MLB Mock Draft 2024: Early Predictions For Every 1st-Round Selection
With the second annual MLB draft lottery in the books and the 2024 draft order set—with the Cleveland Guardians landing the No. 1 overall pick—it's time for our first official 2024 mock draft!
There is still a lot of time for prospects to rise and fall during the upcoming spring seasons before the draft gets underway during the MLB All-Star festivities in July.
However, this draft class has already taken shape on the strength of 2023 performances during the high school and college campaigns, as well as on the summer showcase circuit for high school players and in the Cape Cod League and for Team USA at the college level.
Let this first mock draft serve as a general snapshot of the draft class and an early list of who to keep an eye on once the 2024 seasons get underway.
Ahead you'll find a full analysis of each of the 30 first-round picks.
Nos. 1-2
1 of 15
1. Cleveland Guardians: 2B/SS JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia
The best pure hitter in the 2024 draft class with a legitimate 70-grade hit tool, Wetherholt batted .449/.517/.787 with 24 doubles, 16 home runs, 60 RBI and 36 steals in 55 games last season while striking out just 22 times in 268 plate appearances. He will try his hand at shortstop for the first time this spring and has the athleticism to make it work, but even as a second baseman, his polished offensive games makes him a strong candidate to go No. 1 overall.
2. Cincinnati Reds: 1B Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest
A strong 6'5", 235-pound slugger, Kurtz has hit .345/.499/.708 with 39 home runs and 125 RBI in 110 games during his two seasons on campus. More than just a power hitter, he has also tallied more walks (111) than strikeouts (88), and he has a smooth left-handed swing with a 60-grade hit tool on top of his elite pop. As it stands, there is not a pitcher in this class worth reaching for a No. 2 overall, so the Reds opt for the best bat available.
Nos. 3-4
2 of 15
3. Colorado Rockies: OF Charlie Condon, Georgia
A preferred walk-on at Georgia who redshirted in 2022, Condon has worked hard to add strength to his 6'6" frame and he exploded onto the scene last spring when he hit .386/.484/.800 with 25 home runs and 67 RBI in 56 games to win National Freshman of the Year honors. A big college slugger with a corner profile defensively fits the mold the Rockies have targeted time and again early in the draft.
4. Oakland Athletics: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone, Florida
College baseball's most exciting two-way player, Caglianone was a finalist for the 2023 Golden Spikes Award alongside LSU teammates Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes. The 6'5", 245-pound lefty hit .323/.389/.738 with an NCAA-leading 33 home runs and 90 RBI at the plate, and he finished 7-4 with a 4.34 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 74.2 innings on the mound. He profiles best as a power-hitting first baseman right now, but with a 70-grade fastball that touches 100 mph and three playable offspeed pitches, he could make his case for a future on the mound if he throws strikes more consistently this spring.
Nos. 5-6
3 of 15
5. Chicago White Sox: 2B Travis Bazzana, Oregon State
Bazzana was already one of the top college hitters in the 2024 draft class after batting .374/.500/.622 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs, 55 RBI and 36 steals in 39 attempts last spring. He then solidified his standing as a top-tier prospect by winning Cape Cod League MVP honors with a .375/.456/.581 line, 14 extra-base hits and 14 steals in 33 games. His 60-power, 60-speed toolbox more than makes up for his limited defensive profile.
6. Kansas City Royals: OF Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
With legitimate five-tool potential, Honeycutt could make a case to go No. 1 overall if he shows a more polished hit tool this spring. After posting a 1.082 OPS with 25 home runs and 29 steals as a freshman in 2022, he took a step backward last spring with a .257/.418/.492 line, though he did trim his strikeout rate from 29.7 to 20.4 percent. With Gold Glove potential in center field, he is still a first-round talent even if he just duplicates last year's production at the plate.
Nos. 7-8
4 of 15
7. St. Louis Cardinals: LHP Josh Hartle, Wake Forest
The Cardinals are drafting inside the top 10 for the first time since 1998 when they selected outfielder J.D. Drew with the No. 5 overall pick. High-floor college pitching has frequently been at the top of the team's draft board, and Hartle offers a terrific mix of upside and polish. The 6'5" left-hander finished 11-2 with a 2.81 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 140 strikeouts in 102.1 innings, raising his strikeout rate from 16.7 to 33.4 percent.
8. Los Angeles Angels: SS Seaver King, Wake Forest
King hit .411/.457/.699 with 11 home runs and 13 steals at D-II Wingate University last spring, then proved himself against high-level competition by hitting .424 over 71 plate appearances in the Cape Cod League. With a 60-hit, 65-speed offensive profile and the defensive tools to stick at shortstop, he checks all the boxes to be a first-round pick if his production translates against major conference competition.
Nos. 9-10
5 of 15
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Mike Sirota, Northeastern
The best mid-major player in the nation, Sirota hit .346/.472/.678 with 18 home runs, 54 RBI and 19 steals in 55 games last spring before going 7-for-23 with nine walks and a 1.037 OPS over eight games in the Cape Cod League. He has the speed to stick in center field defensively and room to add further strength to his athletic 6'3", 187-pound frame.
