Bryce Rainer

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #3 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme
  
  Track Record: While the Tigers’ rebuild fully clicked with the team’s late-season surge to the playoffs, they still managed to reap the draft rewards of their past struggles by selecting Rainer with the 11th overall pick in 2024. Rainer was a legitimate first-round prospect as a pitcher and hitter, though his ever-improving lefthanded bat made picking him as a shortstop the easy choice. He became the fifth first-round pick out of Los Angeles’ Harvard-Westlake High, joining Max Fried, Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
  
  Scouting Report: The Tigers love lefthanded-hitting infielders, and Rainer joins Detroit draftees Colt Keith, Jace Jung and Kevin McGonigle and recent trade acquisition Trey Sweeney as infielders who bat lefty while throwing righthanded. Rainer is the best bet to be the team’s long-term answer at shortstop. He glides with good footwork and has a plus-plus arm that makes the unlikely play possible. He isn’t the rangiest shortstop, but he can play an extra step or two back, a la Corey Seager, and rely on his arm. Rainer has plus power potential, but he’s also done a good job of shortening his swing to become a better pure hitter while doing an excellent job using right field. He’s still likely to have a power-over-hit profile, but there’s a chance for him to do both. He’s a below-average runner. Rainer was a first-round prospect as a pitcher with a plus curveball to go with a plus-plus fastball. He’ll likely never pitch, but it will remain a fallback option if hitting doesn’t work out.
  
  The Future: Rainer won’t make his official pro debut until 2025, when he’s set to head to Low-A Lakeland. Ideally, he becomes the Tigers’ shortstop of the future, but his power and hitting ability would make him an excellent fit at third base as well.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 55 | Arm: 70.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #10 prospect in 2024 draft
  School: Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif. Commit/Drafted: Texas
  Age At Draft: 19
  BA Grade: 60/Extreme
  Tools: Hit: 50. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 55. Arm: 70. Fastball:55. Slider: 55. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 55. Control: 55
  
  Rainer used an excellent spring season to catapult himself up the draft board. Now, he has a chance to be the first high school player selected in a draft class that is top heavy with college players. A 6-foot-3, 195-pound, lefthanded-hitting shortstop, Rainer has legitimate upside as a hitter and pitcher, but his preference to play the field—as well as his improved hit tool—give him more upside in the batter’s box. He has a sound approach at the plate with big raw power that should become plus in the future. Scouts marvel at Rainer’s ability to backspin the ball to the opposite field, though he has a history of some swing-and-miss concerns with a swing that can get a bit lengthy at times. He performed at a high enough clip this spring in Southern California to provide confidence that he will reach at least an average hit tool. Rainer is a fluid defender at shortstop with reliable hands and a 70-grade arm that is probably his best tool. It’s a real weapon that gives him additional range in light of his below-average speed. His arm will play at third base if he outgrows shortstop. If Rainer preferred pitching, many teams would have him as a first-round talent there as well. He has an easy delivery and arm action, a plus fastball in the mid 90s, a hammer curveball that could be plus and the athleticism for average or better command. Rainer is committed to Texas but should become the fifth first-rounder of the bonus pool era out of Harvard-Westlake, joining Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jack Flaherty, Max Fried and Lucas Giolito.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #28 prospect in 2025
• Ranked Baseball America's #81 prospect in 2024
• Ranked Baseball America's #6 prospect in 2024

• 2024 High School Top 100 Draft Prospects
  School: Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif. Committed: Texas
  Age At Draft: 19.0
  Rainer is one of the most advanced two-way players in the high school class, and is a legitimate day one draft talent as both a shortstop and righthanded pitcher. Listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Rainer has a long and rangy frame with a solid mix of hitting ability, power and defensive actions. He has a sound approach at the plate and could project for 20-plus more home runs as he continues to fill out, though his swing can get lengthy and he will need to make more contact to get to that power projection. He’s a fluid defender with double-plus arm strength in the infield, though he’s big enough that he might slide over to third base in the future. While Rainer has spent more of his high school career as a hitter and shortstop, some scouts prefer his pro upside on the mound. He has a remarkably easy delivery and clean operation and throws 95-96 mph fastballs with shocking ease. Rainer also spins an above-average curveball in the 79-83 mph range with impressive depth, has flashed a low-80s changeup and has a chance for above-average control with more reps. He’s committed to Texas but could be the fifth first-round pick out of Harvard-Westlake in the bonus pool era: joining Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jack Flaherty, Max Fried and Lucas Giolito.