2024 MLB Draft: Day One Recap

Beneath is a team-by-team evaluation of final evening’s draft exercise. Keep in mind that you will discover extra detailed scouting reviews and power grades for the gamers drafted yesterday over on The Board. The positions beneath are what the participant was introduced as, not essentially what I’ve them projected as on The Board. For pitchers, I’ve a task designated beneath: starter (SP), or single-inning or multi-inning reliever (SIRP and MIRP).

The Diamondbacks stayed up the center of the sector with three projectable excessive schoolers and one data-darling faculty bat. At 5-foot-8, Slade Caldwell joins the ranks of D-backs outfielders who may want a step ladder to succeed in the highest shelf of their lockers. He’s extremely robust for his measurement and may actually run. Ryan Waldschmidt’s fall shocked me. I’ve issues about his present swing (his decrease physique isn’t doing something and his head is flying in all places) however thought I used to be low on him relative to the place he was going to be picked. JD Dix and Ivan Luciano are initiatives, with Luciano needing extra work on protection and Dix needing extra work on his bat.

It sounds just like the Braves picked the Padres’ pocket proper behind them. Cam Caminiti met with groups up and down the decide no. 8-18 vary and I anticipated him to go someplace in there. As an alternative, issues received fairly bizarre in that decide vary and he slid. That is the second draft in a row the place the Braves devoured up somebody who slid unexpectedly (Hurston Waldrep final 12 months). Carter Holton is an fascinating buy-low whose velo and well being slipped in 2024. He’s a Braves’ sort: barely undersized however actually athletic, with vertical fastball trip.

Right here’s one other group staying up the center of the diamond and largely prioritizing contact expertise. We’re going to discover out simply how good the Orioles are at enhancing swings and plate self-discipline as a result of Vance Honeycutt, whose choice is much like Jud Fabian’s a number of drafts in the past, wants a ton of assist in that space. The Orioles flip plate self-discipline dev into a bit of meta recreation by which they award factors or stickers or one thing to their prospects based mostly on their swing selections. Can Honeycutt, who additionally wants a swing overhaul, enhance through this technique? I’m not assured he’s going to hit, so I had him ranked decrease than the place he glided by bit. Griff O’Ferrall is sort of the precise reverse participant: He does nothing however hit. Can he get stronger and pull the ball extra as a professional? Ethan Anderson’s arm is presently worse than what’s typical at catcher however he can hit from each side of the plate, which isn’t true for a lot of backstops, even when they’re solely potential ones.

Braden Montgomery’s fall was stunning if you happen to take a look at the mock draft however not on the rankings. There have been rumors Boston would lower an under-slot deal at 12, however as a substitute a very good prospect merely fell to them. Already below Craig Breslow the Pink Sox have effected change on a number of of their pitching prospects, with a whole lot of it evident in adjustments made to the pitchers’ stride route or arm angle in a means that makes them funkier. Payton Tolle is already in that funky phylum as a cross-bodied low-slot man who generates large extension. He appears to be like like a reliever from an athletic standpoint and doesn’t throw particularly laborious, however Boston’s has made older arms higher currently.

The Cubs love their Cape Cod performers and received two extra final evening. Cam Smith was nice worth at decide no. 7 and, other than being extra stuffed out, shares a whole lot of similarities with Alec Bohm when he was drafted (massive league physique, energy isn’t actualized but, must work to remain/enhance at third base). Cole Mathis I’m not on fairly as a lot. He’s a righty-hitting first baseman and I’m skeptical about his plate self-discipline though a few of the knowledge suggests it’s nice. He solely swung at 56% of pitches down the center in 2024; the faculty common was 73%. This man is simply standing there a whole lot of the time. However he’s fairly athletic for a primary baseman (he was introduced at third), runs wells, and was a two-way participant till 2024, so there could be some late-arriving offensive ability right here.

The White Sox have prioritized superior pitching of their transactions (largely trades) since Chris Getz has taken the wheel and right here they received one of many draft’s most probably fast-movers in Hagen Smith. I had Caleb Bonemer a full spherical behind the place he was picked as a result of his body is maxed and I feel his athleticism is a greater match at third base than the place he was introduced. He’s a prospect and carried out in a showcase setting, he’s simply extra a 3rd rounder for me. Equally, I had Blake Larson ranked in a spot you’d affiliate extra with an upper-six-figures deal. He has massive stuff, however his command is tremendous uncooked. The White Sox have two of the primary 43 picks at present.

