The 2024 MLB Draft wrapped up on Tuesday with 615 gamers chosen over this 12 months’s 20-round course of.
Now that we all know the place gamers are going (see you subsequent time, mock drafts!), we will dive into which golf equipment might need gotten steals, which added potential superstars and which took some enjoyable sleepers.
These are 30 of our favourite Draft picks from 2024, together with one for each group:
Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage, RHP (first spherical)Ranked eleventh general within the class by MLB Pipeline, Yesavage dropped to the Blue Jays with the twentieth decide, and Toronto — a membership whose high prospect Ricky Tiedemann has struggled to remain wholesome in 2024 – needs to be doing cartwheels on the alternative so as to add one other potential frontline starter. The East Carolina product has a particularly excessive launch and exhibits three plus pitches in his fastball, slider and splitter that would get him to Toronto in a rush.
Orioles: Vance Honeycutt, OF (first spherical)Sure, there’s swing-and-miss, a variety of it (27.5 Okay fee in 2024), however the instruments are simple. He set North Carolina information for homers in a season (28) and profession (65) and has two 20/20 seasons on his faculty resume, going 28/28 this 12 months. He additionally brings Gold Glove-caliber protection in middle subject into the group.
Rays: Tyler Bell, SS (Spherical CB-B)Popping out of Illinois, Bell was among the best high-school shortstops on this class, primarily as a result of he’s a stable wager to stay on the place along with his spectacular actions, vary and arm energy. His bat as a switch-hitter is a much bigger query mark following some scuffles on the showcase circuit, however the knock on his passivity on the plate could possibly be fixable within the Tampa Bay system. If the Rays may get Bell to be simply a mean hitter, this could possibly be a steal given what he’s already proven with the glove.
Purple Sox: Braden Montgomery, OF (first spherical)The Purple Sox had been hoping that one of many Draft’s consensus high skills would get to No. 12, notably a school bat, and it occurred. He suits the traditional right-field profile with large uncooked energy and arm energy, and he batted .328/.457/.730 with 27 homers for Texas A&M earlier than breaking his proper ankle on an ungainly slide through the NCAA Tremendous Regionals.
Yankees: Bryce Cunningham, RHP (second spherical)Analysts are taken with the form, carry and extension on Cunningham’s fastball and the spin and motion on his upper-80s changeup. He posted a 4.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings at Vanderbilt this spring. The Yankees excel at creating pitchers, and if they will soup up his slider, be careful.
Guardians: Joey Oakie, RHP (third spherical)Oakie may have factored into the supplemental first spherical, however the Guardians used the spending energy of their document $19,250,700 bonus pool to drift him all the way down to the third spherical. Gatorade’s Iowa highschool participant of the 12 months options one of many higher sliders within the prep class, a mid-80s weapon with two-plane depth and horizontal motion, and he achieves loads of run and sink on a 92-94 mph two-seamer that touches 97.
Royals: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP (first spherical)The place the Florida star would land and the way he’d be introduced had been two of the most important Day 1 storylines. The Royals had been the fortunate membership to get Caglianone for excellent worth at sixth general, and for now, they’re saying they’ll preserve him as a two-way participant. Even within the probably occasion Caglianone strikes to hitting full time, the idea of pairing his plus-plus energy with Bobby Witt Jr. & Co. in Kansas Metropolis is mouth-watering for the Royals’ present rivalry window.
Tigers: Bryce Rainer, SS (first spherical)Detroit added a pair of Prime 100 prospects in Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle on the high of final 12 months’s Draft, and Rainer may be part of them in time because the second-highest prep decide of this class. The 6-foot-3 shortstop makes constant loud contact and exhibits a superb method that would make him a plus hitter with above-average energy. His above-average velocity and plus arm energy give him extra methods to contribute and push his means by the Tigers system.
Twins: Billy Amick, 3B (second spherical)After two years at Clemson, Amick transferred to Tennessee so he may play third base. That labored out as he helped the Volunteers win the Faculty World Collection and posted a 1.026 OPS within the course of. We thought he had an opportunity to go within the first spherical — even the Twins had curiosity — in order that they should be thrilled he was nonetheless there to think about in Spherical 2.
