can be extremely high. With that being said, let’s take a look at the top 5 upside FYPD prospects you should make a push for if you are in a rebuild mode.
Ranking the Top Five
1) Konnor Griffin– SS/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
There is a legit argument to be made that Konnor Griffin has the highest ceiling of any prospect from the 2024 class. As a reclassification from the 2025 class, Griffin was one of the youngest players in the class. Age is something many organizations value, which has elevated Griffin’s prospect profile in the eyes of many. But he is not only highly regarded because of his age, he also features impressive tools.
Standing in at a physical 6 foot 4, 205 lbs, Griffin would look the part in a big league uniform today. He uses his physical frame to his advantage, which allows him to generate impressive bat speed at the plate. The combination of size and bat speed makes many believe 30 home run potential is realistic in his future. On top of the impressive power, he is also one of the fastest players in the class. He stole 85 bases, that’s right 85, this high school season in Mississippi. Griffin’s impressive combination of power and speed gives him a realistic possibility to push 30/30 on a yearly basis. Combine that with potential Gold Glove impact at both SS and CF, and you have the highest ceiling in the class.
2) Vance Honeycutt– OF, Baltimore Orioles
Very rarely can you say a college prospect has one of the highest ceilings in a draft class, but that can be said for Vance Honeycutt. Honeycutt is the definition of a split camp prospect. If you are someone who values athleticism, tools, and upside, he would be one of your favorite prospects in all of baseball. If you are someone that values hit tool and contact skills, you wouldn’t touch him with a 10-foot pole. And the reality is both are correct in their evaluation.
If you are someone who only watches the College Baseball postseason, you would have been shocked when Honeycutt fell to the Orioles at 22. He went on an absolute tear during the postseason, hitting six home runs in nine games, including four in five games during the Super Regional and College World Series. During that stretch he also had a bunt for a 1B, where he showcased his 80 grade speed with a 3.63 home to 1st time, while playing elite defense in CF. Honeycutt at his best is a potential future MVP winner, but how often is he at his best?
The main concern with Honeycutt is his approach and contact rates. During the 2024 season, he only made contact with 69.3% of the pitches he swung at. Combine that with a 26.1% chase rate, and you have a hitter who will be picked apart by professional pitching. There has to be an adjustment for Honeycutt to reach his ceiling. And he is in the best situation to make that adjustment. The Orioles have been the pillar of success for developing hitters, and they have their biggest test yet. If they make the necessary adjustments, Honeycutt has the combination of plus power, and elite speed to be a threat to reach 40/40 multiple times in his career.
3) Jac Caglianone– 1B/LHP, Kansas City Royals
When talking about upside, you cannot go far without mentioning Jac Caglianone. Another college bat who features immense upside, Caglianone had an impressive college career. He finished his career as Florida’s all-time home run leader with 75. This was basically done in two seasons, where he hit 33 as a Sophomore, and followed that up with an impressive 35 as a Junior. While doing that, Cags also pitched every Sunday for the Gators, flashing a FB up to 100 mph and a plus CH. Cags future is most likely as a hitter, but the upside potential of him as a 2-way talent makes his value even greater.
Coming into the spring, I had concerns about Cags as a hitter. Sure he hit a lot of home runs. But that was with metal bats and in the juiced ball era of college baseball. He also struggled with his approach at the plate. As one of the most feared power hitters in the country, he only walked 17 times while striking out 58 times. Cags swung at everything, and due to his elite athleticism, he was able to get away with it. I did not think that would work in professional baseball.
Well in 2024, Cags took a major step forward. He improved his average from a solid .323 to .419. He showcased the ability to hit with two strikes and an overall better feel for the strike zone. At the end of the season, he had 58 walks with only 26 strikeouts. Walking more than double your strikeout total, while hitting .419 with 35 home runs, is elite no matter the run-scoring environment.
Cags debut in pro ball showed some warts in his game, as the walks reverted back to the 2023 version of himself, and he swung and missed a decent amount with 44 strikeouts in 48 games. The more talented pitchers are exposing his flaws, but his combination of athleticism and power make him one of the most intriguing prospects in the class. If it clicks, he has 50 home run potential.
4) Kellon Lindsey– SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
The combination of speed and athleticism with arguably the best developmental organization in the MLB is a recipe for success. Lindsey is still raw as a prospect, due to the fact that he spent much of his time in high school split between the gridiron and the baseball field. This spring was his first season focusing on just baseball, and he made major strides in his game, ultimately leading to a 1st round draft selection.
