B/R's Final 2024 MLB Mock Draft for Every 1st-Round Pick
The 2024 MLB draft is here, and it's time for Bleacher Report's final mock draft.
The first 74 picks of the 20-round, three-day event will be made on Sunday as part of MLB's All-Star festivities from Globe Life Field in Texas, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
It's a college-heavy draft class, led by Oregon State infielder Travis Bazzana, Georgia outfielder Charlie Condon and Florida slugger Jac Caglianone, while Wake Forest right-hander Chase Burns and Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith are expected to be the first two pitchers off the board.
Will we see the Cleveland Guardians cut a below-slot deal with the No. 1 overall pick? If they do, West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt is the most likely target.
Ahead, you'll find full analysis for each of the 30 first-round picks, as well as quick-hit selections for the Compensation Round and the Competitive Balance Round A for a total of 39 projected picks.
Scouting information and industry consensus were gathered via the latest mock drafts and reports from Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com), Jim Callis (MLB.com), Keith Law (The Athletic) and Carlos Collazo (Baseball America).
Nos. 1-2
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1. Cleveland Guardians: 2B Travis Bazzana, Oregon State
The possibility of a below-slot deal at No. 1 overall remains in play, with West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt the popular name. The expectation is that it would save the Guardians somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million, which they could then redistribute to the No. 36 and No. 48 overall picks.
If they are confident the hamstring injury that slowed Wetherholt this spring will not be a nagging issue, the gap between him and Bazzana in terms of tools is not that big. They could then float one of the top prep arms that slips down the board to their next pick.
However, there is a good chance that is all an over complication of an easy decision, and they will walk away with the Oregon State infielder who hit .407/.568/.911 with 28 home runs this spring after winning Cape Cod League MVP last summer.
2. Cincinnati Reds: OF Charlie Condon, Georgia
Even if the Guardians go outside-the-box at No. 1 overall and the Reds have their pick of the top prospects in this draft class, Condon is still the most likely choice with the offensive profile to do some serious damage at Great American Ball Park.
The 2024 Golden Spikes winner had an all-time great junior season, leading the nation in batting average (.433) and home runs (37) while posting a 1.565 OPS and racking up an absurd 233 total bases in just 60 games.
He saw some time at third base this spring, but he will likely be limited to an outfield corner at the next level. Regardless, it's his bat that gives him superstar potential, and he might be the best bet from this draft class to win an MVP award down the line.
Nos. 3-4
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3. Colorado Rockies: RHP Chase Burns, Wake Forest
The Rockies pick of Chase Dollander at No. 9 overall last year was a departure from their long-standing preference for sinkerballers, and the positive early returns from that selection could convince them to cast a wider net going forward in their ongoing search for quality pitching.
Burns has high-octane stuff with a fastball that bumps 102 mph and an elite slider among his four-pitch repertoire, and the 6'3", 210-pound right-hander went 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 191 strikeouts in 100 innings this spring.
The Rockies seem to prefer Burns to Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith, and those are the only two pitchers in the conversation here. If they don't go with an arm, Florida slugger Jac Caglianone or Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz are the names to watch.
4. Oakland Athletics: OF Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M
There is some swing-and-miss to his game, but Montgomery stacks up to any hitter in the 2024 class in terms of both raw power potential and present in-game power production.
The 6'2", 195-pound outfielder hit .322/.454/.733 with 27 home runs and 85 RBI this spring, and in his three college seasons he trimmed his strikeout rate from 26.6 percent as a freshman to a more manageable 20.0 percent this spring.
A former two-way standout in high school who has been up to 96 mph on the mound while working 34.2 innings over three years on campus, his arm is a major weapon in right field and gives him the secondary value that Florida slugger Jac Caglianone is lacking. That is assuming his days as a pitcher are over once he starts pro ball.
Nos. 5-6
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5. Chicago White Sox: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone, Florida
Under the new CBA rules, the White Sox will not be picking higher than No. 10 next year as a non-revenue sharing team that had a lottery pick in 2024, so swinging for the fences on upside makes sense as they look to bolster their farm system ahead of a full-scale rebuild.
Caglianone hit .419/.544/.875 with 35 home runs this spring, and he continued to be college baseball's best two-way player, posting a 4.76 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 73.2 innings to win the John Olerud Award.
Even if the White Sox decide to have him focus solely on hitting, his offensive upside is as high as any player in this draft class thanks to his light-tower power. However, the intrigue of developing him as a two-way player could bring some much-needed life to a stagnant franchise.