10. Washington Nationals: 3B Tommy White, LSU
White set the NCAA freshman record with 27 home runs in 55 games at NC State in 2022, then transferred to LSU where he continued to impress against SEC competition, hitting .374/.432/.725 with 24 doubles, 24 home runs and 105 RBI. He lacks the athleticism and range to stick at third base, so he will likely be limited to first base or designated hitter, but his power stacks up to anyone in the 2024 class and he has the hit tool to consistently tap into it.
Nos. 11-12
6 of 15
11. Detroit Tigers: OF Konnor Griffin, Jackson Prep (MS)
Griffin reclassified from the 2025 draft class and won't turn 18 years old until late April, and he already looks the part of a future slugger with a 6'4", 205-pound frame and plus present power thanks to elite bat speed. He has 30/30 potential offensively and should have no problem sticking in center field, giving him as much upside as any prep hitter in the class.
12. Boston Red Sox: RHP Chase Burns, Wake Forest
Burns bumped 100 mph with his fastball in high school and has been up to 102 mph in college, and he backs it with an elite slider that generated a ridiculous 61 percent whiff rate in 2023. The 6'4" right-hander has been hit harder than his stuff might suggest, and he also comes with some reliever risk due to his inconsistent command, posting a 4.25 ERA in 72 innings spanning eight starts and 10 relief appearances last year. He has top-five pick upside, and transferring from Tennessee to pitching factory Wake Forest could help him take the next step.
Nos. 13-14
7 of 15
13. San Francisco Giants: OF P.J. Morlando Griffin, Summerville High School (SC)
Morlando turned 19 years old in May, so he's on the older end of the prep prospect scale, but his offensive tools stack up to any high school hitter in the 2023 class. He won MVP honors and the Home Run Derby at the High School All-American Game last summer and has been a staple on the U18 national team, so he has had plenty of exposure to elite-level competition.
14. Chicago Cubs: RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa
One of the top high school pitchers in the 2021 draft, Brecht went undrafted with a strong commitment to the University of Iowa to play baseball and football. The 6'4", 225-pound right-hander might have the best raw stuff in the 2024 class with a 70-grade fastball that touches triple digits and a 70-grade wipeout slider. He posted a 3.74 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 77 innings last spring, but he also walked 61 hitters and has a long way to go in refining his command. He could take a huge step forward this spring now that he has quit football and turned his full attention to the baseball diamond.
Nos. 15-16
8 of 15
15. Seattle Mariners: LHP Hagen Smith, Arkansas
Smith threw seven no-hitters during his senior season at Bullard High School in Texas, and he has steadily improved since stepping onto campus at the University of Arkansas. The 6'3", 215-pound lefty finished 8-2 with a 3.64 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 109-to-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 71.2 innings last spring, and he is still working to refine his electric stuff. He touches 98 mph with his fastball, backs it with a quality slider and splitter, and adds deception with a funky delivery.
16. Miami Marlins: OF Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M
Montgomery was a legitimate prospect as both an outfielder and a pitcher coming out of high school, but it is now clear his future is as a hitter. He batted .315/.414/.603 with 30 doubles, 35 home runs and 118 RBI in 126 games during his first two years at Stanford while struggling to an 8.54 ERA with 32 walks in 32.2 innings on the mound. Now he will look to further boost his stock against elite competition after transferring to Texas A&M.
Nos. 17-18
9 of 15
17. Milwaukee Brewers: C Malcolm Moore, Stanford
One of the top high school players from the 2022 draft class to make his way onto campus, Moore hit .311/.386/.564 with 20 doubles, 15 home runs and 63 RBI in 64 games to earn Freshman All-American honors last spring. If he can take a step forward defensively, he could be a top-10 pick, but he is a first-round talent on the strength of his offensive game alone.
18. Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Thatcher Hurd, LSU
Hurd posted a 1.06 ERA and 0.77 WHIP in 34 innings as a freshman at UCLA before his season ended prematurely with a stress fracture in his back. The 6'4" right-hander transferred to LSU last spring and stumbled to a 5.68 ERA over 63.1 innings, splitting his time between the rotation and bullpen, but he finished on a high note as the winning pitcher (6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) in the College World Series clincher against Florida. The potential is there for him to be one of the nation's top college arms.
Nos. 19-20
10 of 15
19. New York Mets: LHP Cam Caminiti, Saguaro High School (AZ)
One of the top pitching prospects in the 2025 draft class, Caminiti reclassified following a strong summer showcase, and he won't turn 18 years old until almost a month after the 2024 draft. The 6'2", 205-pound southpaw does not have much remaining physical projection, but he has four plus pitches, smooth mechanics and solid command. He also plays center field and has shown some potential as a hitter, and that athleticism serves him well on the mound.
20. Toronto Blue Jays: OF Slade Caldwell, Valley View High School (AR)
An advanced prep hitter who sprays line drives to all fields and has plus speed, Caldwell has drawn comparisons to New York Mets prospect Jett Williams. His undersized 5'8", 175-pound frame means he has limited power, but his compact swing and patient approach help him maximize his offensive tools. He is also a lock to stick in center field defensively thanks to his terrific range.
