Major League Baseball Draft Mock Draft Monday, Version 3.2
As of today, it is now 34 days until the first pick of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft will begin July 14 in Ft. Worth. With the teams for the College World Series to be finalized today, major players in this year’s MLB draft will be on the biggest collegiate stage beginning next week. As I worked through this mock, it seemed like shuffling the deck until you get to the end, when the depth of the prep arms and prep shortstops seem to fit with a lot of clubs in the second half of the first round and especially in the comp picks before round two.
Let’s take a look at this week’s mock!
- Cleveland Guardians — Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana seems to be a really good fit with the Guardians, and you hear from people around the game that he’s a “Guardians guy.” Bazzana had a very strong regional series, smashing two home runs and driving in four runs over the three games, putting a nice bow on an impressive season for Oregon State.
2. Cincinnati Reds — Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia
Condon’s the top-ranked draft prospect on most lists, so to get him second overall would be a win for the Reds. His raw power eventually in Great American Ballpark could be an impressive thing to watch once he figures out where on the field he’ll eventually play.
3. Colorado Rockies — Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Burns is the top-ranked pitcher in this class, even though his final turn on the mound for Wake Forest was not the finale that he would have preferred. The Rockies are big on the two top college pitchers, but if somehow Bazzana or Condon were here, that could be very interesting.
4. Oakland Athletics — Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
If there’s a challenger to Condon for the top raw power in the draft class, it’s two-way star Caglianone. He’s not been excellent in the regional and super regional games, but he’s been getting plenty of respect for his bat, as seen by Clemson walking him three times intentionally after Cags hit a big home run in the first inning. This could be a tremendous fit for the A’s, who could use any sort of positive player coverage to counter the negative coverage of the team.
5. Chicago White Sox — JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia
Wetherholt was considered the top prospect in this year’s draft coming into the season before injuries held him out for a while this year. Once he returned, he’s been elite and more than that, he’s been showing that he can handle shortstop. It’s very feasible that Wetherholt could be a guy to stir up the pot in the top two.
6. Kansas City Royals — Bryce Rainer, SS, California HS
It seems like the Royals are consistently tied with high school players in this spot, and Rainer is arguably the top prep player. Rainer’s a talent on the mound for sure, but his ability to at the plate is likely going to be the big draw here.
7. St. Louis Cardinals — Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
With Smith really neck and neck with Burns for the top arm in the class, that he would last to this spot would be something the Cardinals would love to jump all over to infuse a high-end pitcher into the system. Whether there’s a bat that’d change their mind if he was available in this spot is unclear, though they’d have some interesting choices in this scenario.
8. Los Angeles Angels — James Tibbs III, 1B/OF, Florida State
One of the most impressive hitters in the draft, Tibbs is a guy who fits with the Angels because he’s likely going to move quickly. With concern about a first base only profile and his swing-and-miss, Tibbs has come out this season and spent the whole year in the outfield while also halving his strikeout rate and has been putting on a show in regional and super regional play.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates — Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
The Pirates are really in a great position here where they can sit back to see who falls right in their lap. In this scenario, they’d have a tough choice between the excellent bat of Kurtz or the injury worry around Braden Montgomery. With Montgomery’s injury still unknown on this day, I have them going with Kurtz.
10. Washington Nationals — Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
While ECU got eliminated, Yesavage was able to get on the mound, despite concerns about his health, and outpitched top draft arm Chase Burns in the process. He very well could go earlier than this, but falling into the Nationals’ lap seems like a blessing for a team that has seen its young arms begin to show positive signs at the big league level this year.
11. Detroit Tigers — Konnor Griffin, OF, Mississippi HS
Rainer and Griffin are the top two high school players and likely the two guys who will factor in the top 10 picks. Griffin reclassified from a 2025 player into this class and is arguably the better athlete than Rainer, but he also has more work to do to polish his ridiculous skills, so the Tigers can be patient with him.
12. Boston Red Sox — Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Montgomery is a top-five talent in this year’s draft, but this past weekend in a super regional game against Oregon, he slid into home plate and his foot went awkwardly under him. He’s been already ruled out for the rest of the Aggies’ season, no matter how long it may go. The unknown with the injury moves him here right now, but I struggle to see him falling beyond this spot if he began dropping.
13. San Francisco Giants — Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
The Giants would LOVE to see one of the top two prep guys fall to this spot. If they don’t, the Giants will likely pursue an upside college bat, and there’s not much more of an upside guy than King here. There’s also some thought that the Giants could be the first spot a prep arm comes off the board as well. King could be an excellent defensive outfielder or play up the middle in the infield, but wherever he plays defensively, the mix of power and speed could be very fun.
