The 2024 MLB draft is rapidly approaching, as it’s nearly one month away. The NCAA Tournament is beginning, while high school baseball is wrapping up around the country.
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. The crop of college hitters is the biggest strength in this year’s class.
This is my third first-round mock draft for the 2024 MLB draft cycle, with numerous changes from one month ago. A lot will still change between now and July’s draft, so stay tuned for all the latest draft coverage.
Here is a look at my latest mock draft for the 2024 MLB draft:
1. Guardians: 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 who has been an on-base machine this season. His ability to hit for average, power and steal bases intrigues teams. He also is a respectable defender at second base.
2. Reds: Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
Condon started as a walk-on and is now the best player in college baseball and the top prospect in the 2024 MLB draft. He’s destroying the baseball this season, showing an ability to hit for average and power. Scouts rave about his plate discipline, contact skills, and ability to hit for power.
Read a detailed feature story on Condon and his skill set here.
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. If the Rockies opt for a hitter, Florida first baseman Jac Caglianone is also in play here.
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: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
The White Sox could take various approaches with this pick, including picking prep outfielder Konnor Griffin, West Virginia second baseman JJ Wetherholt or a college arm.
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.
6. Royals: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia
After missing some time with a hamstring injury this spring, Wetherholt has come back and hit the cover off the baseball. He also has displayed the ability to play shortstop, which has provided some intrigue to his future defensive home.
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. He is arguably the best pure hitter in this year’s draft class.
Read a detailed feature story on Wetherholt 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.
8. Angels: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
The Angels prefer college players who can move quickly through the farm system. The early rumor is they might go underslot with this pick. might go underslot with this pick. There is a ton of industry talk about ECU righty Trey Yesavage and Florida State outfielder James Tibbs, which could be an option if they choose to cut a deal.
Regardless of who they take, the goal will be to move the player quickly through the minor leagues, leading most to believe they will go the college route.
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: Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)
Griffin is the top prep player in this year’s class and someone scouts rave about due to his current toolset and potential. Prep shortstop Bryce Rainer is also in the mix here.
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.
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: 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.
13. Giants: 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 top-of-the-rotation pitcher.
14. Cubs: James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
Tibbs is an offensive-first player with scouts raving about his exceptional well-rounded offensive tools. He hits for average and power with strong plate discipline. He destroys fastballs and hits for power to all fields. Defensively, Tibbs has average tools, with scouts projecting him as a likely left fielder in pro ball.
15. Mariners: 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.
16. Marlins: Theo Gillen, SS/2B, Westlake (Texas) HS
Gillen is arguably the best prep hitter in the high school class. He has an above-average hit tool and can hit for power. He is athletic and shows the tools to handle multiple defensive positions. Scouts are split on his future defensive home, with some projecting him as a second baseman or center fielder in pro ball due to his average 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: 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.
20. Blue Jays: 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.
Read a detailed feature story on Honeycutt 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: 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.
23. Dodgers: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State
Benge is a talented two-way player. He has an intriguing ability to make contact and drive the ball into the gaps. He has a really good hit tool with improving power. On the mound, Benge has a mid-90s fastball.
24. Braves: 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.
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 and 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: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
Jordan is a 6-foot, 220-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with above-average raw power due to his quick hands and bat speed. He drives the ball consistently to all fields and projects as a middle-of-the-order hitter in pro ball.
Jordan also is extremely athletic, which benefits him offensively and in the outfield. He has quality speed, makes quality reads on the baseball and has respectable arm strength. He projects as a quality defensive right fielder at the next level.
Read a detailed feature story on Jordan and his skill set here.
27. Phillies: Tommy White, 3B, LSU
White ended up having a strong junior season after a slow start to the regular season. He showed an ability to hit for average and power while also limiting his swing and misses. He is a bat-first player and might profile best at first base, hurting his draft stock.
Read a detailed feature story on White and his skill set here.
28. Astros: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston
Janek is a well-rounded player with strong defensive tools. Offensively, the 6-foot, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher has above-average contact skills and power potential. Defensively, Janek is a quality defender at catcher. He is athletic and moves well behind the plate. He also shows quick transfers and above-average arm strength to control the running game.
Read a detailed feature story on Janek and his skill set here.
29. Diamondbacks: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
Waldschmidt is one of the more underrated players in the 2024 MLB draft class. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed-hitting outfielder had a tremendous junior season throughout the regular season to enhance his draft status.
He is a well-rounded player who consistently squares up the baseball to drive the ball into the gaps to hit for average and power. Scouts also rave about his quality plate discipline and above-average approach. He is an athletic player with quality speed, which helps him on the bases and in the outfield.
Read a detailed feature story on Waldschmidt and his skill set here.
30. Rangers: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
Amick is in his first season at Tennessee after starting his college career at Clemson. As a sophomore at Clemson last year, he developed into an impact bat and has continued it this spring in the SEC. The right-handed hitter hits for above-average power to all fields. Defensively, he has displayed improved skills at third base and will have the chance to stick there in pro ball.
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.