Nos. 21-22
11 of 15
21. Minnesota Twins: C Caleb Lomavita, California
Lomavita hit .316/.367/.612 with 13 doubles, 16 home runs and 43 RBI in 48 games last spring while slashing his strikeout rate from 19.8 to 11.1 percent, and he continued to boost his draft stock with an .868 OPS and eight extra-base hits in 22 games in the Cape Cod League. He has the potential to develop into a plus defender behind the plate, but he is also athletic enough to potentially handle third base or a corner outfield spot.
22. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Drew Beam, Tennessee
With a mid-90s fastball, two solid breaking pitches and arguably the best changeup in the 2024 draft class, Beam has one of the highest floors of any college pitcher. The 6'4", 208-pound right-hander finished 9-4 with a 3.63 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 84.1 innings in 2023, and while his stuff doesn't jump off the screen, he is a safe bet to be a future MLB starter.
Nos. 23-24
12 of 15
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: OF/LHP Noah Franco, IMG Academy (FL)
Yet another top-tier high school player who reclassified from the 2025 draft, Franco is a legitimate two-way talent, though the scales are tipping toward him being a hitter at the next level following an impressive summer showcase circuit in the batter's box. The 6'3", 188-pound outfielder has natural leverage in his swing and room to add more power as his frame fills out. That said, there is still a chance he could shift the industry consensus with a strong spring on the mound.
24. Atlanta Braves: LHP Jonathan Santucci, Duke
Santucci pitched his way into Duke's rotation as a freshman in 2022, then posted a 50-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 29.1 innings last spring before surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow cut his season short. The 6'2", 205-pound southpaw impressed during fall practice and has serious momentum heading into a healthy junior season. The Braves know how to develop pitching talent, and he still has some untapped upside.
Nos. 25-26
13 of 15
25. San Diego Padres: SS/3B Caleb Bonemer, Okemos High School (MI)
Bonemer was one of the top prospects on the summer showcase circuit, and while he has been inconsistent at times, his loud raw tools make him Michigan's best high school position player prospect since Derek Jeter. The Padres have never been shy about rolling the dice on upside over polish, and his 55-grade raw power and potential plus defense on the left side of the infield make him a high-ceiling target at the back of the first round.
26. New York Yankees: 3B Cam Smith, Florida State
Smith looked overmatched at times during his freshman season at Florida State, hitting .258 with a 28.7 percent strikeout rate, but he also logged an .843 OPS and slugged 12 home runs. The draft-eligible sophomore then gave his stock a huge shot in the arm during the Cape Cod League when he hit .347/.406/.575 with 22 extra-base hits in 187 plate appearances to earn Most Outstanding Pro Prospect honors. His arrow is pointing straight up heading into his sophomore campaign.
Nos. 27-28
14 of 15
27. Philadelphia Phillies: OF/RHP Carson Benge, Oklahoma State
After missing the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, Benge was a finalist for the John Olerud Award given to the nation's top two-way player after he hit .345/.468/.538 with 24 extra-base hits in 248 plate appearances while also striking out 35 batters over 35 innings in 10 starts. Elite contact skills and solid tools across the board as a position player give him a more promising outlook as an outfielder, especially if he can find more leverage in his swing, but don't sleep on his pitching potential another year removed from surgery.
28. Houston Astros: SS/3B Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State
Culpepper was the most productive hitter on the collegiate national team last summer, batting .471/.526/.853 after posting a .325/.423/.576 line with 10 home runs and 41 RBI in 40 games during his sophomore season at Kansas State. A Gold Glove-caliber third baseman defensively, he will now try his hand at shortstop in an effort to further elevate his profile. Finding a tick more power would solidify his status as a first-round prospect.
Nos. 29-30
15 of 15
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Michael Massey, Wake Forest
Massey spent 2023 pitching out of the Wake Forest bullpen where he logged a 2.59 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 76 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. The 6'5", 230-pound right-hander is now poised to join Josh Hartle and Chase Burns in college baseball's best starting rotation, and he could pitch his way into the first round with a strong spring. There is some effort in his short-arm delivery that gives him reliever risk, and he needs to prove he can carry his stuff deep into games, but he has the frame and repertoire to thrive in his new role.
30. Texas Rangers: RHP Ryan Sloan, York High School (IL)
With a 6'4", 220-pound frame, three present plus pitches and a good command, Sloan is poised to follow in the footsteps of Quinn Priester (No. 18 in 2019), Owen Murphy (No. 20 in 2022) and Noah Schultz (No. 26 in 2022) as Illinois prep pitchers to go in the first round in recent years. His 60-grade fastball is as good as any in this year's prep class, and all signs point to him being the first prep right-hander off the board.
.jpg?w=600 "Pickens' Trade Ultimatum")
.png?w=600 "2027 NFL Mock Draft 🔮")
.jpg?w=600 "Mike Vrabel back with Patriots")
.jpg?w=600 "Breaking News")