MLB mock draft 2024: Up to date projection forward of Males’s School World Collection

This week eight males’s faculty baseball groups arrive in Omaha with a shot at a nationwide championship, and NCAA baseball immortality.

However for a number of the gamers in Omaha, the Males’s School World Collection is simply the following cease on their approach to attaining their private MLB desires.

The 2024 MLB Draft is now a month away, because it will get underway on July 14 in Fort Price, Texas. Many prospects have accomplished all they will to impress the scouts, however some gamers nonetheless have some baseball to be performed, as they chase down a Nationwide Championship in Omaha.

How may the primary spherical play out, and what gamers must you keep watch over within the Males’s School World Collection? Right here is our first MLB mock draft of the 2024 scouting season..

1. Cleveland Guardians: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

All through the spring Charlie Condon and Travis Bazzana have flip-flopped on this place, and if the Guardians find yourself drafting Bazzana it should actually not be a shock. Each gamers posted online game numbers this 12 months (with Condon placing up a slash line of .433/.556/1.009 together with 37 house runs) and the Georgia infielder has room to develop into his 6’6 body.

2. Cincinnati Reds: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

As famous above, Bazzana and Condon have flip-flopped within the one and two spots all through mock draft season. Many mocks have the Oregon State infielder within the high spot proper now, given his manufacturing over his time on campus. An amazing summer season on the Cape, as he received Cape Cod MVP honors in addition to a batting title with a .375 average — accomplished with a picket bat, which MLB scouts like to see — may give him the sting.

In the end it would come all the way down to a desire relating to Bazzana’s center infielder profile, and Condon’s nook infielder prospects. Nevertheless, each the Reds and the Guardians are in a great spot.

3. Colorado Rockies: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

This is perhaps the place the 2024 MLB Draft really begins, with the Colorado Rockies within the third spot. A variety of gamers have been linked to Colorado with this decide, however for my cash Ja Caglianone is essentially the most fascinating participant within the draft. His two-way expertise have earned him the nickname “Jactani” — a nod to Shohei Ohtani — however his MLB future is probably going cast as a hitter.

To that time, Caglianone stands alone within the storied historical past of SEC baseball as the one participant with back-to-back 30 HR seasons.

Coming into this season there was a priority about his strikeout numbers, as he struckout 58 instances in 319 plate appearances a season in the past. However this 12 months he reduce down on the strikeouts dramatically, placing out simply 25 instances over his 297 plate appearances. He additionally raised his batting common from .323 in 2023 to a formidable .411 this previous season.

Given that he’s completely a pro-level prospect with what he can do on the mound, Caglianone is completely worthy of an early choice.

4. Oakland Athletics: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Just a few completely different arms have the potential to be the primary pitcher taken in July, and in the meanwhile the nod may go to Chase Burns out of Wake Forest. Burns started his collegiate profession at Tennessee — after being drafted within the twentieth spherical of the 2021 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres — however was moved to the bullpen after a stint as a starter within the Volunteers rotation.

Burns transferred to Wake Forest and thrived as a starter, going 10-1 this season with an ERA of 2.70 whereas holding opposing hitters to a .175 batting common. He has a strong array of pitches, with a fastball that may high out in triple digits, a formidable slider, and a curveball and a changeup that spherical out his assault.

5. Chicago White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

Burns is one possibility for an arm inside the highest 5 of the 2024 MLB Draft. Left-hander Hagen Smith is the opposite. Smith leaves campus having gotten higher and higher each single season at Arkansas. Again in 2022 Smith began 20 video games for the Razorbacks, posting a 7-2 report with an ERA of 4.66 and a batting common allowed of .234.

Over the 2023 season Smith posted a win-loss report of 8-2, with an ERA of three.64 whereas holding hitters to a batting common of .217.

This previous season? Smith went 9-2 for the Razorbacks, with an ERA of two.04 and an opponent batting common of .144. That’s fairly the trajectory.

Smith additionally makes use of a three-quarters supply, which you’ll be able to see on this cutup from Rob Friedman:

Whereas he underwent Tommy John surgical procedure as a highschool sophomore, he has been a workhorse since then, with the potential to be a top-tier starter within the majors.

6. Kansas Metropolis Royals: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Wake Forest recruited Nick Kurtz as a left-handed beginning pitcher, however his prowess on the dish noticed him thrive as a hitter within the collegiate sport. He has been a power on the plate for the Demon Deacons since arriving on campus, posting a slash line of .338/.471./.637 again in 2022 with 15 house runs. This previous season noticed his common dip a bit, as he hit .306, however mix that with an OBP of .531 and a .763 Slugging Proportion and you’ve got some actually strong numbers.