Chase Burns, not Charlie Condon, huh? I feel you may make an argument for the Reds drafting for want (and that want being pitching) as a lot as you possibly can for any group as a result of they’ve the place participant core to tussle with nearly anybody however must buttress their beginning rotation from each a depth and ceiling standpoint. Burns and Luke Holman ought to be in place to do each fairly rapidly. Tyson Lewis balances the category properly and provides a long-term up-the-middle venture to their decrease minors. It was a pleasant first day for the Reds.

I used to be proper concerning the JJ Wetherholt bait-and-switch in my last mock. Travis Bazzana is nice. You need to learn my full scouting report over on The Board, however he’s completely a worthy first general choice and no one ought to be fearful that Cleveland has a ton of center infielders; most good groups have center infield athletes taking part in all around the diamond. As Cam Caminiti slid, there have been rumors that the Guards have been floating him to their second decide with over-slot cash however that didn’t occur and so they ended up with Braylon Doughty, who I feel is comparably gifted and in Cleveland’s wheelhouse by way of profile: fastball trip, breaking ball high quality, athlete. Jacob Cozart is a glove-first catcher with plus defensive instruments throughout the board. He has a lefty-hitting Jake Rogers look, with a really excessive flooring due to his protection at a key place.

Earlier than we get to Charlie Condon I wish to speak about Brody Brecht. I had Brecht ranked thirteenth and he went thirty eighth. For the final week or so, I felt fairly assured that Brecht would find yourself with a group that would repair his command woes and that I’d appear to be a genius for having him as excessive up my board as I do. Then the Rockies took him and I doubled over laughing at my very own hubris in an in any other case very quiet second spherical draft room on the Cowtown Coliseum. He’s basically a Riley Pint mulligan (round-down fasball form, elite secondary stuff, unhealthy management), so let’s see what they’ve realized. Condon they introduced as an outfielder and I used to be inspired by the way in which he seemed in middle subject on tape. Middle in Coors is totally different, although. I do fear about Condon’s hit device (I assume not one of the different pundits had him decrease than I did), however holy cow if he has even a 40 bat, he’s going to hit for absurd energy there. Jared Thomas has uncommon bodily projection for a school hitter.

This could be my favourite group from Day One. Lefty-hitting shortstops with energy are uncommon and Detroit received one in Bryce Rainer at 11, hit device threat be damned. I had a primary spherical grade on Owen Corridor, whose body and arm motion are screaming with long-term projection, and his pitch high quality basis is already in a fantastic spot. Ethan Schiefelbein is sort of like a diversification decide as a result of he’s polished. There have been some faculty arms obtainable who I’ve ranked a bit of forward of him (Bruce Cunningham was the massive one), so it wasn’t as if Schiefelbein was an alternative choice to a scarcity of faculty pitchers, however I had him ranked proper round the place he was taken.

I can’t wait so that you can watch Walker Janek throw the baseball. The MiLB.TV broadcasts for Houston’s associates typically appear virtually deliberately horrible and I’m praying they rectify that so you possibly can watch Janek sizzle ’em to second base with no misaligned digicam cuts.

MLB listed Cags as a two-way participant on their draft tracker; I used to be too busy Woj’ing to note how the commish introduced him on the podium. On the very least, I feel Caglianone wants a break from pitching for some time so his arm energy can rebound and his method can (hopefully) develop and enhance. He takes a whole lot of feckless swings at stuff nowhere close to the plate. I’ve a supply who has been scouting for so long as I’ve been alive who thinks Jac is likely one of the most gifted gamers he’s ever seen and that Caglianone’s expertise have performed down as a result of he was requested to take action a lot at Florida. His ceiling is within the exosphere, and if he can hit it and peak on the similar time Bobby Witt Jr. does, it’s going to alter that franchise. I heard earlier than the draft that David Shields’ quantity was “high 20 cash,” so let’s take note of KC’s Day Two picks to see in the event that they lower like they did final 12 months with Carson Roccaforte.