14. Chicago Cubs — Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
If the Giants don’t have a prep guy fall to them, they could be the start of a run of college hitters coming off the board. The Cubs are heavily tied to college bats this year, and there’s not a better “floor” bat than Smith, who could finish with a .400+/.500+/.600+ season with a strong run in Omaha. He is not an elite defender by any means at the hot corner, but he’s a very capable defender that should be an offensive weapon.
15. Seattle Mariners — Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Moore was a strong player coming into this season and simply exploded this year with the Vols, hitting more home runs this year than in his previous two seasons while maintaining strong patience skills at the plate. While he has an offensive profile of a power hitter, Moore is a strong athlete that should stick at second base, but has also played center and short for the Vols.
16. Miami Marlins — Kash Mayfield, LHP, Oklahoma HS
The 6'4" prep lefty continues to be mentioned higher and higher in the draft. While the Marlins would be well-suited to select from the bevy of college hitters or prep shortstops in this spot, the chance to take their choice of prep pitcher could be too tempting to pass up.
17. Milwaukee Brewers — Carson Benge, OF/RHP, Oklahoma State
Benge has an impressive arm that could potentially intrigue some teams as a two-way player, but his overall offensive package is such that it’s likely a team will want that over the chance of a two-way player. The Brewers are looking upside here, and Benge certainly offers that, and he could be an interesting fit with his pull power in Milwaukee.
18. Tampa Bay Rays — Cam Caminiti, LHP, Arizona HS
One of the top players in next season’s class that reclassified into the 2024 draft, Caminiti has long had elite raw stuff, but the ability to control it is the question. The Rays are frequently mentioned alongside Caminiti and could have the patience to work with him to iron out his delivery and pitch shape to become the elite starter that he projects to be.
19. New York Mets — Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
An injury had some people backing off Waldschmidt, but he’s continuing to bring eyes to his power/speed combination in the college postseason right now. He’s likely a left fielder long-term, but the raw tools and plate discipline combination should be very attractive at this point in the draft.
20. Toronto Blue Jays — Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt is having a huge showcase moment in the regionals and super regionals right now, with dramatic home runs, impressive base running, elite defense, and showing off his plus arm. He does have strikeout concerns, but the upside is so tremendous that it’s hard to imagine him falling outside of the top 25 picks.
21. Minnesota Twins — Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State
There could be a number of catchers to come off the board, but Janek is frequently mentioned as the first one to be drafted in large part because of his defensive excellence. He has work to do offensively, but he has the potential to be at least an average hitter while providing potentially plus defense behind the dish.
22. Baltimore Orioles — Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Elite raw athlete that played college football before focusing on baseball this season. His year did not go as well as he had hoped, otherwise, he’d be in consideration for a top-10 overall selection. The raw stuff is a triple-digit fastball and a high-80s slider that can be devastating, but Brecht struggles to control his stuff. MLB teams are highly intrigued and Brecht could even go higher than this despite the caution flags.
23. Los Angeles Dodgers — William Schmidt, RHP, Louisiana HS
Typically ranked as the top prep arm available, Schmidt offers impressive raw stuff, with a fastball that can reach the upper-90s and potentially the best curveball in the class. He’s also shown feel for a change, something many prep arms don’t come into pro ball showing proclivity for. The Dodgers would be more than willing to take the shot on the big arm here where others may worry about risking with a prep righty.
24. Atlanta Braves — Theodore Gillen, SS, Texas HS
If it weren’t for shoulder surgery that clipped out part of his high school career hanging over him, Gillen very likely could be considered in the top 10–15 selections. He’s behind a bit on his development because of that, but the Braves are looking notably at bats this season, and the right prep bat would certainly have the opportunity to prove himself within the system.
25. San Diego Padres — Slade Caldwell, OF, Arkansas HS
Caldwell is one of the youngest players in the class, which automatically draws certain teams, namely the Padres. While he doesn’t have ideal physicality, standing just 5'9", he has shown he can maximize his ability on the bases and shows raw power that could end up average in pro ball.
26. New York Yankees — Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
Amick has been an impressive player at two top-shelf programs in power programs. He is a guy that should translate his game to the pro level well, and the Yankees seem to be tied to him often. This definitely could be a dip into the prep shortstop class as well.