Strikeouts is perhaps a problem, as he was punched out 50 instances again in 2023 and one other 42 instances this previous season. However the numbers on the plate warrant an early choice.

7. St. Louis Cardinals: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

The Aggies are headed to Omaha, and Braden Montgomery is a big purpose why. The outfielder is a part of a three-headed monster at Texas A&M, together with infielder Gavin Grahovac and fellow outfielder Jace Laviolette, that punishes opposing pitchers.

As for Montgomery, he put up a slash line of .322/.454/.733 this previous season, whereas belting 27 house runs and driving in a team-high 85 runs. The switch-hitting prospect has seen his energy numbers tick up sine the beginning of his collegiate profession, which got here at Stanford earlier than transferring to Texas A&M.

Oh, and he additionally pitches. Whereas the Aggies solely used him in two video games this previous 12 months with one begin, he appeared in ten video games for Stanford in 2023 and 13 again in 2022. In that 2022 marketing campaign he held hitters to a batting common of simply .197.

His MLB future, nonetheless, is probably going as a nook outfielder.

8. Los Angeles Angels: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

At first blush, this may appear to be a attain.

However from the place I sit, few gamers have helped their draft inventory the previous few weeks greater than Vance Honeycutt.

The UNC outfielder is a real “five-tool” participant, with a lot of proof to again up that proposition. You possibly can level to the second straight ACC Defensive Participant of the 12 months Award he earned this spring, or the 76 bases he swiped on campus over his three seasons. You too can level to the 63 house runs he hit at UNC, changing into the college chief in that class.

However for me it was what he delivered within the Tremendous Regionals that inform his full story, as he belted a walk-off two run shot in Recreation 1 towards West Virginia, after which began Recreation 2 with a solo shot on the very first pitch of the sport.

Strikeouts are a problem, and are a giant purpose he’s usually seen within the late teenagers in mock drafts. His strikeout price again in 2022 was 30%, and after dipping in 2023 crept again as much as 28% this previous season. However somebody goes to position a giant wager on these instruments, and be glad they did.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia

After taking Paul Skenes with the first-overall choice a 12 months in the past, the Pittsburgh Pirates probably look so as to add a bat with this choice. They’ve been linked to a couple gamers already chosen on this mock, together with Montgomery and Kurtz, however with each taken they take a look at the West Virginia center infielder.

JJ Wetherholt is among the greatest hitters within the class, and confirmed that in a 2022 marketing campaign the place he posted an astronomical slash line of .449/.517/.782, incomes Large 12 Convention Participant of the 12 months honors. A hamstring harm firstly of the 2024 marketing campaign reduce down his manufacturing numbers, however he’s as near a positive factor on the plate because it will get. His MLB place stays a query mark, as he is perhaps higher suited to 2B within the execs, however this can be a high ten decide.

10. Washington Nationals: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep MS

After a run of school gamers we see our first prep prospect come off the board.

And what a prospect Konnor Griffin is.

He put up absurd numbers this previous season, batting .559 with 9 house runs. He additionally stole 85 bases in simply 43 video games, and was named the Gatorade Nationwide Excessive Faculty Participant of the 12 months. That mixture of velocity and energy makes him a participant with 30-30 potential on the subsequent stage.

Try to discover the place this house run lands. It isn’t simple:

Whereas he has dedicated to LSU, anticipate him to be an early decide subsequent month.

11. Detroit Tigers: Bryce Ranier, SS, Harvard-Westlake (CA)

The draft continues alongside prep strains with Bryce Ranier, a shortstop from Harvard-Westlake in California. On the Nationwide Excessive Faculty Invitational Ranier placed on a present, going 7-for-13 with two doubles, 5 walks, and a pair of stolen bases. He additionally posted the highest 4 exit velocities on the plate, and did that whereas making a aid look that noticed him persistently within the mid 90s along with his fastball.

That above hyperlink has a superb cutup of Ranier’s method on the plate.

Ranier has dedicated to Texas, however like Griffin he’s probably an early decide in spherical one.

12. Boston Purple Sox: James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State

This is perhaps the second inflection level of the primary spherical. Whereas the primary comes at decide No. 3 by the Colorado Rockies — after the anticipated high two of Condon and Bazzana in some order — the second is right here.

