The Athletic has live coverage of the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
I’m excited to once again be part of the MLB Network Radio amateur draft coverage on SiriusXM radio this year. I’ve spent a lot of time studying the top draft-eligible players in this class by watching games, studying video, researching players’ histories and having conversations about these prospects with some of the best amateur evaluators and front office executives in the sport.
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Based on all that research, here’s my ranking of the top 35 prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft, which will take place at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, starting at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday. Keep in mind, this is not the order in which I think these players will be drafted, but rather how I rank them based on what I know and have heard in conversations with people in the industry.
1. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana has the best hit tool and plate discipline in this draft. He also could be quickest to the major leagues, possibly even being ready by September of this year. A left-handed bat, Bazzana hits lefties and righties equally well and is a threat on the bases.
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2. Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
Condon broke the modern-day collegiate record with 37 home runs this season at Georgia and his 30-plus-home run power extends from foul pole to foul pole. He has the loudest bat in the draft. He was Golden Spikes Award winner and SEC Player of the Year.
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3. JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia
Wetherholt has the second-best hit tool in the draft with line-drive power all over the field. He’s dealt with hamstring injuries over the past year. Wetherholt makes contact at a high level and puts the ball in play. He’s a future All-Star whose best position will be second base.
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4. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Caglianone is the best two-way player in this class but will be drafted as a first baseman. He projects to 35- to 40-home run power, with the Braves’ Matt Olson as the best comp. He’s a dead pull hitter and chases too much out of the zone but somehow without the strikeouts to match. On the bump, he profiles as a reliever more than a starter, and has a 98 mph fastball.
5. Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Montgomery is the top athletic outfielder in the draft with a cannon for an arm and upper-deck power as his two best tools. He’s a high-ceiling player whose hit tool will determine how many All-Star games he plays in. He’s a solid defensive outfielder, a smart base runner and profiles as a 30-homer hitter. Montgomery broke his ankle during the NCAA Super Regionals but is expected to make a full recovery.
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6. Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Burns is the best right-handed starting pitcher in this draft class and he averaged 17.2 strikeouts per nine innings last season at Wake Forest. His fastball is 98 to 100 mph and he has a legitimate wipeout slider. He mixes in an occasional curveball and changeup. He’ll need to tighten up his fastball command but still profiles as a future No. 2 type starting pitcher when fully developed.
7. Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Smith is the best left-handed pitcher in this draft class after posting 17.3 strikeouts per nine innings last season and being named SEC Pitcher of the Year. His fastball is mostly 94-97 mph with a wipeout slider. He has a changeup he throws to right-handed hitters and a split-finger with above-average tumble action. His low three-quarters crossfire angle has led some scouts to compare him with Chris Sale of the Braves.
8. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Kurtz’s best tools are his hitting and power, which is what you want with a first baseman. He has electric bat speed, doesn’t chase much out of the zone, has consistent hard exit velocity and reminds scouts of a cross between Kyle Schwarber and Andrew Vaughn. He profiles as an average defensive first baseman in the future.
9. Bryce Rainer, SS Harvard-Westlake High (Studio City, Calif.)
Rainer reminds me of a young Corey Seager as he’s a large-framed (6-3, 195) shortstop. A plus defender who can throw 94 mph from in the hole, Rainer is the best high school shortstop in this class. He has average bat speed and at times is late on high velocity but that’s only because he sometimes wraps his bat, which is correctable. He was the best player in the National High School Invitational this spring. His intangibles, including leadership, baseball instincts and IQ, are off the charts.
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10. Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep (Flowood, Miss.)
A five-tool player with plus power, speed and defense, Griffin owns the strike zone in a way that stands out for a high school player. He can really fly, stealing a whopping 87 bases in 88 attempts this spring. He’s going to be a plus-plus defender at shortstop and even better than that if he ends up in center field. He has long-stride range and special makeup.
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11. James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
Tibbs profiles as a future left fielder with below-average speed and average defensive skills. However, he has legit 30-home run power, walks more than he strikes out and can hit high-velocity fastballs. He’ll use the whole field and has proven he can handle a wood bat with a consistent barrel percentage. He struggles against breaking balls, which is a big reason he’s not ranked higher.
12. Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
Yesavage has three plus pitches: a fastball, slider and split-finger, and also mixes in a spike curveball. His delivery has some effort but interestingly it doesn’t affect his command and control as he’s a legitimate strike-thrower. He profiles as a No. 3-type starter once he’s fully developed.
