As the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals begin on Friday, all eyes are on the top MLB draft prospects showcasing their talents on the national stage. Among them are a few players vying for the top overall pick in July’s draft in Georgia third baseman Charlie Condon and Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana.
These athletes are vying for a championship and aiming to solidify their positions in the upcoming MLB draft, making every game a high-stakes audition for their professional careers. Here are the top 17 prospects to watch in the Super Regionals who figure to go early in July’s draft.
Charlie Condon, 3B/OF, Georgia
Condon has made remarkable strides in his development in his three years at Georgia, going from a walk-on to the top prospect in July’s draft.
Condon is a 6-foot-6, 211-pound right-handed hitter with an advanced skill set at the plate. His short, compact swing allows him to cover the plate and hit for average and power. He’s a mature hitter who understands the strike zone. He profiles as a middle-of-the-order hitter at the next level.
Condon leads the nation with a .446 batting average and 36 home runs. He also has hit 20 doubles and drove in 77 RBIs with 55 walks compared to 39 strikeouts in 220 at-bats. He’s in the mix to go first overall in July.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Condon and his skill set here.
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.
This spring, Bazzana has a .416 batting average with 16 doubles, four triples, 28 home runs, 66 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 207 at-bats. He’s displayed outstanding plate discipline, tallying 74 walks to 34 strikeouts. He’s in the mix to go first overall in July.
Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Montgomery is a 6-foot-2, 217-pound switch-hitting outfielder known for his five-tool potential. The switch hitter has a simple setup and a gap-to-gap approach. He consistently barrels up pitches and displays above-average power from both sides of the plate. He has improved his plate discipline in college, crediting his growth in the mental game and approach for his development.
Montgomery also is extremely athletic, which helps him on the bases and in the field. He profiles as a right fielder in pro ball due to his elite arm strength, quality throwing accuracy, and ability to cover plenty of ground.
Montgomery is batting .322 with 14 doubles, 27 home runs and 85 RBIs in 236 at-bats this spring. The talented outfielder is a potential top-five pick.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Montgomery and his skill set here.
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.
As the Super Regionals begin, Caglianone has performed better as a position player than a pitcher. He has taken a step forward at the plate, hitting .411 with seven doubles, 31 home runs and 63 RBIs in 229 at-bats. He has improved his plate discipline, drawing 48 walks compared to 23 strikeouts. The two-way star is a potential top-five pick.
JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia
After missing some time with a hamstring injury this spring, Wetherholt returned 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.
Wetherholt has a .345 batting average with eight doubles, eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 116 at-bats in 34 games. He also has 30 walks compared to 15 walks. The talented infielder is a potential top-five pick.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Wetherholt and his skill set here.
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.
Smith is batting .396 with 20 doubles, 16 home runs and 54 RBIs in 245 at-bats. He figures to go in the top half of the first round in July’s draft.
James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
Tibbs is an offensive-first player, and scouts rave 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, and scouts project him as a likely left fielder in pro ball.
As the Super Regionals begin, Tibbs has a .362 batting average 17 doubles, 25 home runs and 84 RBIs in 224 at-bats. He figures to go in the top half of the first round in July’s draft.
Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitting center fielder with an extremely impressive toolset. He is a dynamic athlete with quality instincts and an improving hit tool. Defensively, Honeycutt is an elite center-field defender due to his athleticism, instincts, arm strength and ability to cover tons of ground.
The biggest question mark in Honeycutt’s game is his plate discipline. As the Super Regionals begin, he is batting .309 with 12 doubles, 24 home runs, 62 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 233 at-bats. He has 78 strikeouts and 35 walks this spring.
Scouts rave about his upside. If Honeycutt can continue to develop and put all his tools together, he has the potential to be a star in pro ball. He projects as a potential top-20 pick.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Honeycutt and his skill set here.
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 parts of the field. Defensively, he has displayed improved skills at third base and will have the chance to stick there in pro ball.
As the Super Regionals begin, Amick is hitting .310 with 12 doubles, 21 home runs and 60 RBIs in 216 at-bats. He’s a potential first-round pick in July’s draft.
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 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.
Waldschmidt is the prototypical top-of-the-order hitter. He is hitting .359 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 198 at-bats. He also has 39 strikeouts and 34 walks. He’s a potential first-round pick in July’s draft.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Waldschmidt and his skill set here.
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.
Defensively, his athleticism allows him to cover plenty of ground and make all the necessary plays. He also has above-average arm strength to handle either shortstop or third base in the future.
As the Super Regionals begin, Culpepper is hitting .329 with 13 doubles, six triples, 11 home runs, 56 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 237 at-bats. He also displays quality plate discipline. He’s a potential first-round pick in July’s draft.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Culpepper and his skill set here.
Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Moore boasts quality size (6-1, 210) and well-rounded tools. Offensively, Moore has an aggressive approach and can drive the baseball with authority to all parts of the field.
Defensively, Moore profiles best at second base. He has respectable athleticism and arm strength. He moves well laterally and makes all the necessary plays at second base.
Moore is batting .378 with 17 doubles, 29 home runs and 67 RBIs in 259 at-bats. Scouts consider Moore a potential first or second-round pick.
Griff O’Ferrall, SS, Virginia
O’Ferrall has been a reliable and consistent performer throughout his three years at Virginia. The right-handed hitter doesn’t hit for much power but consistently makes strong contact due to his bat-to-ball skills. Defensively, he has a respectable arm strength and is accurate with quality range due to his athleticism.
O’Ferrall is hitting .331 with 19 doubles, five home runs, 49 walks and 17 stolen bases in 269 at-bats. He’s a potential second-pick in July’s draft.
Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee
Beam is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-handed pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball, two-seamer, curveball, cutter and changeup from a high three-quarters arm slot, long arm action and low-effort delivery.
He primarily relies on a four-seam fastball and curveball. His mid-90s fastball tops out at 98 mph, while his curveball generates plenty of swings and misses.
Beam has the size, pitch mix and potential to be a quality starter in pro ball. Scouts consider him one of the safer pitching prospects in this year’s draft class and someone who will likely hear his name called in the second round.
As the Super Regionals begin, Beam has struggled with consistency. He has a 4.16 ERA, 80 strikeouts and 22 walks allowed in 88 2/3 innings.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Beam and his skill set here.
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.
The 6-foot-3, 222-pound backstop has a .291 batting average with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs in 203 at-bats. He projects as a likely second-round pick.
Ryan Prager, LHP, Texas A&M
Prager has had a strong spring after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has developed into Texas A&M’s ace this spring.
Prager is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefty who throws a fastball, slider and changeup from an over-the-top arm slot, deceptive delivery and repeatable mechanics. His pitches complement one another well. His fastball is a low-90s offering that plays up due to his arm slot, deception and the pitch’s late movement.
Prager is a competitive pitcher with an impressive pitch mix who attacks the strike zone. He has a 2.53 ERA with 113 strikeouts and 19 walks in 85 1/3 innings. He projects as a potential second-round pick.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Prager and his skill set here.
Tristan Smith, LHP, Clemson
Smith was a highly-regarded prep pitcher in 2022 but opted to attend college instead. After an inconsistent freshman season, the sophomore lefty has taken a step forward this spring.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound lefty has a quality pitch mix, boasting a mid-90s fastball, above-average slider and promising changeup.
Smith has the potential to start in pro ball, but he must first improve his strike-throwing ability. As the Super Regionals begin, he has a 3.88 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 29 walks allowed in 46 1/3 innings. Scouts project Smith as a potential second or third-round pick.
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.