Which makes me nervous as a Boston Purple Sox fan.

As famous on this mock draft from MLB.com, at this level there are over a dozen faculty hitters “who may go anyplace from the kids to the supplemental first spherical and tye may come off the board in nearly any order.” Nevertheless, that very same mock has Florida State outfielder James Tibbs going within the top-ten choices, whereas right here (in sure a little bit of homer manifestation I concede) Tibbs slides to the Purple Sox at No. 12.

Tibbs put up large numbers for the Seminoles this season, with a slash line of .374/.497/.813, and was enormous for FSU within the Tremendous Regionals towards Connecticut. Tibbs went 2-for-5 with 4 RBI of their Recreation 1 win over the Huskies, after which had an enormous afternoon in Recreation 2, going 5-for-6 with 4 RBI and three house runs, together with this two-run shot within the high of the twelfth to present FSU the 10-8 lead:

Sure, I’m manifesting. However you perceive why.

13. San Francisco Giants: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)

I do know what you might be pondering.

No, Cam Caminiti will not be Ken Caminiti’s son.

However they’re cousins.

The LSU commit has accomplished work each on the bump and on the dish, however his MLB future is probably going as a left-handed beginning pitcher. Caminiti has 4 strong pitches, together with a fastball that may high out within the higher 90s together with each a curveball and a slider. That fourth pitch is a changeup, which he used extra this previous season in response to scouting reviews.

Right here is an efficient take a look at Caminiti on the bump:

14. Chicago Cubs: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Trey Yesavage missed the AAC Event with {a partially} collapsed lung.

He got here again for the Regionals and in Recreation 2 of the Greenville Regional towards Wake Forest he went 7.1 innings, permitting only one run. His counterpart that day? Chase Burns, who lasted simply 5 innings and gave up 4 runs.

On the 12 months Yesavage went 11-1 with an ERA of two.02, whereas holding hitters to a .154 clip.

His slider is perhaps his greatest pitch, however he can dial it up with the fastball, which will get into the higher 90s.

15. Seattle Mariners: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

After hitting simply .258 in 2023 for the Seminoles, Smith broke out in an enormous means this previous season. Smith put up a slash line of .402/.497/.677 for FSU this 12 months, whereas chopping his strikeout price from 29% in 2023 to only 16% this previous season.

He additionally loved a powerful summer season on the Cape, incomes Most Excellent Professional Prospect honors within the Cape Cod league whereas placing up an OPS of .981.

The draft-eligible sophomore can actually assist his trigger in Omaha.

16. Miami Marlins: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest

After two standout seasons at Division II Wingate (NC) the place he slashed .411/.457/.699 with 11 homers as a sophomore, Seaver King transferred to Wake Forest. He performed all around the discipline for the Demon Deacons this season, seeing time at shortstop, second, third, and within the outfield.

This season he put up a slash line of .308/.377/.577, whereas exhibiting some pop with 16 house runs. He additionally has some wooden bat expertise, having secured MVP accolades within the Valley League in 2022, and hitting .424 with the Harwich Mariners final summer season within the Cape Cod League.

His MLB place is perhaps a query mark, and his greatest match is perhaps at shortstop, however the bat leads the best way.

17. Milwaukee Brewers: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

Within the backside of the eleventh inning in a sport towards Wake Forest in final 12 months’s Males’s School World Collection, Tommy “Tanks” White strode to the plate with a berth within the Finals on the road. He was in search of a fastball.

He didn’t get one.

It didn’t matter:

White’s walk-off house run capped off an instantaneous basic, and has turn out to be a part of LSU baseball lore. In truth the play was identify the Male Sports activities Play of the 12 months by the college, and helped LSU alongside to a Nationwide Title.

Whereas the Tigers’ bid for an additional championship fell brief this 12 months, White actually held up his finish of the discount, slashing .330/.401/.638. He additionally hit 24 house runs, marking the third-straight season he left the yard at the least 24 instances (he belted 27 house runs at NC State in 2022, then 24 in each 2023 and 2024 with LSU).

The Brewers are rumored to be eying faculty bats with this choice, and White stands out as an excellent possibility.

18. Tampa Bay Rays: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (LA)

Whereas groups typically draw back from highschool pitchers within the first spherical, the Tampa Bay Rays are usually not a type of groups. Wanting by their draft historical past you see plenty of highschool arms within the first spherical, together with Blake Snell, Matthew Liberatore, and most not too long ago Nick Bitsko in 2020.