Lindsey is a speed first prospect, grading out as a legit 80-grade runner, but the athleticism that allowed him to be a high-level QB translates to baseball. He will definitely stick up the middle in some way and has the potential to develop into a dynamic defender with his athletic traits. The swing needs some work, but he showcases impressive bat-to-ball skills. For a prospect as fast as Lindsey, he was able to focus simply on making contact against high school competition and seeing success. He may never be a 30-home run power threat, but as he matures physically and mechanically, he will grow into more power. Lindsey’s athleticism alone makes him one of the more intriguing prospects from the class, and the Dodgers’ track record with players like him gives even more reason to believe.
5) Cam Caminiti– LHP, Atlanta Braves
Another reclassification from the 2025 class, Caminiti combines age and upside that should make dynasty owners intrigued. At just 17 years old on draft day, the Braves selected Caminiti with the 24th overall selection. He was committed to LSU as a legit two-way prospect, and that athleticism translates to the mound for him. He flashes four potential plus pitches with the ability to throw consistent strikes that make many think he can be a front-line starter.
The Fastball is currently his best offering, as it sits between 93-95 mph flashing up to 98 this spring. As a two-way prospect and a projectable frame, it is easy to see the potential to add velocity as he continues to physically mature, and focus solely on pitching. The effortless nature to his delivery makes many believe that triple digits can be in his future. Caminiti has three distinct offspeed pitches with a slider and a curveball, as well as a changeup. Each pitch flashed plus potential at times this spring, but a focus on one breaking ball could allow it to progress into a dominant offering. My favorite attribute when evaluating a pitcher’s future command is athleticism and repeatability, and Caminiti does a very good job repeating his mechanics. Caminiti has top of the rotation upside, and the fact that he is as young as he is makes me more confident in his future development.
Late First-Round Players to Target
Bryce Rainer– SS, Detroit Tigers
Bryce Rainer is one of the better prospects in the class, but he lacks the athleticism and tools that the others in the Top 5 possess. Rainer is just simply a really good baseball player. He showcases some of the best bat-to-ball skills, as he rarely chases or strikes out, and when he does make contact it is usually loud. Rainer has shown the ability to consistently hit the ball 100+ mph with wood. He still has some physical development ahead of him, that could move him off of SS, but no matter what the bat will play. My favorite comparison from an offensive standpoint and approach is Christian Yelich. Skinny, left-handed hitting, high school bat, who could grow into more power as he matures. It’s more safe than boom, but Rainer is an extremely good prospect for rebuilding dynasty owners.
Ryan Sloan– RHP, Seattle Mariners
Many believed Sloan would be selected in the first round, but he slipped to 55th overall, where the Mariners had to be ecstatic to select the Prep arm. The Mariners’ track record with right-handed pitchers is one of the main reasons Sloan should be a target for many. As an organization, their track record of success has been impressive. Sloan has a lot of potential for the Mariners to work with. The Fastball sits between 93-96 mph, flashing up to 99. He also flashes an above-average change-up which is one of the more difficult pitches to develop. This allows him to attack lefties with an out pitch. The slider could use some work, but it has flashed plus potential. If he develops the slider, he will feature three plus offerings from a durable 6 foot 5, 220 lb frame.
Best Upside Waiver Targets
Dakota Jordan– OF, San Francisco Giants
Michael Massey– RHP, Detroit Tigers
The reality is farm systems are built through the waiver wire. When looking at prospects in the 2024 class who had first round talent, but fell outside the top 30, Dakota Jordan and Michael Massey both fit the bill. Jordan is one of the most athletically gifted prospects in the class. Standing at 6 foot, 220 lbs, his physicality translates to the baseball field. He has an argument for the most raw power and bat speed in the class, with a 96.1 mph avg exit velocity, but he only hit 30 home runs in two college seasons (yes, I know 30 is a lot for most players). The “low” home run total was mostly due to how frequently he hit the ball on the ground with a 47.5% groundball rate. As a draft-eligible Sophomore, Jordan is young for the class even as a college bat, and if he starts elevating the baseball he could be an elite MLB power bat.
Massey is an interesting prospect because I think he could have benefitted from going back to Wake Forest for another season. This spring was his first season as a starting pitcher, and he battled injuries and inconsistencies that led him to fall in the draft. I choose to evaluate Massey off the 2023 version of himself.
During that season, he flashed a Fastball that sat between 94-96 with elite IVB of 20.2 inches. That pitch had a 41.2% whiff rate, which for Fastball standards makes it elite. The FB isn’t even his best pitch. His Slider generated a 51.4% whiff rate in the 2023 season. Those two pitches allowed him to strike out 47.5% of the batters he faced. The ability to have two 70 grade offerings, combined with the ability to throw strikes, reminds me of Spencer Strider when he came out of Clemson. Massey has to show the ability to start, but he has two borderline elite pitches that he throws for strikes, and that is a recipe for success in the modern MLB.
Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire | Featured Image by Justin Redler (@reldernitsuj on Bsky/Twitter)