(Cover photo via The Oklahoman)
The 2024 MLB Draft is not too far away. The draft will be 20 rounds over 3 days starting on July 14.
Once again, the Sooner State should be well represented with players that have ties to the Sooner State that will have their name called during the draft.
Leading up to the draft, we will take a look at some of the those players.
*Prospect Ranking: MLB Top 200 (MLB), ESPN Top 150 (ESPN), Perfect Game Top 500 (PG)
*When looking at the scouting grades, MLB uses a “20-80” system: 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average, 70-80 is well above average.
Today’s player: Kash Mayfield
Kash Mayfield is a 2024 graduate of Elk City High School and is considered the top high school prospect from the Sooner State for the 2024 Draft. He is a 2x Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year.
Mayfield is a consensus top 30 player in the prospect rankings and is slotted to go in the late 1st round in the latest mock drafts.
Mayfield had an incredible season for the Elks in 2024. In 44 IP, he had a miniscule ERA of 0.16 with an incredible 115 Ks. His opponents also only hit .030 against him. (Mayfield also batted .476)
Prospect Ranking
- MLB: 30
- ESPN: 23
- PG: 27
Scouting Grades and MLB Report
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50
Gatorade’s 2023 Oklahoma high school player of the year as a junior, Mayfield took the summer off following a heavy workload en route to the Oklahoma 4-A state semifinals. Scouts had him on their radar but weren’t expecting him to break out and become a potential first-rounder this spring. He starred at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, touched 96 mph in his first game a month later and hasn’t let up.
After working with an upper-80s fastball last spring, Mayfield is dealing at 92-95 mph and reaching 97 with armside run and carry. He already possesses an advanced changeup that parks in the low 80s and drops at the plate, making his heater even more effective. His slurvy upper-70s breaking ball stands out more for his ability to locate it than its power or shape.
Mayfield creates extension with his fluid delivery and repeats it well, enabling him to put his pitches where he wants. The Oklahoma State recruit is a bit scary for some teams because of a lack of track record and data from the showcase circuit, and some clubs will quibble with his age (19 years, 5 months on Draft Day), but his upside is obvious. He may have more projection remaining and shares some similarities with Jordan Wicks — while being a much better prospect at the same stage.
Per mlb.com
Outlook
While Mayfield is committed to Oklahoma State, it is hard to imagine that he will play in Stillwater next year because he is the 5th highest rated LHP with 2 of the pitchers higher are considered 2-way players (Jack Caglianone and Jurrangelo Clijnte). He is also the 2nd highest high school LHP behind Cam Caminiti.
Don’t let the 55 grade on his fastball fool you. He sits in the low to mid 90’s and being 6’4″ 200 lbs at 18 years of age, Mayfield will get stronger and should eventually sit mid to upper 90’s in the next few years.
Even if Mayfield doesn’t technically go in the 1st round, the possibility of him going in the compensation picks after the 1st round to early 2nd is high and with that comes a high slot bonus.
Like this post? Don’t miss any posts. Enter your email in the box below and have Sooner State Baseball Report content delivered right to your inbox.
Sooner State Baseball Report 
Leave a reply to SSBR MLB Draft Preview: Owen Hall – Sooner State Baseball Report Cancel reply