It appears to be like just like the Angels are nonetheless searching for guys who could be hustled to Orange County. Christian Moore is a divisive participant as a result of he was a superlative faculty performer, however while you drill on his hit device analysis, it’s form of scary. He additionally isn’t a fantastic defender. Some individuals within the recreation completely love him and would have liked for him to fall into the center of the primary spherical, whereas others have been amused he went this excessive. Chris Cortez and Ryan Johnson (each lower-slot guys with nice breaking balls) could possibly be the quickest gamers to the massive leagues from this draft class.

He was introduced as a shortstop, however I don’t suppose Kellon Lindsey has the arm to play there. He has elite wheels that I feel will make him an affect middle subject defender and, although he’s a thin child, he isn’t quick. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 and the Dodgers have helped gamers add energy up to now.

I had PJ Morlando within the comp spherical however like this group general. I feel Morlando’s swing (he has a really stationary decrease half) robbed him of a few of his athleticism and could be why he swung and missed greater than you’d prefer to see from a 19-year-old excessive schooler, though he was most likely doing that to attempt to not strikeout a lot. Carter Johnson could possibly be this draft’s Cooper Pratt, a hitterish, long-levered, projectable infielder who’s poised to take off if he can get a bit of stronger. Miami has had success with pitchers who’ve lower than best fastball form and that’s Aiden Might, who has a fantastic breaking ball.

I feel it’s secure to say that Milwaukee had different plans that have been dashed by who went in entrance of them, most probably the faculty bats taken within the 10-14 vary. I don’t know why they didn’t suppose sufficient of Carson Benge to take him when their outdated boss’ org did. Braylon Payne is likely one of the youngest and quickest gamers within the draft, however he wants a ton of swing work. He’s undoubtedly below slot, the query is by how a lot. After taking Tennessee slugger Blake Burke, Milwaukee picked up two prep arms from New Jersey who’re prone to are available in a bit of over slot, however let’s not assume the Brewers are completed. Keep in mind, they gave over-slot bonuses of various quantities to seven excessive schoolers final 12 months, and so they may have saved sufficient pool area with the Payne decide to get extra than simply the 2 highschool pitchers they have already got.

I’ve mixed-positive feeling concerning the Twins first day as a result of I’m lukewarm on Kaelen Culpepper attributable to his chase tendencies and am largely out on Billy Amick, who I don’t suppose will hit. However I feel Culpepper (the Twins now have two Culpeppers of their system, C.J. is the opposite) has such thunder in his fingers and is such a grindy athlete that he’s going to discover a strategy to be one thing, and I like Kyle DeBarge and Dasan Hill fairly a bit. DeBarge is tiny, however he’s a fantastic athlete who makes a whole lot of contact. Hill is likely one of the lankier, extra projectable arms within the class.

Along with watching Walker Janek throw, it is best to go to YouTube and discover Carson Benge highlights to observe his swing. It’s the prettiest within the draft; other than Theo Gillen’s, it lacks a peer. Benge joins former faculty teammate and fellow two-way participant Nolan McLean within the org. He wasn’t wholesome or efficient late within the season, however Jonathan Santucci’s current stuff was higher than nearly anybody left within the draft at this level. Hopefully he can take a trajectory much like Brandon Sproat and shock everybody by instantly throwing strikes.

It seems like Ben Hess’ medical scared some groups and our draft room intel says he’s getting completed for lower than slot. Bryce Cunningham was a very good decide the place they received him and presents the Yankees dev group with a fastball/changeup basis that they’ll want to assist increase with breaking ball.

I’m bit decrease on Nick Kurtz than the place he was picked as a result of I’m scared his swing received’t translate to professional ball. I’m not on an island on this regard, however a number of groups within the high 10 liked Kurtz. I do surprise how the A’s resolve the Tyler Soderstrom/Kurtz/Will Simpson equation (I feel I used to be mild on Simpson once I wrote the A’s record — he’s good) since all three may conceivably transfer rapidly, however the A’s having too many good gamers could be a fantastic downside for them to have. I feel Tommy White can play third base and so don’t think about him a part of that potential clog. I’ve a Maikel Franco comp on Tommy Tanks. Gage Leap I’m not eager on. He’s a pure reduction prospect with a violent supply and maxed-out body. I’ve him in as a one-pitch reliever (none of his secondaries performed like an above-average pitch in faculty) with up/down command. That’s simply form of this draft, although. At a sure level, the gamers are extra flawed than good and that’s already taking place this 12 months.

