The MLB Draft is a time for hope.
It’s a probability for struggling groups to probably land their subsequent celebrity. It’s a probability so as to add a participant who could make an affect for years to return. Though draft prospects don’t usually make a right away affect, the fast ascensions of Paul Skenes, Adley Rutschman and Garrett Crochet (amongst others) lately has modified that narrative.
The 2024 MLB Draft will happen from July 14 via July 16. Let’s check out 5 prospects to know earlier than the draft begins.
Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana
Bazzana is taken into account by MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo to be the highest prospect within the draft. The left-handed hitting second baseman posted a .407/.568/.911 batting line with 28 homers and 16 steals in his 296 plate appearances for the Oregon State Beavers this previous season. He additionally stole 16 bases whereas drawing 76 walks and placing out 37 instances.
Bazzana is taken into account to have a complicated method on the plate with wonderful bat pace and loads of uncooked energy. He has plus pace to go together with his plus hit software, making him a viable menace on the basepaths. There are questions as to the place Bazzana’s long-term defensive dwelling might be, however he’s anticipated to be an satisfactory second baseman. Bazzana has an added wrinkle to his profile – the Australian prospect spent elements of three years within the Australian Baseball League, getting expertise towards superior competitors.
Florida first baseman/beginning pitcher Jac Caglianone
Everybody desires to search out the subsequent Shohei Ohtani. Whereas these comparisons are unfair for anybody, first baseman/beginning pitcher Jac Caglianone is as shut as a crew could get.
Thought to be the third-best prospect per MLB.com, Caglianone is taken into account to have the perfect uncooked energy within the 2024 MLB Draft class. Though he has an aggressive method, Caglianone constantly makes onerous contact with out excessive strikeout charges. He produced a .419/.544/.875 batting line with a Division 1-leading 35 homers in his 316 plate appearances for the Florida Gators, drawing 58 walks with 26 strikeouts.
Caglianone is taken into account a second-round expertise as a pitcher. He has a plus-plus fastball that may attain triple digits together with a cutter, slider and changeup. Nevertheless, Caglianone does have issues commanding his arsenal. He posted a 4.76 ERA and a 1.520 WHiP in his 73.2 innings, placing out 83 batters whereas issuing 50 walks.
