The Atlanta Braves' pitching lab adds another talented arm as they find their way to Arizona and select prep left-handed pitcher Cam Caminiti from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale. This pick shocked a lot of people as Caminiti wasn't expected to fall this low in the draft. Yet, somehow, the Braves continue to find a way to grab the players no one expected to be available.
A look at @Braves first round pick Cam Caminiti 👀 pic.twitter.com/1htk6O51hn
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 15, 2024
Background
Cam was set to be a stud in the 2025 draft but reclassified into 2024 where he stands out as one of the youngest players in the draft - not even 18 years old at the time of his picking. He has Atlanta bloodlines, as his cousin Ken, appeared in 64 games for the Braves in 2001. Cam has an impressive and massive arm and will likely go over slot with his selection.
Scouting Report
Caminiti has four pitches including a mid-to-high 90s fastball, with excellent run which keeps hitters at bay. He combines that with a developing curveball, developing slider, and good changeup - potentially giving him four plus pitches. Caminiti will likely lean on his fastball and changeup to start his career but with some development in his slider and curveball, he may project as a top-of-the-rotation type of arm.
What can Caminiti provide to the Braves?
Cam is a special talent and gifted athlete who Braves fans should be excited about. The southpaw throws strikes, repeats his mechanics, and will likely be able to focus on increasing the spin on his breaking pitches. By focusing on the development of those breaking pitches, you can almost expect Cam to be a very quick riser through the minors as his command, once again, is vastly impressive considering his age. At his worst, Cam's fastball and changeup combination should be good enough to make his floor a Major League reliever, which in itself, is incredible given his age.
ETA to the Majors?
This is a very interesting pick and discussion. At 17, you would expect Cam to be light years away, but with his command and profile, we can see him progress through the system rather quickly. We've seen the Braves be very aggressive with prospects they like (see Schwellenbach going from Double-A to the majors in two months), and while I don't expect anything close to that, we may see him as soon as 2027 which would be a meteoric rise for someone so young.