The 2024 MLB Draft is here. Teams will come together to make their picks with an eye toward the future. The draft will again be part of All-Star week and will feature 20 rounds, with the first 74 picks– the first two rounds, compensatory rounds, Competitive Balance Rounds and prospect promotion incentive selections on the first night. Days 2 (Rounds 3-10) and 3 (Rounds 11-20) begin at 2 p.m. ET on Monday and Tuesday.
2024 MLB Draft Picks: Round 1
The Mets, Padres and Yankees first-round picks dropped ten spots because they exceeded the second surcharge threshold of the competitive balance tax by more than $40 million.
1) Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Entering the weekend, the Guardians still hadn’t decided on this pick. Travis Bazzana came to the United States and made an immediate impact at Oregon State. He upped his value with 11 home runs and 26 steals, then raised his profile when he won the Cape Cod League batting title (.375) and MVP Award. Bazzana, a left-handed hitter, is compact and strong with great bat speed. He has an advanced approach at the plate with a ton of raw power. He’s proven he can lefties and rights, and a plus runner who can be a legitimate base-stealing threat. He’s going to get a lot of attention in the blank system.
2) Cincinnati Reds: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Chase Burns is the first pitcher selected in a July following a strong junior season that included Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades and the NCAA Division I lead in strikeouts (191 in 100 innings). Burns throws at 97-99 mph and can reach 102 mph with his heater. His tight slider is his true beat that sits in the upper 80s and has generated a 60 percent swing-and-miss rate during the last two seasons. He also owns a plus low-80s curveball but rarely uses his upper-80s changeup. Burns has a history of throwing strikes and his overall command improved this spring. However, he needs to locate his fastball with more precision at the professional level. He has the ceiling of a frontline starter but comes with a bit of reliever risk.
3) Colorado Rockies: Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Georgia
The 2024 Golden Spikes winner had an all-time great junior season. Charlie Condon led the nation in batting average (.433) and home runs (37) while posting a 1.565 OPS and collecting 233 total bases in 60 games. He has top-of-the-scale raw power that plays from foul pole to foul pole and his combination of bat speed, strength and leverage allows him to mishit balls but still drive them out of the park. After splitting time between first base and the outfield corners as a freshman, he has played all three outfield spots and third base this spring. He’s not quick enough for third or center, but Condon does have the solid-to-plus arm strength and can provide average defense in left or right field.
4) Oakland Athletics: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Wake Forest recruited Nick Kurtz as a left-handed pitcher but emerged as a dominant hitter. Kurtz batted .344/.498/.695 with 39 home runs in his first two college seasons. He got off to a slow start in 2024 but went on a rampage afterwards. Kurtz’s signature tool is his well-above-average power in all fields. He has outstanding bat speed, strength and a left-handed stroke to drive balls in the air. Burns is more than just a slugger, he’s a complete hitter who comes with no discipline weakness. He controls the zone, covers the entire plate and hits the ball all over the ballpark. He could turn into Jim Thome but one with defensive value.
5) Chicago White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
No left-handed pitcher in the draft has better stuff than Hagen Smith. He won Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and led NCAA Division I in average-against (.144) and strikeout rate (17.3 per nine innings), setting a record in the latter category. Smith can reach 94-97 mph and touches 100 with his fastball. His best offering is an 83-87 mph slider, which features sweep and depth while destroying lefties and keeping righties at bay. He uses an upper-80s splitter as a chance of pace despite the struggles to locate it well. He has a strong 6’3″ frame built for durability and could be a frontline starter if he continues to develop.
6) Kansas City Royals: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Seen as the best two-way player in the nation, Jac Caglianone has true left-handed raw power. His Division-I leading 33 home runs backs it up. He’s very aggressive in the box, but there are concerns about his tendency to chase pitches out of the zone, he doesn’t strike out a bunch and makes tons of hard contact. He’s solid defensively at first base but struggled to find the strike zone after having Tommy John surgery. Caglianone can touch triple digits with his fastball and his 90 mph cutter is featured more than his slider.
7) St. Louis Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia
JJ Wetherholt might be the best pure hitter of the 2024 MLB Draft. The left-handed hitter can drive the ball to all fields with excellent pitch recognition and elite bat-to-ball skills. He has the ability to hit the ball all over the fence in all directions, giving him average power at the next level. Wetherholt is a plus runner who is a base-stealing threat when healthy. The one concern about Wetherholt is his defense, which he was hoping to improve, but a hamstring issue kept him from seeing time at shortstop. Even if he profiles as a second baseman, his bat is worth paying attention to.
8)Los Angeles Angels: Christian Moore, 3B, Tennessee
Christian Moore took his production to a high level this spring. Moore led the NCAA Division I with 111 hits, ranking third with 34 home runs and setting a Volunteers mark with 61 career homers. Moore can do damage with an aggressive approach. His mindset, bat speed and strength give him power that plays to all fields and 25-30 home run potential. His right-handed swing can get long but still chases too many pitches out of the zone despite making consistent contact in 2024. He can show solid speed once he gets going and looks to steal and take extra bases.
9) Pittsburgh Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep (MS)
Gatorade’s National High School Player of the Year possesses five-tool potential. Konnor Griffin’s 6’4″ frame adds some length to his right-handed stroke but has issues he’s working out at the plate. Griffin can control the strike zone well and makes regular contact. His combination of electric bat speed, strength and leverage could translate into 30-home run power as he learns to drive the ball in the air more consistently. Griffin also has well-above-average speed, giving him 30-30 upside. Scouts project Griffin as a plus defender at shortstop and a possible Gold Glover in center field.
10)Washington Nationals: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest
Seaver King started games at four positions for Wake Forest. King is good at putting the ball in play with a compact right-handed stroke geared for hitting line drives to all fields. He needs to work on his plate discipline due to too many swings and chases, making a ton of weak contact. With above-average speed and solid arm strength, King is a versatile player. He opened this season as a center fielder before settling in at third base and seeing some action at shortstop. He is best valued at shortstop.
11) Detroit Tigers: Bryice Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (CA)
Brice Rainer has many tools in all directions. Rainer has a strong build and while his wing used to get long at times, a stronger Rainer can make consistent hard contact from the left side of the plate. He owned the top four exit velocities at the NSHI in April and has shown he can drive the ball to all fields. There aren’t many questions about where he might play defensively. He ran and played better at shortstop over the spring, record plus run times. If he had to move to third base, he could be a Gold Glove-caliber defender there. The Texas recruit has garnered many comparisons to Corey Seager.
12) Boston Red Sox: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Braden Montgomery is the highest-drafted position player in Aggies history. He surpasses Tyler Naquin (No.15 overall in 2012), despite breaking his right ankle in the Super Regionals. Montgomery launched 27 home runs this spring after transferring to Texas A&M. A switch-hitter with strength and a quick, aggressive stroke, does more damage as a left-handed hitter. Montgomery’s improved plate discipline comes with his ability to handle breaking balls in the last two seasons. With average speed and plus-plus arm strength, Mongtomery fits best in right field.
Upcoming 2024 MLB Draft Picks
13) San Francisco Giants
14) Chicago Cubs
15) Seattle Mariners
16) Miami Marlins
17) Milwaukee Brewers
18) Tampa Bay Rays
19) New York Mets
20) Toronto Blue Jays
21) Minnesota Twins
22) Baltimore Orioles
23) Los Angeles Angels
24) Atlanta Braves
25) San Diego Padres
26) New York Yankees
27) Philadelphia Phillies
28) Houston Astros
29) Arizona Diamondbacks
30) Texas Rangers
Main Photo: © Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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