Braves' 2024 MLB Draft Guide and Top Prospects to Target
The Atlanta Braves have the No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, and that is the same slot where they selected Hurston Waldrep in last year's draft.
The University of Florida right-hander has already made his MLB debut, and with the window to contend wide open right now, they could again prioritize a player who can move quickly through the minors to help in the big leagues in short order.
Who might the Braves be targeting this time around?
Ahead, we've broken down three prospects who should be on their radar when their pick comes up in the 2024 MLB draft.
OF Carson Benge, Oklahoma State
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Carson Benge has been one of the best two-way players in the nation during his time at Oklahoma State, but his future in pro ball will be as a full-time outfielder.
He hit .335/.444/.665 with 24 doubles, 18 home runs, 64 RBI and 10 steals in 61 games this spring, also contributing a 3.16 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 37 innings while tallying three saves in 18 appearances on the mound.
With an advanced hit tool and some impressive exit velocity numbers, he would immediately become one of the best offensive prospects in the Atlanta farm system. The biggest question is whether he will still be on the board this deep into the first round.
SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, Mississippi State
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The right-handed version of Jurrangelo Cijntje has drawn comparisons to Marcus Stroman as an undersized right-hander who has shown the ability to maintain his stuff deep into starts with a mid-90s fastball, plus slider and playable changeup.
The left-handed version profiles better as a reliever with a deceptive arm slot and a two-pitch fastball-slider mix, and there are some who feel he would be best served making the full-time switch to pitching exclusively right-handed.
Regardless, he is more than just a novelty as the rare switch-pitcher, and he has legitimate first-round talent. The Braves have a great track record of developing arms, and it would be fascinating to see him land in the Atlanta system.
OF Ryan Waldschmidt, Kentucky
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The more that teams and evaluators start to dig into batted-ball metrics, the more outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt has seemed to be climbing up draft boards in the weeks leading up to this year's draft.
The 6'2", 205-pound outfielder began his college career at Charleston Southern, and after a relatively quiet sophomore season following his transfer to Kentucky, he exploded over the second half of the 2024 campaign.
He finished his junior year hitting .333/.469/.610 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 46 RBI and 25 steals in 59 games, and his 55-hit, 55-power, 55-speed profile gives him an extremely high ceiling with more untapped potential than most college players.
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