As I shuttled data round to numerous draft rooms towards the again of the primary spherical, Philly’s Dante Nori choice was met with shock. He’s about to show 20, so there’s a subset of groups that simply weren’t on him in any respect. Nor was I — he was the primary participant drafted who wasn’t on The Board. He runs and performs protection properly, he made quantity of contact throughout showcase play (which you’ve received to regulate for his age) and could possibly be below slot (although I don’t know that for certain but). Griffin Burkholder is one other speedster.

The Pirates’ first day of picks was fairly ballsy as a result of they took all excessive schoolers at a second when their massive league groups actually wants competent hitters to encompass their studly younger arms. They haven’t proven the flexibility to max out the gifted guys they do have, and now Konnor Griffin and Wyatt Sanford (who each have hit device query marks however large upside) are within the fold. It is smart for the Pirates to take a shot on somebody like Griffin who, if he hits, is the type of participant the Pirates can’t check in free company. Sanford’s glove offers him a flooring of types, however he must get stronger. Levi Sterling is a thin 6-foot-5 righty with a comparatively superior repertoire and a simple supply. He’s a lower-variance highschool prospect with backend starter projection.

San Diego would have scooped up a falling Caminiti however they pivoted to Kash Mayfield, who groups selecting on this space additionally actually appreciated. Large, bodily highschool arms have been a staple of San Diego drafts’ since MacKenzie Gore. Boston Bateman has an inning-eating starter’s body and mechanical consistency, however the ceiling feels comparatively low attributable to his fastball projection; he wants a 3rd pitch.

James Tibbs III is a rock strong decide for the Giants, who get one of many extra well-rounded faculty hitters within the class, a man prone to be platoon outfielder on the very least. Tibbs and faculty teammate Cam Smith get to be about seven miles away from each other throughout spring coaching.

I’m undecided why the thrill across the Mariners and Trey Yesavage was so robust earlier than the draft after which they handed on him to take a unique faculty arm. The notion of the M’s making use of their pitching dev to a switch-pitcher could be very thrilling. The identical is true of Ryan Sloan and his glorious breaking ball. Sloan suits with Seattle’s M.O. as a result of he’s athletic and throws strikes however doesn’t essentially have one of the best fastball form (it’s good although, higher than Emerson Hancock‘s or George Kirby’s). My pre-draft convos had Sloan’s camp asking for $4 million, so search for the Mariners to chop some offers on Day Two.

The Cardinals received my high ranked participant at decide no. 7, the time eating places shut in that metropolis. Fairly good.

I had Theo Gillen as my high ranked excessive schooler on this class as a result of no one else has the identical contact/energy combo. Gillen was introduced as an outfielder fairly than a shortstop attributable to arm points that cropped up after he tore his labrum earlier in highschool. He runs properly sufficient to strive middle. Émilian Pitre is a bit of second baseman who can hit and carried out within the SEC. Tyler Bell is toolsier and riskier from a success device standpoint. Change-hitting shortstops like him are uncommon. This can be a well-diversified combine.

Malcolm Moore hit .255 as a junior, however his underlying stats have been actually good, particularly his contact charges. He could not have the defensive ability set to catch. Dylan Dreiling has large energy, however I don’t suppose he’s going to hit.

Two good faculty arms for the Jays right here, with Trey Yesavage being the headliner due to his surprising fall. The Jays’ decide was very tough to establish through the draft, not just for me however for a number of groups selecting behind them. It took some time, which didn’t give the impression that they couldn’t wait to name of their choice. I’ve appreciated Khal Stephen as a late-blooming arm since he was in Purdue’s bullpen only a couple years in the past. He’s much less developed than most massive program faculty starters however has the construct, fastball trip, and breaking stuff of starter.

I don’t suppose Washington is finished wheeling and coping with excessive profile gamers. First rounder Seaver King is probably going below slot, and I don’t suppose Luke Dickerson is to date over that he’ll fully swallow the excess created by King chopping a deal. There are three or 4 seven-figure excessive schoolers left on The Board and the Nats decide fifth at present. A number of highschool pitchers have been picked early in spherical two final 12 months (together with Travis Sykora) and I’d anticipate at the very least a few of that to occur once more. Caleb Lomavita is a compact, athletic catcher with a plus arm and good pull pop for his place; he could be simplest in a giant league timeshare attributable to his stature.

Day Two of the draft kicks off at 2 ET, with MLB.com streaming all eight rounds.