William Schmidt may very well be their subsequent highschool pitcher within the first spherical, particularly if he slides to them at No. 18. Scouts imagine he has one of the best breaking ball within the class, a low-80s “hammer” that has a spin price over 3,000 and a heater that sits within the mid-90s.

Listed below are each pitches in motion:

He has dedicated to LSU, however he is perhaps headed elsewhere.

19. New York Mets: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

In keeping with reviews the Mets have been taking a look at faculty hitters for this spot, and given how this mock draft has fallen, their eyes flip to Carson Benge. The Oregon State outfielder has put up monster numbers the previous two collegiate seasons, slashing .343/.466/.535 throughout 2023 and exhibiting a bit extra pop this previous 12 months, posting a slash line of .335/.444/.665 with 18 house runs, greater than double his 2023 complete of seven.

Benge can also be a strong prospect on the bump, as he went 3-1 this season for the Beavers with an ERA of two.75, and a formidable BA allowed of simply .175. Nevertheless, like some prospects we’ve already mentioned, his future lies with what he can do as a left-handed hitter.

20. Toronto Blue Jays: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State

We’ve our first catcher.

4 catchers are potential first-round picks subsequent month: Walker Janek from Sam Houston State, Malcolm Moore from Stanford, Caleb Lomavita from California, and NC State backstop Jacob Cozart. (For these waiting for this weekend’s Males’s School World Collection, Cozart is a grasp in the case of framing pitches … maybe too good).

The Toronto Blue Jays have been talked about as a workforce that would look to a catcher with this choice, and Janek is the decide right here. He hit .281 within the Cape Cod League common season this previous summer season with Falmouth, with 5 house runs. That may actually assist his prospects.

21. Minnesota Twins: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

As you may in all probability inform there are a bunch of prospects that might be enjoying within the Males’s School World Collection over the following few days, if not past.

A type of is Christian Moore, who helps energy a Volunteers lineup that is among the greatest within the faculty sport. Moore began his faculty journey as a DH for the Volunteers, earlier than cracking the lineup at second base. This season he slashed .375/.453/.796, whereas ripping a career-best 32 house runs. He’s one among 5 on a regular basis gamers within the Tennessee lineup with an OPS over 1.000, and he has some velocity too, as evidenced by the 16 steals a season in the past.

22. Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (IL)

Mike Elias has not drafted a highschool pitcher since taking up in Baltimore, but when Ryan Sloan falls to this spot, the Orioles GM may simply break that streak. Ryan Sloan brings three strong pitches to the desk as a prospect: A fastball that hangs within the mid-90s with some upper-90s pop, a strong changeup, and a slider with some good horizontal motion.

You possibly can see all three pitches on show on this cutup of Sloan:

23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

There was a time once I thought Brody Brecht can be showing in additional soccer mock drafts than anything, as he enrolled at Iowa as a large receiver for the soccer workforce in addition to his duties on the bump for the Hawkeyes. However after a redshirt season, and enjoying sparingly the 12 months after that, Brecht left the gridiron behind to concentrate on his pitching duties.

In all probability a sensible transfer.

He led all pitchers with a .143 batting common towards throughout the 2023 marketing campaign, when he completed with a 5-2 report and an ERA of three.74. He went 4-3 this season with an ERA of simply 3.33, whereas hitters managed a .165 common towards him in 2024.

He has drawn some comparisons to Paul Skenes because of a fastball that may hit triple digits, and a slider with some snap. You possibly can see each pitches right here:

A lofty comparability to make sure, however one that can actually seize some consideration.

24. Atlanta Braves: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

Earlier we mentioned the potent Volunteers lineup that options 5 on a regular basis gamers with an OPS above 1.000. Christian Moore, the second baseman, is a type of gamers.

Billy Amick is one other.

Amick slashed .313/.392/.678 this previous season for Tennessee, resulting in that OPS north of 1.000. The third baseman additionally belted 23 house runs, behind solely Moore on the Volunteers’ roster. A strong weekend in Omaha may see his inventory transfer even greater than the again finish of the primary spherical.

25. San Diego Padres: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View (AR)

A.J. Preller has drafted a highschool participant within the first spherical of the final seven MLB Drafts.

Will he make it eight?

Slade Caldwell was the Gatorade Arkansas highschool Participant of the 12 months as a junior in 2023, when he hit .512 with 5 house runs. Described as his highschool coach as a “true 5 device participant,” Caldwell is usually a menace on the bottom paths with a left-handed swing that may spray line drives to all fields.