White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP (first spherical)The White Sox gave the impression to be chasing hitters with the No. 5 general decide however as a substitute grabbed Smith, MLB Pipeline’s top-rated pitching prospect. Armed with a misleading 94-97 mph fastball that reaches 100 and a mid-80s slider with sweep and depth, the Arkansas ace broke Ryan Wagner’s 21-year-old NCAA Division-I document by averaging 17.3 strikeouts per 9 innings and in addition led the nation in average-against (.144).
Angels: Trey Gregory-Alford, RHP (eleventh spherical)Whereas the Angels have a repute of taking superior faculty guys who will get to the massive leagues quick within the early rounds, they’re additionally not afraid to go large firstly of Day 3. They gave present Prime 100 prospect Caden Dana $1.5 million in Spherical 11 in 2022 and since-traded Mason Albright $1.25 million to signal as a Twelfth-rounder in 2021. Search for Gregory-Alford and his energy stuff to get seven figures as properly.
Astros: Walker Janek, C (first spherical)MLB Pipeline’s top-ranked catcher, Janek received the Buster Posey Award as faculty baseball’s greatest backstop after batting .368/.480/.714 with 17 homers and erasing 52 % of basestealers for Sam Houston. His sturdy arm is his most evident instrument, however he is additionally a succesful hitter and receiver with 20-homer pop.
A’s: Tommy White, 3B (second spherical)The A’s are bringing some critical energy into the group. They acquired Nick Kurtz and his .725 profession SLG at Wake Forest within the first, then had been in a position so as to add Tommy Tanks and his 75 profession dwelling runs (between NC State and LSU), who many individuals thought would go by the top of the primary spherical, firstly of the second.
Mariners: Ryan Sloan, RHP (second spherical)There was discuss of the Mariners (and different groups within the first) having curiosity in Sloan, who was the highest-ranked obtainable right-handed highschool pitching prospect within the class. They opted to go the school hurler route within the first (Jurrangelo Cijntje) after which went large to land Sloan within the second in what is certain to be an above-slot deal.
Rangers: Dylan Dreiling, OF (second spherical)Dreiling received Most Excellent Participant honors on the Faculty World Collection, serving to Tennessee win its first nationwide title by homering in all three video games of the championship collection. He completed his sophomore season with a .341/.459/.715 line and 23 homers, and he pairs plus uncooked energy with stable velocity.
Braves: Cam Caminiti, LHP (first spherical)Caminiti was usually projected to go within the teenagers, as excessive as No. 11 general, so the Braves probably had been pleasantly stunned he was there for them at No. 24. The highest obtainable highschool pitcher within the Draft, Caminiti is younger (he’s solely 17), has a plus fastball and confirmed extra constant potential to spin a breaking ball and throw his changeup this spring.
Marlins: Carter Johnson, SS (second spherical)As an Alabama highschool shortstop with a bodily construct, Johnson naturally elicits comparisons to Gunnar Henderson. Whereas that is a bit a lot provided that Henderson is extra athletic and is within the midst of an MVP-caliber season, Johnson is a sophisticated hitter with 20-homer potential who in all probability will find yourself at second or third base.
Mets: Jonathan Santucci, LHP (second spherical)New York employed a technique of taking pitchers with terrific stuff however questionable histories of well being, and the Duke southpaw is the poster baby for that. His 92-96 mph fastball and low-80s, two-plane slider each earn plus grades, and his changeup could possibly be an above-average pitch with greater utilization. He’s been restricted by elbow surgical procedure final 12 months and a rib harm this spring, but when it comes collectively, there may be midrotation upside in a Mets system that has helped Christian Scott and Brandon Sproat escape lately.
Nationals: Kevin Bazzell, C (third spherical)It is a good reminder that groups usually intention for the highest participant on their boards and determine the remaining later. The Nats already took faculty catcher Caleb Lomavita with the thirty ninth general decide however weren’t afraid to return to that properly at No. 79 to take Bazzell, who was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. The Texas Tech backstop not often swings and misses or chases out of the zone as a righty slugger and has expertise at third base, ought to Washington need to transfer him.
Phillies: Griffin Burkholder, OF (second spherical)The Phillies additionally get a hat tip for taking Dante Nori within the first spherical, a participant many groups wouldn’t contemplate that early as a result of he’s outdated for a excessive schooler, however then coming again with Burkholder offers them a pair of intriguing and toolsy outfielders. He’s sturdy and athletic with the prospect to hit and exhibit 70-grade velocity.