6. Kansas City Royals: LHP Hagen Smith, Arkansas
The industry consensus seems to be that the Royals are choosing between Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith and prep shortstop Bryce Rainer, though that could certainly change if something unexpected happens inside the top-five and someone slips.
With a durable 6'3", 225-pound frame, a power arsenal that includes a 100 mph fastball and a wipeout slider, and a deceptive delivery that makes him stuff play up even further, Smith went 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 161 strikeouts in 84 innings this spring.
He set the single-season NCAA record with 17.3 strikeouts per nine innings, whiffing 48.6 percent of the batters he faced. His proximity to the big leagues might fit better than the high school option for a team on the cusp of contention.
Nos. 7-8
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7. St. Louis Cardinals: 2B/SS JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia
If Wetherholt does not go No. 1 overall on a below-slot deal to the Guardians, his ceiling might be No. 5 overall to the White Sox, though it's hard to see him slipping much further than this given his elite hit tool.
A nagging hamstring injury limited him to 36 games this spring and robbed him of the opportunity to prove he can handle everyday shortstop duties, but he hit .370/.468/.625 over three collegiate seasons. He was the favorite to go No. 1 overall at the start of the spring for a reason, and even as an offensive-minded second baseman he has a high floor and All-Star potential.
If top college arms Chase Burns or Hagen Smith are somehow still on the board at this point, the Cardinals would likely pounce.
8. Los Angeles Angels: SS Bryce Rainer, Harvard-Westlake High School (CA)
The Angels recent trend of drafting polished college players and rushing them to the majors has made it all too easy to link them to guys like James Tibbs, Christian Moore, Trey Yesavage and others this spring, but it's unlikely they have completely turned a blind eye to the high school ranks.
This scenario gives them their pick of the 2024 prep ranks, with shortstop Bryce Rainer and outfielder Konnor Griffin widely viewed as a tier of their own at the top of a thin class of high school bats.
Griffin has the higher ceiling, but swing-and-miss concerns also give him far more bust potential, so Rainer is the pick.
Nos. 9-10
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9. Pittsburgh Pirates: 1B Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest
Kurtz could go as high as No. 4 overall to the Oakland Athletics, and rumors that he could potentially slide due to a limited defensive profile make him an attractive below-slot target for teams looking to cut a deal.
If he does make it this far, he would be a terrific addition to what the Pirates are building, adding a middle-of-the-order bat to their growing collection of dynamic young arms in the starting rotation.
He hit .333/.510/.725 with 61 home runs and 182 RBI in 164 games during his three years at Wake Forest, and he might be ready for a run at the starting first base job by the middle of next season.
10. Washington Nationals: RHP Trey Yesavage, East Carolina
There are more than a few teams picking in the 12-18 range that are hoping Yesavage slides down the board, but the East Carolina ace firmly established himself as the No. 3 college pitcher in the class and one of the safer picks in the draft.
With a wealth of young position-player talent, it makes sense for the Nationals to prioritize adding an arm to the farm system, and Yesavage could be one of the first pitchers from the 2024 class to reach the majors.
The 6'4", 225-pound right-hander went 11-1 with a 2.03 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 145 strikeouts in 93.1 innings this spring. That backed up a strong sophomore campaign where he logged a 2.61 ERA and 105 punchouts in 76 innings while moving into the rotation after working exclusively in relief as a freshman.
Nos. 11-12
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11. Detroit Tigers: SS/OF Konnor Griffin, Jackson Prep (MS)
The Tigers seem to be one of the few teams regularly linked to high school players in the top half of the first round, and prep left-hander Cam Caminiti has been a popular name tied to them in various mock drafts.
However, this scenario gives them a chance to grab the Gatorade National Player of the Year and a legitimate five-tool talent in Griffin, who has a 60-power, 70-speed offensive profile and the tools to be a standout defender at shortstop or in center field.
Questions about his hit tool make him one of the bigger boom-or-bust prospects in this class, but if everything clicks, he could end up being the best player in the entire draft.
12. Boston Red Sox: 2B Christian Moore, Tennessee
It will be interesting to see if the Red Sox turn their focus more toward pitching now that longtime MLB reliever Craig Breslow is calling the shots in the front office, but as it stands they have not taken a pitcher in the first round since Tanner Houck in 2017.
