2024 MLB Mock Draft 3.0
We’re just about 48 hours from the start of the 2024 MLB Draft - live from All-Star weekend in Arlington, Texas. With final touches being put on team boards around the league, let’s have a look at my second-to-last mock draft of the year.
1. Cleveland Guardians - Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
There’s a ton of underslot buzz for Wetherholt, and despite the knowledge that Cleveland has been on the former West Virginia star since very early in the process, I’ll go with arguably the safest pick in the class in Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana.
2. Cincinnati Reds - Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
The Reds may be the most interesting pick of the top ten, especially if Bazzana or Condon aren’t the selection for Cleveland. In this scenario, I’ll have them opting for the Georgia slugger here.
3. Colorado Rockies - Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
It’s easy to [insert pitcher here] for any Colorado first-round pick, but Burns may get the nod here to give the Rockies another high-upside arm for their system to go alongside former Tennessee teammate Chase Dollander and fellow Demon Deacon alum Sean Sullivan.
4. Oakland Athletics - Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Montgomery’s ankle injury shouldn’t be a long term for issue for teams in the top ten. Kurtz will get consideration here but I think the A’s could opt for the immense upside that Montgomery presents.
5. Chicago White Sox - Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida
Things are a mess on the south side but at least some of that concern could be alleviated by landing a player of Caglianone’s caliber with this pick.
6. Kansas City Royals - Bryce Rainer, IF, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)
New scouting director Brian Bridges’ last two selections as national crosschecker in San Francisco were athletic two-way standouts Reggie Crawford and Bryce Eldridge. Rainer fits that mold, though his future is in the batter’s box.
7. St. Louis Cardinals - Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Wetherholt is likely a consideration here but I think the Cardinals would have a difficult time passing on a college arm of Smith’s caliber if he’s still on the board.
8. Los Angeles Angels - Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
No team is more inclined to blow up the top half of the first round than the Angels, who could go a number of surprising routes. Waldschmidt is a data darling among college bats and could move quickly through the system.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates - JJ Wetherholt, IF, West Virginia
With the crown jewel of last year’s class Paul Skenes already in All-Star form at the big league level, the Bucs would be thrilled to land Pennsylvania native JJ Wetherholt here.
10. Washington Nationals - Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Positional value be damned, I think Kurtz is one of the best players in the class. Adding him to a Nationals org flush with young talent would be an absolute coup at pick number ten.
11. Detroit Tigers - Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep HS (MS)
I think this will come down to Griffin or Cam Caminiti, but I’ll give the nod to Griffin as another high-ceiling, middle-of-the-diamond player that scouting director Mark Conner has been known to covet.
12. Boston Red Sox - Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
The Red Sox are tough to read but I’ll lean towards the pitching side with Craig Breslow now at the helm in Boston.
13. San Francisco Giants - Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)
Caminiti and San Francisco have been one of the most consistent links throughout the entire draft process. I’ll buy in, especially if the Tigers pass on the prep southpaw at 11.
14. Chicago Cubs - Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
The Cubs covet bat-to-ball skills and Moore has that despite subpar numbers on the surface. The former Stanford catcher also reportedly blew teams away with how well he interviewed at the Combine.
15. Seattle Mariners - Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State
There is a ton of heat regarding Seattle’s reported interest in Cijntje, further reinforcing the idea that they’re focused on pitching with this selection. Ryan Sloan is also likely to be strongly considered here.
16. Miami Marlins - Kellon Lindsey, IF, Hardee HS (FL)
New scouting director Frankie Piliere was instrumental in orchestrating several drafts that focused on up-the-middle prep bats during his time in Seattle. Adding Florida native Kellon Lindsey, whom some in the industry have comped to Trea Turner, would be that type of pick for the Marlins.
17. Milwaukee Brewers - James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State
Tibbs has suitors inside the top ten, so his floor is likely about this range. Milwaukee would be thrilled to add one of the best hitters in the class with this pick.
18. Tampa Bay Rays - Seaver King, IF/OF, Wake Forest
King is an outstanding athlete who more than held his own at a powerhouse program after transferring in from a D3 school. There’s also a chance they could save a little money here and buy down a prep player they like with their next selection.
19. New York Mets - Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State
Like the Giants and Caminiti, Benge to New York has been one of the most consistent links of the entire pre-draft process. I’m buying it.
20. Toronto Blue Jays - Christian Moore, IF, Tennessee
Moore seems to be sliding a bit but I think he still lands in the early 20’s at the absolute latest.
21. Minnesota Twins - Theo Gillen, IF/OF, Westlake HS (TX)
Gillen is as good of a bet to hit as any prep bat in the entire class. There have been some lingering injury issues but not enough to push him out of the first round.
22. Baltimore Orioles - Kaelen Culpepper, IF, Kansas State
Another college bat for an organization already overflowing with them. Culpepper has a good number of fans in the industry, including myself.
23. Los Angeles Dodgers - Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
They can fix him.
24. Atlanta Braves - Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS (CA)
Doughty in many ways fits the mold of 2023 first-rounder Hurston Waldrep, a compact righty with elite fastball traits and ability to spin the breaking ball. He’s one of my favorite prep arms in the entire class and would be great value here.
25. San Diego Padres - Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (OK)
Death, taxes, the Padres taking a prep player in the first round.
26. New York Yankees - Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (IL)
I’m a huge fan of ultra-projectable prep righty Ryan Sloan, who could have suitors as early as Seattle at 15.
27. Philadelphia Phillies - William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (LA)
Another prep arm with a huge ceiling, Schmidt and his 70-grade curveball are too enticing to fall out of the first round come draft day.
28. Houston Astros - Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS (NE)
I loved Houston’s first round selection in 2023, Brice Matthews, and here they go back to the state of Nebraska for prep shortstop Tyson Lewis. In-state college bat Walker Janek also could fit here.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks - Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (AR)
I think Caldwell will be under consideration as early as the Dodgers’ pick at 23 but the D-backs bevvy of selections in the top 100 could help them buy down the Arkansas native to this spot.
30. Texas Rangers - Dax Whitney, RHP, Blackfoot HS (ID)
Whitney has had a ton of helium late in the draft process and could find himself a home at the bottom half of the first round.