13. Christian Moore, 2B,Tennessee
Moore is bat over defense at second base, where he could be at least average as a defender. He has a high contact rate but also chases out of the strike zone more than he should, but still manages to be a hitting machine. He’s slow out of the box because of his swing but appears to be an average runner when he gets going. An underrated player in this draft class.
14. Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith represents the 3 P’s perfectly: power, passion and patience. He has a power arm from third base and the power to hit 20-plus homers as he shows in batting practice, although it hasn’t yet translated to games. He plays with passion and has the patience at the plate to be an above-average major-league hitter. He also should be an average or above-average defender at third base in time.
15. Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest
King’s hit tool will get him drafted in the middle of the first round. He was the MVP of the Valley League, played in the Cape Cod League and was a member of the U.S. Collegiate National Team, proving in all three spots his ability to hit with a wood bat thanks to a short, compact swing that allows him to shoot line drives all over the field. He needs to improve his plate discipline and his power is slightly below average. His arm and defense are both above average.
16. Carson Benge, OF/RHP, Oklahoma State
Benge is another two-way player and is better as a position player, with right field being his best long-term position because of his strong arm and the fact he’s a plus defender in that corner. He has good bat speed and is a smart hitter with a solid approach. He makes consistent hard contact but doesn’t always let the ball travel deep enough in the zone as he often wants to go get it. He has plus power and profiles as a solid everyday player.
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17. Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt is a two-time ACC defensive player of the year and also broke the North Carolina record for home runs in a single season and for a career. He has a strong combination of power and speed and is a legitimate four-tool player. The only problem is he lacks the hit tool. However, because he’s such a good athlete, he still has time to develop as a hitter. Honeycutt is a dead pull hitter who chases too much. However, he’s also a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder with a right field arm. If he hits, he’s a star; if not, he could be a bust. High-risk, high-reward type player.
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18. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
Waldschmidt came on strong this year and moved up the draft boards quickly. He hunts fastballs and posted a .469 on-base percentage at Kentucky last season. He’s a below-average defender in left field with a below-average arm. However, analytic departments love him because of his high contact rate and solid exit velocities. He pulls for power and hits the other way for average.
19. Tommy White, 3B, LSU
White had 75 home runs in college, which ranks eighth all-time in Division I baseball. He has elite bat speed and makes consistent sweet-spot contact with a loud sound off the bat. He’s aggressive at the plate, in and out of the strike zone, and has well-above-average power in his game. But he’s also a below-average defender at third base with a below-average arm and several scouts believe he’ll end up at first base. He needs a great infield instructor and needs to be reminded how many below-average third baseman became good at the position over time (e.g., Wade Boggs).
20. Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View High (Jonesboro, Ark.)
Caldwell is one of my favorite players likely to be selected in the second half of the first round because of his three best tools: hit, run and field. He has a short, compact swing that is straight to the ball. He’s a table-setter type who hits line drives all over the field and still projects to 12-14 home runs in time. He’s also a true center fielder with plus range. A high energy and enthusiasm player, Caldwell makes things happen on the base paths.
21. Jurrangelo Cijntje, BWP, Mississippi State
They don’t come around often, but Cijntje is a legitimate switch pitcher who’s able to throw both right-handed and left-handed. He’s a natural lefty and started throwing right-handed at age 6. He profiles as a starter from the right side and reliever from the left side.
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22. Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro High (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
He’s a cousin of the late Ken Caminiti, who played 15 years in the major leagues. Cam Caminiti’s fastball sits 95-98 mph and his changeup has become his best secondary pitch. He also throws a plus slider and curveball with the slider being the better offering. He has solid command for a 17-year-old and a high ceiling if he can stay healthy.
23. William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic High (Baton Rouge, La.)
Schmidt has a strong pitcher’s frame and has already shown he’s a big-game pitcher by throwing a one-hit shutout in a state championship game. He was named the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year. His best pitch is his curveball, which is considered the best curve in this year’s prep class. He’s worked on improving his changeup — combine those two secondary pitches with a mid-90s fastball and you have a high-ceiling starting pitching prospect.
24. Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston
Janek won the Buster Posey Award and is considered the best catching prospect in the country. He has strong arms and forearms, which help propel plus bat speed and pull power. He was the 2024 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year thanks to a quick release behind the plate, solid framing skills and above-average blocking ability. He’s a future 20-home run catcher.
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25. Theo Gillen, 2B/SS, Westlake High (Austin, Tex.)
