Illustration of MLB Draft 2024: Surprising Picks and Rising Stars

MLB Draft 2024: Surprising Picks and Rising Stars

Day 1 of the 2024 MLB draft concluded with the Cleveland Guardians selecting Travis Bazzana as the No. 1 overall pick on Sunday night.

The Cincinnati Reds chose Chase Burns with the second pick, followed by the Colorado Rockies selecting Charlie Condon, the Oakland Athletics picking Nick Kurtz, and the Chicago White Sox rounding out the top five with Hagen Smith. For the first time in MLB draft history, college players were chosen with the first eight picks, the latest without a high school player being selected since the draft began in 1965, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The draft will continue on Monday at 2 p.m. ET with Round 3.

Follow along for pick-by-pick coverage, with ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield and Dan Mullen analyzing each first-round pick.

1. Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana, an Australian-born player, had a stellar season with the Beavers, hitting .407/.568/.911 with 28 home runs, setting a school record. As a left-handed hitter, he excels in contact hitting and has improved his power. He primarily plays second base but could potentially move to center field.

2. Cincinnati Reds: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Burns made his mark at Wake Forest after transferring from Tennessee. He features a 98 mph fastball that can reach 101 and a hard, high-spin slider, leading to a striking out rate of nearly 49%. With consistency in his pitching, Burns has ace potential.

3. Colorado Rockies: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia
Condon had a historic season, hitting .433 with 37 home runs. Drawing comparisons to Kris Bryant and Alec Bohm, he has versatile fielding abilities but may end up as a corner outfielder due to his arm strength.

4. Oakland Athletics: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
A standout for the Demon Deacons, Kurtz exhibited power and plate discipline, hitting .306/.531/.763 with 22 home runs. Known for his excellent defense at first base, he might advance quickly to the majors.

5. Chicago White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Smith had a breakout season in 2024, winning SEC pitcher of the year with a 2.04 ERA. Though he has reliever risk, he could be a frontline starter if his stuff and command improve.

6. Kansas City Royals: Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida
Nicknamed “Jactani” for his two-way play, Caglianone leads the country with 33 home runs. Standing at 6-foot-5, his raw power is extraordinary, but he needs to reduce his high chase rate.

7. St. Louis Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
Wetherholt, once ESPN’s No. 1 prospect before hamstring issues, showed resilience with his return, hitting .331/.472/.589. Known for his consistency and bat speed, he may transition to second base in the pros.

8. Los Angeles Angels: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Dominating the best lineup in college baseball, Moore hit .375 with 34 home runs, helping Tennessee to a College World Series title. The Angels value his quick rise potential to the majors.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep (Mississippi) HS
Winning Gatorade national player of the year, Griffin has remarkable two-way talent but shows higher potential as a position player. The Pirates see Griffin’s upside as future All-Star material.

10. Washington Nationals: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
A standout transfer from Wingate, King hit .308 with career-best 16 home runs in the ACC after excelling in the Cape Cod League. Notably athletic, he profiles as a versatile infield/outfield.

11. Detroit Tigers: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (California) HS
Rainer draws comparisons to Corey Seager, displaying outstanding performance as a shortstop with a promising bat. Detroit sees significant potential despite questions about age-performance correlation.

12. Boston Red Sox: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M
A showcase power hitter, Montgomery hit .322 with 27 home runs at A&M, and his plus-plus raw power and arm make him a solid right-field prospect.

13. San Francisco Giants: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State
Tibbs, noted for his polished hitting, led Florida State with .363 and superb trips. Giants aim for quick progress through the minors despite a likely more solid player than star profile.

14. Chicago Cubs: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith, a draft-eligible sophomore, showcased power with improved stats in his second college year. The Cubs are looking at his potential 30-home run upside with more swing enhancements.

15. Seattle Mariners: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State
Cijintje’s notoriety as a switch-pitcher shifted focus to his powerful right-handed delivery. The Mariners trust his stark rise in the college system showcases strong long-term pitching potential.

16. Miami Marlins: PJ Morlando, RF/1B, Summerville (South Carolina) HS
Despite a challenging senior high school year, Morlando’s power and hit tool secure his selection, with the Marlins targeting offensive upside.

17. Milwaukee Brewers: Braylon Payne, CF, Elkins (Texas) HS
One of the youngest and fastest players, Payne’s raw potential secured him an unexpected mid-teens pick, planning for later bonus use.

18. Tampa Bay Rays: Theo Gillen, 2B, Westlake (Texas) HS
Gillen stands out as one of the most proficient high school hitters with broad skills, ideal for Tampa’s developmental focus.

19. New York Mets: Carson Benge, RF, Oklahoma State
Showcasing as a powerful hitter, Benge hit .335/.444/.665 with 18 home runs. Mets prioritize developing his outfield potential over pitching.

20. Toronto Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
Yesavage exhibited top-tier K/9 stats and promising polished repertoire. Toronto sees immediate minor league impact potential.

These highlighted selections capture the excitement and potential of the 2024 MLB draft, with each team betting on the future success of their new prospects.

Popular Categories


Search the website