Bryce Rainer | 1–6-24
2024 | RHP/SS | 6–3 195 lbs | Harvard-Westlake (CA)
Despite the SoCal high school season being over a month away, two noteworthy arms at Harvard-Westlake will have many organizations flocking to Encino to closely monitor their performances throughout the season.
With over 30+ area scouts and West Coast evaluators in attendance, Bryce Rainer (2024 RHP/SS) and Duncan Marsten (2024 RHP) each threw an inning in their controlled intrasquad scrimmage.
Ranked as MLB Pipeline’s #39 overall prospect for the 2024 draft, Bryce Rainer possesses a lean, projectable frame with long arms, square shoulders, and muscular legs. Rainer’s actions are loose, easy, and refined both in the field and on the mound. His 6'3" frame points towards future strength gains and he already looks to have added 10–15 lbs of muscle since his junior year.
Despite being the team’s primary shortstop, Rainer has come into his own on the mound. Below are notes I recorded from his one inning of work.
Delivery: Full-wind up delivery. Long 3/4 arm action w/ above average arm speed and a low effort release.
FB: 94–96 mph with arm-side life through the zone. Ball jumps out of his hand with minimal effort.
CB: 75–78 mph. True plus pitch with high-spin, late break, and feel. Will get on the side of ball through release creating a slurvy action at times.
SL: 81 mph. Late sweeping action.
CH: 79–80 mph. Deceptive pitch with late tail and sink to his arm side. Maintains fastball arm speed.
Rainer also showcased his hitting ability later in the scrimmage, showing why he is one of the top two-way players in this year’s draft. The LHH hitter looks to have widened his stance and cut down on extra pre-pitch movements in the box. Rainer has shown glimpses of gap-to-gap power as evidenced by this simulated at-bat taken off the left CF wall.
As a shortstop, Rainer displays soft hands and fluid transfers making plays seldom high schoolers make given his above-average speed and quick first step. His plus arm strength could also land him at 3B or a corner OF spot, if necessary.
Overall, I like Rainer as a shortstop but believe his future lies on the mound given his upside. His frame, low-effort delivery, and feel for three-pitches make Rainer an advanced high school arm that could go in the middle of the first round if teams like what they see during the spring. He could be throwing close to triple digits in the not-so-distant future, making a case for a strong late inning reliever or closer in the MLB.
Commitment: Texas
Comp: Joe Kelly