Brewers: Chris Levonas, RHP (Spherical CB-B)A 6-foot-2 righty, Levonas is 5 inches shorter than the Brewers’ high pitching prospect, Jacob Misiorowski, however he’s simply as wiry, measuring in at 170 kilos. He already throws 91-96 mph, and Milwaukee believes extra is within the tank as soon as its pitching group provides energy to Levonas’ body. His low-80s slider and upper-70s curve are high-spin breakers too, giving the New Jersey native much more on which the Crew can dream.
Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B (first spherical)Wetherholt had actual potential to go first general as among the best pure general hitters within the class. As an alternative, he went seventh to the Cardinals. Hamstring points that bogged the West Virginia star could have been a trigger for the drop, however he regarded wholesome through the Mountaineers’ postseason run. Even when Wetherholt strikes to second base on the professional aspect, his arrival offers rise to ideas of a middle-infield pairing with Masyn Winn for a very long time in The Present.
Cubs: Cam Smith, 3B (first spherical)Similar to they did with Maryland’s Matt Shaw at No. 13 a 12 months in the past, the Cubs spent a mid-first-rounder (No. 14) on a projected third baseman who starred within the Cape Cod League earlier than a monster closing faculty season. Smith slashed .387/.488/.654 with 16 homers as a Florida State sophomore, initiatives as a stable hitter and defender and will faucet into much more energy if he can drive the ball within the air extra repeatedly.
Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS (first spherical)There will need to have been a spirited debate, and there most actually was stress, to take a “safer” faculty bat at No. 9 general, to pick out a man who would get to Pittsburgh quicker. As an alternative, the Pirates took the participant with the very best all-around instruments (albeit a bit extra uncooked) in all the class. Sure, there are some points to iron out along with his swing/hit instrument, however he has 4 not less than plus instruments with 30-30 potential.
Reds: Mike Sirota, OF (third spherical)After an enormous sophomore season and robust performances two summers in a row within the Cape Cod League, Sirota regarded like a mid-first-round participant heading into the spring. However then he scuffled for a lot of his junior season at Northeastern, hurting his inventory significantly. If the Reds can get him again to the place he was beforehand, they could have gotten a 20-20 potential middle fielder within the third spherical.
D-backs: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF (PPI)Arizona picked up the thirty first general decide as a reward for Corbin Carroll successful final 12 months’s NL Rookie of the Yr Award, and it used the choice on one other outfielder in Waldschmidt. A torn left ACL final summer time dampened the Kentucky outfielder’s inventory, however he confirmed a stable method with above-average energy on his means again to full-time standing this spring. He’s an above-average runner too when wholesome and could possibly be one other center-field choice for Arizona.
Dodgers: Kellon Lindsey, SS (first spherical)The quickest participant on MLB Pipeline’s Draft Prime 250, Lindsey is a former quarterback who performed his means into the No. 23 general choice by getting higher on either side of the ball this spring. The Florida highschool product earned some Trea Turner comparisons after enhancing his hitting potential and his protection at shortstop.
Giants: Dakota Jordan, OF (fourth spherical)As a result of they did not have picks within the second or third rounds, the Giants wanted some worth within the fourth spherical to make their Draft. They discovered it in Jordan, who batted .354/.459/.671 with 20 homers at Mississippi State and had the expertise match within the supplemental first spherical. He might need the quickest bat within the Draft and a few evaluators give double-plus grades to his uncooked energy and velocity, although he comes with swing-and-miss considerations and his quickness has but to translate into steals or center-field potential.
Padres: Kavares Tears, OF (Spherical 4C)After not getting a lot taking part in time his first two years in Knoxville, Tears was a key contributor to Tennessee’s national-title group with a .324/.427/.643 line and 20 homers in 71 video games. His energy, velocity and defensive instruments all earn not less than above-average grades, whereas a flat bat path retains his hit mark nearer to common. Nonetheless, a participant with that skillset and stage of success on a giant stage needs to be arduous to seek out at decide 134, but that’s precisely what the Padres scooped up.
Rockies: Brody Brecht, RHP (CB-A)The Rockies could have been stunned to get their first two picks, selecting up Charlie Condon at No. 3 after which having Brecht fall to them within the Aggressive Steadiness Spherical. Brecht had among the many greatest pure stuff within the Draft, dampened solely by command points, although he did discover the zone rather more constantly throughout a powerful stretch on the finish of his season in Iowa.
