The 2024 MLB draft is less than three months away. The college and high school baseball seasons are in full swing, giving us some clarity on who the top players are in this year’s draft class.
The 2024 MLB draft class features a ton of parity. It’s not as strong as last year’s loaded class but has plenty of quality, impactful talent. This is my second first-round mock draft for the 2024 MLB draft cycle, and there are numerous changes from one month ago. There is still a ton of time until July’s draft, and a lot more will change between now and then.
Here is a look at my first mock draft for the 2024 MLB draft:
1. Guardians: Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
Condon gone from a walk-on to the best player in college baseball in his time at Georgia. He’s destroying the baseball this season, showing an ability to hit for average and power.
Condon is the favorite to go first overall. But it’s not uncommon for the top player in the draft to not go first overall. If the Guardians decide to go underslot at this position, Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz and West Virginia second baseman JJ Wetherholt will be in play.
Read a detailed feature story on Condon and his skill set here.
2. Reds: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana is a left-handed hitter who’s quick to the ball and consistently squares it up to drive it into the gaps. He also shows an ability to hit for quality power. Bazzana is a really good hitter, and that will be his calling card moving forward. He also is a respectable defender at second base.
3. Rockies: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Burns is an elite arm talent with ace potential. His fastball and slider combination is elite. His fastball sits in the high 90s and consistently hits triple digits. After transferring from Tennessee in the offseason, he has excelled in Wake Forest’s development system.
Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith also could be an option if the Rockies prefer a pitcher. Florida first baseman Jac Caglianone and Mississippi prep shortstop/outfielder Konnor Griffin also are potential options.
Read a detailed feature story on Burns and his skill set here.
4. Athletics: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Caglianone is one of the most exciting players in college baseball and the 2024 MLB draft class. He is a legitimate prospect on the mound and as a first baseman. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound left-handed hitter has elite power. On the mound, the lefty has a 99 mph and quality slider.
5. White Sox: Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)
The White Sox are in a complete rebuild and need some high-end talent. Throughout this draft cycle, they have been connected to high school players early on. Griffin is the top prep player in this year’s class and someone scouts rave about due to his current toolset and potential.
Griffin is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound outfielder known for his five-tool potential. His size and intangibles are notable, especially since he was a younger player in his class after reclassifying.
Read a detailed feature story on Griffin and his skill set here.
6. Royals: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Montgomery is a 6-foot-2, 217-pound switch-hitting outfielder known for his five-tool potential. He consistently barrels up pitches and displays above-average power from both sides of the plate. Montgomery is also extremely athletic. Due to his elite arm strength, quality throwing accuracy, and ability to cover plenty of ground, he profiles as a right fielder in pro ball.
Read a detailed feature story on Montgomery and his skill set here.
7. Cardinals: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Smith is right there with Burns as the top pitcher in the 2024 MLB draft class. He has an exceptional fastball and slider combination and has displayed a cleaner delivery this spring. His fastball touches the high 90s, and his slider is a true strikeout pitch. He has a 1.24 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 10 walks allowed in 29 innings this spring.
8. Angels: JJ Wetherholt, 2B, West Virginia
The Angels prefer taking college players who can move through the minor leagues quickly. Wetherholt has missed some time this year with a hamstring injury. When healthy, Wetherholt is an extremely productive player and arguably the best prospect in this year’s class. He has a well-rounded skill set, tremendous feel at the plate and potential.
Read a detailed feature story on Wetherholt and his skill set here.
9. Pirates: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Kurtz is one of the best players in this year’s draft class. He is in the mix to go in the first couple of picks in this year’s draft. But with so much parity among the prospects, someone is going to fall to the later half of the top 10 picks.
Kurtz is arguably the best power hitter in college baseball, possessing well above-average raw power. His offensive toolset is a scout’s dream due to his ability to hit for average and power.
Read a detailed feature story on Kurtz and his skill set here.
10. Nationals: Seaver King, OF/SS, Wake Forest
King played at NCAA Division II Wingate (N.C.) for two years before transferring to Wake Forest. He makes a ton of contact and uses all parts of the field. He is more of a contact hitter but has improved his power-hitting ability over the last year. Defensively, scouts envision him in center field in the future.
11. Tigers: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith was a top draft prospect out of high school in 2022. He elected to go to Florida State, and the decision paid off. He was productive his freshman season and is destroying baseball this spring. Smith has above-average raw power and is a respectable defender at third base.
12. Red Sox: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View (Ark.) HS
Caldwell is a 5-foot-9, 185-pound left-handed hitting outfielder known for his advanced hitting ability and excellent athleticism. He is a top-of-the-order hitter with a quick swing and a mature approach who drives the ball into the gaps and displays improving power potential.
Read a detailed feature story on Caldwell and his skill set here.
13. Giants: Bryce Rainer, SS/RHP, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.) HS
Rainer is the best prep shortstop prospect in this year’s draft class. He is an improving hitter with quality raw power potential. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound shortstop is a quality defender, possessing athleticism, fluid actions and above-average arm strength. Besides his ability as a shortstop, scouts are extremely intrigued with him on the mound, where he has reached 97 mph with his fastball.
14. Cubs: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
Yesavage has four quality pitches, headlined by a mid-90s fastball and quality slider, and a high floor that scouts seek. The righty profiles more as a middle-of-the-rotation arm who will move through a system quickly and pitch a lot of innings.
15. Mariners: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Brecht is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound right-hander with an elite fastball that hits triple digits. His hellacious slider is an elite breaking pitch that hits in the low 90s with plenty of depth. He can land his slider consistently for strikes, and it serves as a nasty strikeout pitch. He boasts ace potential if he can continue to reduce his walks.
