The first day of the 2024 MLB draft concluded with the Cleveland Guardians selecting Travis Bazzana as the top overall pick on Sunday night.
The Cincinnati Reds picked Chase Burns as the second selection, followed by the Colorado Rockies selecting Charlie Condon. The Oakland Athletics chose Nick Kurtz, and the Chicago White Sox rounded out the top five by picking Hagen Smith. Notably, history was made as college players were chosen with the first eight picks, the latest it has been without a high school player selected since the MLB draft began in 1965, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The draft will resume on Monday at 2 p.m. ET with Round 3.
For comprehensive pick-by-pick coverage, follow ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield and Dan Mullen as they break down the first-round selections.
1. Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana had an outstanding season, hitting .407 with 28 home runs for Oregon State, setting a school record. The left-handed hitter shines for his hitting ability and raw power. Cleveland aimed high with Bazzana, reflecting their focus on maximizing such talents.
2. Cincinnati Reds: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Burns, from the Wake Forest pitching ranks, transferred from Tennessee and has a powerful fastball reaching 101 mph. Known for his high strikeout rate, he has the potential to be a key piece in the Reds’ pitching lineup.
3. Colorado Rockies: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia
Condon had one of the best seasons in NCAA history, hitting .433 with 37 home runs. His game has been compared to notable players like Kris Bryant and Alec Bohm. The Rockies see him as a significant future asset for their offensive lineup.
4. Oakland Athletics: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Kurtz is known for his power, hitting .306 with 22 home runs in 54 games this year. With strong plate discipline and defense, Kurtz could rise quickly to the majors.
5. Chicago White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Smith achieved a 2.04 ERA with 161 strikeouts this season. His mid-90s fastball and breaking pitch make him a potential strong addition to the White Sox rotation.
6. Kansas City Royals: Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida
Nicknamed “Jactani,” Caglianone has shown two-way talent but shines as a hitter, leading the nation with 35 home runs. The Royals are optimistic about his offensive potential.
7. St. Louis Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
Wetherholt, despite a hamstring injury, remains a strong pick with his contact ability and approach at bat. He provides a steady and reliable addition to the Cardinals.
8. Los Angeles Angels: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Moore hit .375 with 34 home runs, helping Tennessee win their first College World Series. He is expected to transition quickly to MLB.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep (Mississippi) HS
Griffin excelled both as a pitcher and hitter. With a high ceiling as a position player, his selection reflects the Pirates’ strategy of targeting high potential talent.
10. Washington Nationals: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
King, a transfer from Division II, proved his competence in the ACC, hitting .308. He offers versatility and a high athletic ceiling for the Nationals.
11. Detroit Tigers: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (California) HS
Rainer, drawing comparisons to Corey Seager, is seen as an excellent future shortstop prospect for the Tigers.
12. Boston Red Sox: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M
Montgomery, a switch-hitter with significant power, joins the Red Sox with expectations to fill a critical power-hitting role in their lineup.
13. San Francisco Giants: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State
Tibbs, known for his polished hitting, hit .363 with a 1.264 OPS, showcasing strong offensive capabilities for the Giants.
14. Chicago Cubs: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith improved significantly in his sophomore year, showing power potential that the Cubs hope to continue developing.
15. Seattle Mariners: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP, Mississippi State
Cijntje garnered attention as a switch-pitcher but stands out for his right-hand pitching, which has improved considerably this season.
16. Miami Marlins: PJ Morlando, RF/1B, Summerville (South Carolina) HS
Though a surprising pick, Morlando’s power potential and hitting skills make him a promising prospect for the Marlins.
17. Milwaukee Brewers: Braylon Payne, CF, Elkins (Texas) HS
At 17, Payne’s youth and speed hold promising potential, albeit seen as a surprise pick for this early round.
18. Tampa Bay Rays: Theo Gillen, 2B, Westlake (Texas) HS
Gillen, known for his pure hitting ability, joins a Rays team that has focused on position players in recent drafts.
19. New York Mets: Carson Benge, RF, Oklahoma State
Benge, a power hitter with a strong arm, is expected to focus on his outfield abilities for the Mets.
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
Yesavage, the top remaining college pitcher, offers polished skills that could see him rise quickly through the minors.
21. Minnesota Twins: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Culpepper impressed as a dynamic hitter and made a successful transition to shortstop, making him a valuable pick for the Twins.
22. Baltimore Orioles: Vance Honeycutt, CF, North Carolina
Honeycutt’s significant power potential comes with strikeout concerns, but the Orioles are betting on his high upside.
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee (Florida) HS
Lindsey is recognized for his athleticism and speed, though he has yet to face high-level competition.
24. Atlanta Braves: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro (Arizona) HS
Caminiti, known for his powerful fastball, joins the Braves with high expectations for his future development.
25. San Diego Padres: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (Oklahoma) HS
Mayfield’s rapidly improving skill set makes him a high-upside pick for the Padres.