27. Philadelphia Phillies — Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Culpepper’s postseason run with the Wildcats only helped his profile as he showed an ability to handle shortstop, flashed power and speed, and really was the captain on the field for Kansas State’s squad. He may end up fitting at third rather than short, but the Phillies would be a great landing spot for his raw skills.
28. Houston Astros — Kellon Lindsey, SS, Florida HS
The Astros have a history of pursuing college picks, but the word is that they’re exploring the prep shortstop market. Lindsey has been a pop-up player this season, but his raw athleticism has been incredible to watch as he is a top-shelf runner that could be a potential fit at either short or center field as he develops.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks — Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
With three picks in the next seven, the Diamondbacks have the opportunity to really steer the board at this point of the draft. A college hitter like Jordan who has notable upside and high-end athleticism could work for the D-backs as their first selection of the day.
30. Texas Rangers — Caleb Lomavita, C, California-Berkeley
The Rangers have been scouting the top college catchers, and there’s a strong group this season. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rangers go a completely different direction, but Lomavita would be a tremendous fit. He’s hit well in the Cape Cod League with a wood bat and should be an excellent defensive catcher down the road.
31. Arizona Diamondbacks — Tyson Lewis, SS, Nebraska HS
Lewis is a guy who is getting a lot more push into the backend of the first round among the deep prep shortstop class. He’s impressed with the progress that he’s made this year in his senior year of high school, allowing him to get to his impressive power and speed combination. Grabbing one of the prep arms or prep bats with their first three picks would make a lot of sense for Arizona.
32. Baltimore Orioles — Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State
After taking a guy in Brecht who has dropped from his preseason ranks, the Orioles could take a guy here who has really pushed himself forward this year — and not just because of the oddity of being a switch-pitcher. Cijntje works into the upper-90s from both sides, a very rare thing among those who have attempted switch-pitching. His performance this season continues to push him up the board.
33. Minnesota Twins — Tommy White, 3B, Louisiana State
White showed impressive power over his collegiate career, banging out 75 home runs, but he struggled in his final regional competition and did not show power as LSU was eliminated. However, the track record of White (.355/.419/.704 over 187 games against top conference foes over three years) should be plenty to attract a first-round pick. The Twins are rumored to be looking to stock up on collegiate picks early in order to push money toward prep players from the depth of the high school arms and shortstop class, something multiple teams could attempt to employ.
34. Milwaukee Brewers — Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
Moore was highly regarded out of high school and has been excellent in college, showing power and patience in his offensive profile. He has a strong arm but needs polish in his footwork and blocking skills behind the plate, something that Milwaukee excels in teaching.
35. Arizona Diamondbacks — Luke Holman, RHP, LSU
The Diamondbacks very well could come out of these first three picks with any combination of players, but in an attempt to put one college hitter, one prep player, and one college arm with the D-backs, Holman ended up being the guy. He transferred into LSU from Alabama to take over the front of the Tigers rotation after Paul Skenes graduated, and he had an impressive season that seemed to fly under the radar compared to some of the other top arms in this class.
36. Cleveland Guardians — Ryan Johnson, RHP, Dallas Baptist
A 6'6" righty with impressive raw arm strength, a fastball that can touch triple digits, and a plus slider, Johnson has a high floor as a potential shutdown reliever, but Cleveland could be an excellent organization to work with those raw tools and iron out a third pitch to be a mid-rotation starter.
37. Pittsburgh Pirates — Carter Johnson, SS, Alabama HS
One of my favorite players in the draft class, Johnson tends to get lost in the midst of all of the prep shortstops, but I think there’s a lot of similarity here to Colt Emerson, Seattle’s draft pick last season. Johnson’s best tool is his contact, though he could fill into consistent 15–20 home run power while still having above-average speed. The long-term home could be second base, and that is one knock on Johnson, but the Pirates would be very happy to find him available in this spot.
38. Colorado Rockies — Charlie Bates, SS, California HS
Bates has an impressive power tool for a guy who also possesses a plus run tool and potential to play plus defense. He’s a Stanford commit, which could mean that he’s a tough sign, but if the Rockies could save some money with a pitcher at #3, a tough sign like Bates could be in play here.
39. Kansas City Royals — Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
Considered the top college lefty in the class coming into the season, Santucci struggled with his location. He has exceptional raw stuff with a fastball that works in the mid-90s along with a slider and change that both could be considered plus pitches. The Royals could take the risk here on health and command with Santucci with a very high upside.
The next mock draft will be June 24, the second-to-last one that I’ll do before the MLB draft kicks off on July 14.