If Trey Yesavage is still on the board it will put that trend to the test, but in this scenario it's a safe bet they will go with one of the second-tier college bats.
Moore boosted his stock with a strong run at the College World Series for the eventual national champions. He wrapped up a terrific junior season hitting .375/.451/.797 with 111 hits and 34 home runs in 72 games, and his offensive game should translate well to the next level.
Nos. 13-14
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13. San Francisco Giants: LHP Cam Caminiti, Saguaro High School (AZ)
Caminiti has been frequently linked to the Tigers at No. 11 and the Giants at No. 13, and he looks like a good bet to be the first high school pitcher off the board.
The 6'2", 195-pound southpaw has four quality pitches, touching 98 mph with his fastball while showing a good feel for spinning two distinct breaking pitches. He played center field when he wasn't pitching and his plus athleticism shows up on the mound with clean, repeatable mechanics.
If Wake Forest slugger Nick Kurtz slides as some have been predicting, this will be his floor.
14. Chicago Cubs: 3B Cam Smith, Florida State
A draft-eligible sophomore who exploded this spring after a lackluster freshman season, Smith is a strong 6'3", 224-pound third baseman with some of the best power in the draft class and all the tools to stick at the hot corner.
After winning Most Outstanding Pro Prospect honors in the Cape Cod League last summer, he hit .387/.488/.654 with 22 doubles, 16 home runs and 57 RBI this spring while slashing his strikeout rate from 28.7 to 14.9 percent. He might have more untapped offensive potential than any of the other college bats in the first-round conversation.
His teammate James Tibbs is also frequently linked to the Cubs, and if they prefer polish and floor over upside, he could be the pick.
Nos. 15-16
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15. Seattle Mariners: SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, Mississippi State
Cijntje has been trending up throughout the predraft process, and he now seems to be the consensus No. 4 college pitcher in the class.
The switch-pitcher is viewed as a first-round talent from the right side and more of a reliever from the left side, and he could be asked to pitch solely as a righty in pro ball with some belief that he could take another step forward with more focus on developing one arm.
The Mariners have also been linked to Illinois prep right-hander Ryan Sloan.
16. Miami Marlins: 1B/OF James Tibbs, Florida State
The Marlins taking a college bat seems to be one of the safer predictions in this draft cycle, and in this scenario they get a player who has been mentioned as a candidate to go inside the Top 10 at times.
Tibbs hit .363/.488/.777 with 28 home runs and 95 RBI this spring, and he also swung it well in the Cape Cod League last summer with a .303/.390/.472 line that included six doubles, six home runs and 25 RBI in 40 games.
He may ultimately be more floor than ceiling in terms of his prospect profile, and defensively he will be limited to first base or left field, but his advanced hit tool and playable power should make him a quick contributor.
Nos. 17-18
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17. Milwaukee Brewers: OF Ryan Waldschmidt, Kentucky
This range in the draft is loaded with college bats, particularly outfielders, and the Brewers won't shy away from that profile even with a crowded outfield currently at the big league level.
Waldschmidt was on his way to a breakout performance in the Cape Cod League last summer when he suffered a torn ACL, but he picked up where he left off this spring when he hit .333/.469/.610 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs and 25 steals while recording some of the best batted-ball metrics of any college hitter.
Carson Benge (Oklahoma State), Vance Honeycutt (North Carolina) and Seaver King (Wake Forest) also fit in this range.
18. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Theo Gillen, Westlake High School (TX)
The Rays have never shied away from the high school ranks, and Gillen might be the best pure hitter in this year's prep class with a 60-hit, 55-power offensive profile and a projectable 6'2", 195-pound frame.
He had labrum surgery on his right shoulder as a sophomore and dealt with a knee issue as a junior, so there is some injury history. He could end up sliding down the defensive scale to second base or center field, but he can flat-out hit.
Oklahoma State outfielder Carson Benge has also been a popular name here.
Nos. 19-20
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19. New York Mets: OF Carson Benge, Oklahoma State
The Mets drafted a two-way player out of Oklahoma State last year when they took Nolan McLean in the third round, and along with 15 starts on the mound they have also given him 150 plate appearances as a designated hitter.
Benge was McLean's teammate in 2023 and he also pulled double duty. This spring, he hit .335/.444/.665 with 24 doubles, 18 home runs and 64 RBI while also posting a 3.16 ERA and 10.7 K/9 with three saves in 18 appearances on the mound.