26. New York Yankees: Ben Hess, RHP, Alabama
Hess, with notable strikeout abilities despite a high ERA, presents potential that the Yankees aim to harness and develop.
27. Philadelphia Phillies: Dante Nori, CF, Northville (Michigan) HS
Nori, a high school star from Michigan, shows promise with a strong batting average and speed.
28. Houston Astros: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State
Janek, valued for his defensive prowess, provides the Astros with depth and potential improvement at the catching position.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Slade Caldwell, CF, Valley View (Arkansas) HS
Caldwell’s speedy, contact-oriented game offers valuable potential to the Diamondbacks.
30. Texas Rangers: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
Moore, a strong hitter with the potential to stay at catcher, fits the Rangers’ long-term strategic needs.
Prospect Promotion Incentive picks:
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Ryan Waldschmidt, LF, Kentucky
Waldschmidt’s breakout performance and strong hitting record make him a valuable addition.
32. Baltimore Orioles: Griff O’Ferrall, SS, Virginia
O’Ferrall brings polished hitting skills with impressive contact ability to the Orioles.
Compensation picks:
33. Minnesota Twins: Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana
DeBarge’s solid contact ability and big season performance make him a promising pick for the Twins.
Competitive Balance Round A:
34. Milwaukee Brewers: Blake Burke, 1B, Tennessee
Burke’s powerful hitting showcases his home run potential.
35. Arizona Diamondbacks: JD Dix, SS, Whitefish Bay (Wisconsin) HS
Dix possesses defensive potential at shortstop and an all-field hitting approach.
36. Cleveland Guardians: Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral (California) HS
Doughty’s strong pitching skills and high velocity make him a notable pick for the Guardians.
37. Pittsburgh Pirates: Levi Sterling, RHP, Notre Dame (California) HS
Sterling’s projection and command stand out, with potential plus pitches in his arsenal.
38. Colorado Rockies: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Brecht’s athleticism and powerful fastball make him a high-upside choice for the Rockies.
39. Washington Nationals: Caleb Lomavita, C, Cal
Lomavita’s strong hitting skills and defensive abilities as a catcher add depth to the Nationals.
Second round:
40. Oakland Athletics: Tommy White, 3B, LSU
41. Kansas City Royals: David Shields, LHP, Mt. Lebanon (Pennsylvania) HS
42. Colorado Rockies: Jared Thomas, OF, Texas
43. Chicago White Sox: Caleb Bonemer, SS, Okemos (Michigan) HS
44. Washington Nationals: Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls (New Jersey) HS
45. Los Angeles Angels: Chris Cortez, RHP, Texas A&M
46. New York Mets: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
47. Pittsburgh Pirates: Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence (Texas) HS
48. Cleveland Guardians: Jacob Cozart, C, NC State
49. Detroit Tigers: Owen Hall, RHP, Edmond North (Oklahoma) HS
50. Boston Red Sox: Payton Tolle, LHP, TCU
51. Cincinnati Reds: Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West (Nebraska) HS
52. San Diego Padres: Boston Bateman, LHP, Adolfo Camarillo (California) HS
53. New York Yankees: Bryce Cunningham, RHP, Vanderbilt
54. Chicago Cubs: Cole Mathis, 3B, College of Charleston
55. Seattle Mariners: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York Community (Illinois) HS
56. Miami Marlins: Carter Johnson, SS, Oxford (Alabama) HS
57. Milwaukee Brewers: Bryce Meccage, RHP, The Pennington School (New Jersey)
58. Tampa Bay Rays: Emilien Pitre, 2B, Kentucky
59. Toronto Blue Jays: Khal Stephen, RHP, Mississippi State
60. Minnesota Twins: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
61. Baltimore Orioles: Ethan Anderson, C, Virginia
62. Atlanta Braves: Carter Holton, LHP, Vanderbilt
63. Philadelphia Phillies: Griffin Burkholder, OF, Freedom (Virginia) HS
64. Arizona Diamondbacks: Ivan Luciano, C, El Shaddai Christian Academy (Puerto Rico)
65. Texas Rangers: Dylan Dreiling, OF, Tennessee
Competitive Balance Round B:
66. Tampa Bay Rays: Tyler Bell, SS, Lincoln-Way East (Illinois) HS
67. Milwaukee Brewers: Chris Levonas, RHP, Christian Brothers Academy (New Jersey)
68. Chicago White Sox: Blake Larson, LHP, IMG Academy (Florida)
69. Minnesota Twins: Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine (Texas) HS
70. Miami Marlins: Aiden May, RHP, Oregon State
71. Cincinnati Reds: Luke Holman, RHP, LSU
72. Detroit Tigers: Ethan Schiefelbein, LHP, Corona (California) HS
73. Oakland Athletics: Gage Jump, LHP, LSU
Compensation picks:
74. Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Johnson, RHP, Dallas Baptist