26. New York Yankees: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk Metropolis (OK)

The New York Yankees are more likely to choose one of the best bat obtainable, until one of many high arms falls to them.

On this state of affairs, one of many high arms certainly falls to them.

Kash Mayfield helped Elk Metropolis to the state semifinals in 2023, and he was named Gatorade’s Oklahoma highschool Participant of the 12 months in consequence. That season he completed with a 9-1 report and a 0.75 ERA throughout 46 2/3 innings of labor. In that span, he fanned 109 batters and walked solely 13, permitting 18 hits in complete. However after taking the summer season off he exploded this spring, he really made a reputation for himself on the Tremendous 60 Professional Showcase in February, the place he confirmed improved velocity on his fastball.

In the course of the 2023 season his fastball was within the mid- to upper-80s, however beginning with the Tremendous 60 Professional Showcase and into his spring season it was hitting within the mid- to upper-90s. Add in a strong changeup and a curve that he instructions effectively, and you’ve got starter stuff within the large leagues.

27. Philadelphia Phillies: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

The Philadelphia Phillies dipped into the highschool market with their first-round choice a 12 months in the past, drafting Aidan Miller out of J. W. Mitchell Excessive Faculty in Florida.

They might dip again into the highschool market, and if the board fell this manner Theo Gillen out of Westlake Excessive Faculty in Texas can be an possibility, however right here we’ve the Phillies including Dakota Jordan from Mississippi State. The left-handed hitting outfielder put up large numbers for the Bulldogs this season, slashing .354/.459/.671 with 20 house runs, doubling the quantity he posted a season in the past.

One other consideration with Jordan? He may nonetheless be studying easy methods to use his velocity. He was a three-star WR recruit popping out of highschool and deliberate on enjoying receiver for Mississippi State, and in addition ran observe whereas in highschool.

However talking of velocity, his bat velocity stands out. Watch how fast he will get his fingers round on this house run from the Charlottesville Regional:

That’s fairly fast.

28. Houston Astros: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

As a sophomore in 2023 Kaelen Culpepper slashed .325/.423/.576 for the Wildcats, however there have been considerations about his energy projection when he struggled a bit this previous summer season within the Cape Cod League. Taking part in for the Harwich Mariners, Culpepper hit simply .270 with a .318 Slugging Proportion, as his three doubles have been his solely extra-base hits.

However Culpepper moved to shortstop for this previous season, ahd confirmed the flexibility to deal with the defensive components of the place whereas persevering with to enhance on the plate. This 12 months he slashed .324/.416/.570 with 11 house runs, a career-high quantity. He might by no means be a 20+ HR participant within the bigs, however may very well be a constant 15-20 HR participant with the flexibility to hit for common.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

Because of the MLB Draft guidelines, the Arizona Diamondbacks have three picks clustered collectively, beginning with this choice at No. 29 total. With Corbin Carroll profitable Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months the Diamondbacks might be on the clock once more at No. 31, after which they are going to be on the clock once more at No. 35, within the “Aggressive Steadiness Spherical.”

So that they have a variety of freedom with this decide to discover the studio area.

Catcher Malcolm Moore from Stanford may very well be an possibility. Moore put up a slash line of .255/.414/.553 this 12 months, which doesn’t bounce off the web page, however the instruments are there for him to be a extra constant hitter. He confirmed that in his first season at Stanford, when he slashed .311/.386/.564, and the ability has been there each season, as he belted 15 house runs in 2023 and one other 16 house runs this previous season.

30. Texas Rangers: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

You learn that proper.

Jurrangelo Cinjntje is a pure left-hander, however needed to be like his dad, who was a right-handed pitcher within the Netherlands. So he would placed on his dad’s right-handed glove and begin to throw.

He first grew to become recognized worldwide as a member of Curacao’s workforce on the 2016 Little League World Collection, the place his switch-pitching potential drew a lot of eyeballs. Without any consideration-handed hurler he operates with a fastball that may get into the higher 90s, whereas that very same pitch left-handed is extra of a low-90s heater.

For enjoyable, right here is an overlay of Cinjntje throwing a fastball with each arms:

Additionally if you’re questioning, his glove is a customized design that he can change on the fly:

His greatest stuff comes as a right-hander, so don’t be stunned if he focuses on that going ahead. However he’s actually an intriguing prospect.