With a much higher ceiling as an outfielder and a preference to hit, Benge is likely finished pitching, and his bat is trending up after raising his OPS more than 100 points this spring.
20. Toronto Blue Jays: IF/OF Seaver King, Wake Forest
The Blue Jays are another safe bet to take a college bat, and they have been specifically linked to right-handed hitters, with Seaver King (Wake Forest), Tommy White (LSU), Billy Amick (Tennessee) and catchers Caleb Lomavita (California) and Walker Janek (Sam Houston) all in the mix at this spot.
King proved himself this spring against better competition after transferring from D-II Wingate University, and he also hit .424/.479/.542 over 71 plate appearances in the Cape Cod League last summer.
There are some questions about where he fits best defensively after seeing time at second base, shortstop, third base and center field, but his hit tool, athleticism and versatility give him a high floor.
Nos. 21-22
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21. Minnesota Twins: OF Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
The Twins pick again at No. 33 overall, so they could go a lot of different directions with this pick, potentially hunting for a below-slot deal if they have a prep arm they want to float to their next selection.
With Honeycutt still on the board in this mock, they have a chance to grab one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2024 class, and one with legitimate star potential if he can cut down on his strikeout rate.
The 6'3", 205-pound center fielder hit .318/.410/.714 with 28 home runs, 70 RBI and 28 steals this spring, but he also struck out 83 times in 62 games at a 27.5 percent clip. His Gold Glove potential in center field and power-speed profile could make it easy to overlook a low batting average and high strikeout rate.
22. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa
With arguably the best young core in baseball and a farm system that is still bursting at the seams with high-ceiling talent, the Orioles can afford to roll the dice on upside as much as any team in baseball right now.
Brecht has the stuff to be the best pitcher in this draft with a 70-grade fastball that touches 101 mph and a 70-grade slider that might be the best breaking pitch in the 2024 class.
The 6'4", 235-pound right-hander also played wide receiver his freshman year, and he uses his plus athleticism well on the mound, but command is the big question mark. He trimmed his walk rate from 18.4 to 14.2 percent this spring, but he still has a long way to go to fully harness his electric stuff.
Nos. 23-24
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23. Los Angeles Dodgers: SS Kellon Lindsey, Hardee High School (FL)
The Dodgers are not on the clock again until No. 98 overall after giving up their second-round pick to sign Shohei Ohtani, so the expectation is that they will prioritize upside with their first selection.
That could mean one of the top prep pitchers like William Schmidt, Ryan Sloan or Kash Mayfield, or someone from the remaining crop of high school shortstops.
With Theo Gillen off the board, Lindsey is the best of the remaining prep shortstop class thanks to top-of-the-scale speed, a plus hit tool, all the defensive tools to stay at shortstop and a 6'2", 175-pound frame that could mean more power production to come.
24. Atlanta Braves: RHP Braylon Doughty, Chaparral High School (CA)
A frequent connection that has emerged in recent weeks is Doughty to the Braves, and it's unlikely he will still be on the board when they pick again at No. 62 overall, so if they want him they might have to grab him now.
The 6'1", 196-pound right-hander does not have much remaining physical projection, but his present stuff is electric with a fastball that touches 97 mph and a high-spin curveball that tops 3,000 rpm and has swing-and-miss break. His plus athleticism lends itself to good overall command, and he has as much helium as any prep pitcher heading into draft day.
The Braves have not taken a hitter in the first round since catcher Shea Langeliers in 2019, and while there is no college arm in the conversation here unless Jurrangelo Cijntje slips, they have their pick of most of the high school class.
Nos. 25-26
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25. San Diego Padres: RHP Ryan Sloan, York High School (IL)
The Padres have not taken a college player in the first round since Stanford right-hander Cal Quantrill all the way back in 2016, and the way the draft board is lining up this will not be the year they buck that trend.
With a strong 6'5", 220-pound frame, an electric fastball and one of the better changeups in the prep ranks, Sloan established himself as part of the top-tier of high school arms this spring, and Illinois has produced some quality pitching talent in recent years.
If they prefer a bat, outfielder Slade Caldwell and shortstops Carter Johnson, Tyson Lewis and Wyatt Sanford could all fit in this range.
26. New York Yankees: LHP Kash Mayfield, Elk City High School (OK)
The easy pick for the Yankees is always a college hitter with a loud power tool, and there are some names that fit that mold here, including Dakota Jordan (Mississippi State), Tommy White (LSU) and Blake Burke (Tennessee).