Read a detailed feature story on Brecht and his skill set here.
16. Marlins: Caleb Bonemer, SS, Okemos (Mich.) HS
Bonemer is quick to the baseball and consistently squares up to drive the ball with authority to all parts of the field. He boasts plenty of in-game power. Defensively, Bonemer has the potential to remain at shortstop due to his athleticism, solid defensive actions and respectable arm strength.
17. Brewers: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Culpepper is a 6-foot, 194-pound right-handed hitting shortstop with an intriguing toolset. Culpepper consistently barrels up the baseball and hits line drives. He shows improving power, especially to his pull side. He also boasts an exciting combination of athleticism and speed.
Read a detailed feature story on Culpepper and his skill set here.
18. Rays: Kellon Lindsey, SS/OF, Hardee (Fla.) HS
Lindsey is a huge riser this spring, and scouts are raving about his elite speed and potential. He is more of a contact-oriented hitter who uses his speed to impact the game. He doesn’t have the track record of some of the other top prep players in this year’s draft, but he has as much potential as any of them.
19. Mets: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt will be an interesting prospect to follow between now and July. He boasts tons of potential. He hits for above-average raw power and plays exceptional defense in center field. He’s athletic and makes an impact on the bases, too. The biggest question remains his contact rate. Teams want to see an improvement from Honeycutt in that area, which could prevent him from going in the first 10 picks of the draft.
Read a detailed feature story on Honeycutt and his skill set here.
20. Blue Jays: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic (La.) HS
Schmidt is a rising prospect due to his potential and fastball, which touches the high 90s with late life. His curveball is also a really good pitch that he uses to generate tons of swings and misses.
Read a detailed feature story on Schmidt and his skill set here.
21. Twins: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
Moore is a 6-foot-2, 216-pound left-handed hitting catcher who hits for plenty of raw power. He also has respectable plate discipline. Defensively, he displays athleticism, quality arm strength and a quick release behind the plate. Scouts rave about his potential and makeup.
Read a detailed feature story on Moore and his skill set here.
22. Orioles: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
Jordan is one of the most exciting players in college baseball, possessing above-average power and above-average speed. He drives the ball with authority to all parts of the field. He needs to refine his plate discipline.
23. Dodgers: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State
Benge is a talented two-way player who scouts believe profiles best on the mound in pro ball. He has a really good hit tool with improving power.
24. Braves: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro (Ariz.) HS
Caminiti is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound lefty who reclassified from the 2025 draft. He can potentially have four quality pitches and currently leans on a mid-90s fastball. He projects as a potential top-of-the-rotation pitcher.
25. Padres: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (Okla.) HS
Mayfield has leaped up draft boards this spring due to his size (6-foot-4, 200 pounds), pitch mix, which consists of a mid-90s fastball, and his strong strike-throwing ability. Some scouts believe he could be considered the top prep arm in this year’s draft class by the time the draft rolls around.
26. Yankees: PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville (S.C.) HS
Morlando is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder known for his exceptional contact skills and raw power. Scouts project Morlando as a middle-of-the-order hitter in the pro ranks due to his excellent plate discipline, contact skills and power potential. He is a complete hitter who only continues to improve as he matures.
Read a detailed feature story on Morlando and his skill set here.
27. Phillies: Tommy White, 3B, LSU
White is off to a slow start this season compared to his prolific numbers in his first two years. He is a bat-first player and might profile best at first base, hurting his draft stock. The Braves have focused on pitching in the first round in recent years, and White provides them with a high-upside middle-of-the-order hitter if he can reach his full potential.
Read a detailed feature story on White and his skill set here.
28. Astros: Jacob Cozart, C, North Carolina State
Cozart is a quality catcher with a well-rounded toolset. He makes consistent contact and can hit for power. He also is a respectable defender with above-average arm strength.
29. Diamondbacks: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
The Diamondbacks have the 10th-highest draft bonus pool allotment, allowing them to be creative with their picks. There are plenty of high-upside prep players available at this spot, but Santucci gives them a left-handed pitcher with ace potential. Scouts rave about his competitiveness, pitch mix and untapped potential on the mound.
Going the college route at pick No. 29 allows them to potentially save some bonus pool money for pick No. 35, where they could select a quality prep player from a large group of options, including prep shortstops Carter Johnson or Tyson Lewis or prep right-hander Ryan Sloan.
Read a detailed feature story on Santucci and his skill set here.
30. Rangers: Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern
Sirota is a right-handed hitting center fielder known for his five-tool potential. He uses a quality approach to drive the ball to all parts of the field and shows above-average raw power. He is off to a slow start offensively this season.
Read a detailed feature story on Sirota and his skill set here.
Read more in-depth stories on top 2024 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
You think the Braves buck their trend of going after college arms? Seems like it’s been a pretty good model so far.
I definitely could see them going pitching, and I have heard from sources they are high on some of the college and prep arms in this class. Where they’re picking, it’s always somewhat unpredictable on who might be available. Caminiti, even though he’s a prep arm, would give them great value at that spot. He’s drawing interest from teams in the teens as well.
If the sox go get yet another small up the middle type player for their first pick when the absolute NEED is starting pitching then everyone needs to be replaced. We have a ridiculous amount of these guys in the system. Pitching Pitching and more Pitching.
Thanks for reading, Zuan!
I feel like the Rockies are better suited to go for Jac instead. Given the barrier to success in the pitching realm they should double down on their park and pick a hitter with upside power. But thats just my thoughts!
It definitely will be interesting to see what direction the Rockies go this year. They have preferred either outfielders or right-handed pitchers in the first round over the last few years. Jac Cags is having an unbelievable season and boasts tons of potential. He will be in play for each of the first four picks. Thanks for reading, Collin!