Projecting the top ten of the 2024 MLB Draft
Spring is in the air. And with that comes the undeniable anticipation amongst the scouting community for the kick-off of the HS and college baseball circuit. The first weekend of Division 1 competition already saw some of the 2024 class’ top prospects off to scorching starts (looking at you, Travis Bazzana and Chase Burns) and some with plenty of questions still left to answer.
With the 2024 MLB Draft still several months away, I figured I would begin this year’s content lineup at Diamond Daily with an early projection at how the top ten could shake out come draft day. Then, as we get closer to July - we can take a look at just how correct (or wrong) I was - and expand the number of mocked selections in the process.
Let’s dive in!
1. Cleveland Guardians - JJ Wetherholt, MIF, West Virginia
The Guardians beat their extremely low odds to land the first overall pick in a class that, up to this point, lacks a clear-cut favorite at the top. That being said, West Virginia’s JJ Wetherholt may be the group’s best overall bat and stands to be firmly in the mix for Cleveland’s selection here. He was removed from a game this weekend due to a hamstring, an issue he dealt with last season, but in a vacuum - Wetherholt is worthy of this selection even if he moves off shortstop at the pro level.
2. Cincinnati Reds - Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Burns could very well experience the same type of meteoric rise to the top of draft boards as LSU’s Paul Skenes did last year, which in my mind makes him a lock for one of the top two picks. The stuff is electric and the after transferring in the offseason to the pitching development factory that is Wake Forest, Burns has the chance to dominate on the mound all the way to Omaha.
3. Colorado Rockies - Travis Bazzana, MIF, Oregon State
If you’re picking the draft’s best player, it very well might be Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana. But positional value being what it is, a second baseman may not be the right profile for the teams ahead of Colorado. There are plus tools here pretty much across the board and playing in Coors Field with Bazzana’s penchant for lifting the ball in the air to his pull side would be akin to a real-life cheat code. The Rockies would be thrilled to land the Australia native with the third overall selection if the board played out like this.
4. Oakland Athletics - Seaver King, IF/OF, Wake Forest
The A’s have opted for early up-the-middle talent in each of their last five drafts, which gives me enough pause for putting Nick Kurtz here despite the immense talent. Instead, I’ll go with Kurtz’s teammate and one of the draft’s best names, Seaver King. The former Division II star is an outstanding all-around athlete who could tap into more power as the year goes on. King has proven himself with strong showings on the US national circuit and in the Cape Cod League before landing the starting center field job for the top-ranked Demon Deacons this season.
5. Chicago White Sox - Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
It’s not often that we see a first base profile as a lock to land in the top five of a draft but that speaks to the type of player that is Wake Forest’s Nick Kurtz. The Demon Deacon star displays effortless double-plus power to all fields and with above average instincts on the dirt to actually be an asset defensively at first.
6. Kansas City Royals - Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)
New scouting director Brian Bridges figures to have a strong influence on his first draft class at the helm in Kansas City, which is why I’ve thrown the first curveball (not literally, I’d probably need TJ) with the selection of Arizona prep southpaw Cam Caminiti. Bridges never shied away from taking HS arms early during his time in Atlanta and Caminiti may have the most upside of any in this class. Up to 96 with tons of projection, Caminiti reminds me a little of Cliff Lee on the mound.
7. St. Louis Cardinals - Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
The Cardinals have leaned heavily on college players over the last three drafts (85%+ in each) and Wake Forest southpaw Josh Hartle seems to fit the mold of exactly what the club looks for in an arm. Hartle has an athletic, repeatable delivery with several above-average offerings and an ability to fill up the strike zone. Stanford’s Malcolm Moore could also be a consideration here.
8. Los Angeles Angels - Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern
In the time it took you to read this sentence, this Angels pick has made their big league debut. Jokes aside - after landing Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel (and graduating both to the majors) in the last two drafts, toolsy Northeastern outfielder Mike Sirota could fit the bill for the Halos with the club’s fifth consecutive top-15 selection. Sirota is a good bet to stick in center field and has posted back-to-back strong campaigns on the Cape.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates - Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep HS (MS)
The Pirates had the luxury of enjoying the Paul Skenes show last spring from their view at the top pick in the draft, and the former LSU standout could very well factor into the team’s plans at the big league level as early as this season. With a heavy emphasis on up-the-middle talent in recent years, prep standout Konnor Griffin offers something currently lacking in the club’s system - a bona fide corner bat. A physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Griffin displays outstanding bat speed that lends itself to double-plus raw power - and has plenty of athleticism to handle a future defensive spot in left or right field.
10. Washington Nationals - Noah Franco, 2WP, IMG Academy (FL)
While GM Mike Rizzo’s sign game could use some work, there’s no denying that the Nationals have one of the most loaded systems in the game. 2023’s second overall pick, Dylan Crews, may get a taste of the big leagues late this season and James Wood isn’t far behind. This leaves me to lean towards the mound with the Nats’ first selection in ‘24, as two-way standout Noah Franco has similar upside both at the plate and from the left side on the mound. This spring will go a long ways in determining which way clubs are leaning but Franco is the type of talent worthy of this type of draft capital.