However, there is a growing sentiment that they might prefer a pitcher, and in this range that would almost certainly mean plucking someone from the prep ranks.
Mayfield saw his draft stock soar this spring thanks to a major uptick in stuff after he opted to rest his arm during showcase season last summer, bumping 97 mph with a fastball that previously sat in the upper 80s. With a 6'4", 200-pound frame, solid secondary stuff and good command, he offers a high floor with plenty of upside.
Nos. 27-28
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27. Philadelphia Phillies: 3B Tommy White, LSU
Given the success they had taking Mick Abel (No. 15 in 2020) and Andrew Painter (No. 13 in 2021), the Phillies are a logical landing spot for one of the high school arms left on the board, but they could also seize the opportunity if a college hitter falls.
White has been an elite offensive performer since posting a 1.182 OPS with 27 home runs as a true freshman at NC State. He didn't miss a beat the last two years after transferring to LSU, and he wrapped up his college career with 75 home runs and 249 RBI in 187 games.
However, he will almost certainly be limited to first base defensively in pro ball, and the right-handed-hitting, first-base-only profile is always a risky one.
28. Houston Astros: C Walker Janek, Sam Houston
The Astros are a logical landing spot for one of the three top college catchers—Walker Janek (Sam Houston), Malcolm Moore (Stanford) and Caleb Lomavita (California)—who are all frequently mocked at the back end of the first round.
Janek is the best defender of the bunch, winning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year honors, and he also hit .364/.476/.709 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI this spring.
They have also been linked to the high school shortstop class, so this could be a landing spot for Kellon Lindsey if he is still on the board.
Nos. 29-30
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29. Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Griff O'Ferrall, Virginia
The D-backs will be one of the most interesting teams to watch on Day 1 of the draft, as they have picks at No. 29, No. 31 and No. 35 overall.
They could opt to take a high floor college player with their first pick, potentially saving a bit of money against slot value, before swinging for the fences on what is left of the top-tier high school talent with their second and third selections.
O'Ferrall hit .344/.408/.443 as a three-year starter at shortstop for the University of Virginia, and he was also the starting shortstop for Team USA last summer. He is the classic sum is greater than the whole of its parts player who gets the most out of his physical tools, and he could be a nice bargain pickup as part of a bigger draft strategy.
30. Texas Rangers: C Malcolm Moore, Stanford
Moore could end up being one of the steals of the 2024 draft, and the Rangers could bet on his upside and past performance to close out the first round.
He hit .311/.386/.564 with 20 doubles, 15 home runs and 63 RBI during his sophomore season, but saw his batting average dip to .258 this year after entering the spring as a potential top-10 pick.
Beneath the surface of his disappointing batting average, he quietly raised his walk rate from 7.0 to 18.0 percent en route to a .414 on-base percentage, and he still showed plenty of playable power with 16 home runs. That type of production from a left-handed hitting catcher is not easy to find, and he could end up being one of the steals of the draft.
Compensation/Competitive Balance A Picks
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Compensation Picks
If a rookie is on a team's Opening Day roster and he goes on to win Rookie of the Year, the club is awarded a compensation pick immediately following the first round. As a result, Corbin Carroll (ARI) and Gunnar Henderson (BAL) each earned their team a draft pick.
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Slade Caldwell, Valley View High School (AR)
32. Baltimore Orioles: 3B Billy Amick, Tennessee
If a team that is a revenue-sharing recipient loses a free agent, and that player signs for more than $50 million with his new team, that team is awarded a pick. The Twins lost Sonny Gray, who signed a $75 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, and fit the requirements.
33. Minnesota Twins: C Caleb Lomavita, California
Competitive Balance Round A Picks
Teams that are one of the bottom 10 in market size or bottom 10 in revenue pool are awarded a bonus pick after the first or second round, with teams alternating between the two rounds each year. These are the only picks that are eligible to be traded, and the Milwaukee Brewers acquired the No. 34 pick from the Baltimore Orioles in the Corbin Burnes deal.
34. Milwaukee Brewers: SS Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State
35. Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State
36. Cleveland Guardians: RHP William Schmidt, Catholic High School (LA)
37. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Bryce Meccage, The Pennington School (NJ)
38. Colorado Rockies: LHP Jonathan Santucci, Duke
39. Kansas City Royals: 1B/OF PJ Morlando, Summerville HS (SC)