Gillen is one of my favorite players in this draft class and I love his upside. His hit and running tools are both electric. His short, compact, left-handed swing allows him to spray the ball all around the field with authority. He has quick hands and plus plate discipline. Gillen has more range to the left than right at shortstop and some scouts think he’ll need to move to second base. However, that will depend on whether his throwing arm eventually comes back from the labrum surgery he had a couple of years ago. He’s a middle-of-the-diamond, game-changing player. I think he’ll produce way better than his draft position over time.
26. Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City High (Okla.)
Mayfield has a mid-90s fastball with glove-side solid life and a changeup that is one of the best in the draft. The left-hander’s clean delivery allows him to have a consistent release point, which is why his command and control are among his best traits.
27. Ryan Sloan, RHP, York Community High (Elmhurst, Ill.)
Sloan is a bulldog with a 6-foot-5 frame who should develop into a solid mid-rotation type innings-eater. He has three above-average offerings in his repertoire, including a fastball, slider and changeup. He can get outs at about the same rate at both the top and bottom of the strike zone. His changeup fades and drops like a dead fish. He’s a strike-thrower who works fast, changes speeds and moves eye levels.
28. Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee High (Fla.)
He’s the 80 runner in this draft class. (Scouting grades are on a 20-80 scale.) A former two-sport athlete who played quarterback, Lindsey now plays baseball full-time and for good reason. He’s an above-average hitter with a short swing that sends line drives to the gaps and up the middle. Defensively, he profiles as an average defender with an average arm.
29. Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
Moore is a left-handed hitting catcher with a high baseball IQ and plus-plus instincts. He has a solid approach at the plate and makes the proper adjustments with two strikes. He doesn’t chase out of the strike zone often and makes good swing decisions. He has average power, which could improve. He profiles as an adequate defender with an average arm at best. His bat and baseball intelligence, not his glove or arm, will get him drafted early.
30. Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Brecht, who played both football and baseball his first two seasons at Iowa, has an elite fastball and slider. His fastball is 97-100 mph with a wipeout slider that has phenomenal tilt and late break and movement. He threw more sliders than fastballs at Iowa and should reverse that in the pros. His split-finger needs work and so does his delivery. He’s a mechanical mess at times, which is why his command and control are atrocious. He’s a real project but with ridiculous upside because of the raw stuff his fastball and slider show. This is a high-risk, high-reward type of pick. Brecht will probably end up as a reliever instead of a starter.
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31. Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Culpepper is a professional hitter with solid plate discipline and plus-plus bat speed. He has a level swing with moderate power potential. He’s a solid average defender at shortstop with below-average range. He probably will get moved to third base at some point if his power improves. He’s a better base runner than his actual speed.
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32. Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
Amick helped Tennessee win their first College World Series. He’s going to hit and features a strong right-handed swing and loud sweet-spot contract. He’ll chase out of the zone but does damage out there too. His batting practice power is better than his in-game power, which is a good sign for the future and perhaps he develops into a 25-30 home run hitter. He’s adequate enough defensively at third base to stay there and everyone says he’s a hard worker who wants to get better.
33. Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
Jordan is a tremendous athlete with some of the best bat speed in this draft. When he hits the ball, it can be deafening, with high exit velocities to all fields. He doesn’t make consistent contact and has some swing-and-miss in his game. He’s a plus runner with base stealing ability. Jordan is erratic in the outfield, sometimes taking football routes more than baseball routes. He struggles with some breaking pitches that he should be able to handle.
34. Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence High (Frisco, Tex.)
Sanford is one of the best defensive prep shortstops in this class, with blazing speed and an above-average arm. He has plus range to both sides and is a great athlete. His hit tool is the only reason he’s not 10 spots higher in this ranking. He’ll end up with 12-15 home run power.
35. Griff O’Ferrall, SS, Virginia
We need to bring out all the best baseball cliches when describing O’Ferrall. He’s a gamer. A winner. His uniform is dirty before the national anthem is played. He’s always in the right spot at the right time. He has great makeup and character. Great instincts. He also can hit, run and throw, by the way. His tools won’t wow you, but that’s OK. Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland would describe someone like him as “just a baseball player.” That’s what Leyland would call a player who might not have the special tools but who wins you championships. O’Ferrall can stay at shortstop thanks to solid first-step quickness and an accurate arm.
(Top image photos: Charlie Condon: David J. Griffin / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; Travis Bazzana: Amanda Loman / Associated Press)
