Who will be the first pick in the 2024 MLB Draft? While the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft is in June, there is plenty to be excited about before the first pick is made. With baseball season arriving, it’s time for our MLB mock draft 2024 to forecast the first round.
As we do every year, we’ll update our MLB mock draft every few months. With the college baseball season underway, top prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft class are rising and falling. As more stats and information become available, with movement throughout draft rankings, we’ll provide new in-depth analysis for the top picks right here.
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Let’s dive into our 2024 MLB mock draft.
MLB mock draft 2024: Top prospects to know
1. Cleveland Guardians: JJ Wetherholt, IF, West Virginia
- JJ Wetherholt stats 2023: .449/.517/.787, 1.304 OPS 24 2Bs, 16 HRs, 36 steals in 225 at-bats
After winning the draft lottery, the Cleveland Guardians kick off our MLB mock draft 2025 with West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt. His production erupted last season, raising his batting average by over .400 points, more than tripling his power output. Wetherholt is viewed as the best contact hitter in the 2024 MLB Draft and for a Guardians’ organization that emphasizes top-of-the-order bats who can consistently get on base, Wetherholt fits nicely.
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2. Cincinnati Reds: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
While there isn’t a consensus top pitcher in the 2024 MLB Draft class, former Tennessee Volunteers hurler Chase Burns might be changing that this season. After transferring to Wake Forest, Burns dominated in his first start, generating 20 whiffs with a 66 percent strike rate all while posting a 10-1 K-BB ratio across 6 shutout innings. His fastball reaches triple digits and he could develop two ‘plus’ secondary pitches. The Cincinnati Reds need pitching and Burns feels like the ideal pick.
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3. Colorado Rockies: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
- Nick Kurtz stats 2023: .353/.527/.784, 1.311 OPS, 24 HRs, 69 RBI
Standing at 6-foot-5, Nick Kurtz offers the prototypical power you’d expect from a first baseman of his size. We’ll start with his defense, where he actually could profile as an above-average defender at first base thanks to his arm as a former pitcher and his instincts at the position. Of course, Kurtz’s true calling card is his phenomenal power to all areas of the field. The Colorado Rockies could use help as quickly as possible and Kurtz’s quick swing paired with his pole-to-pole power makes him an exciting match for Coors Field.
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4. Oakland Athletics: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
- Travis Bazzana stats 2023: .374/.500/.622, 1.122 OPS, 20 2Bs, 11 HRs, 36 steals
The Oakland Athletics haven’t had the draft lottery luck on their side in the last two years, but they can still land one of the best layers in the 2024 MLB Draft. Travis Bazzana, an Australian native, has been one of the best hitters in college baseball since coming over to the United States. Responsible for a .300-plus batting average and 1.000-plus OPS across his Oregon State career, Bazana would eventually provide a well-rounded skill set to the Athletics lineup.
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5. Chicago White Sox: Charlie Condon, OF/1B, Georgia
- Charlie Condon stats 2023: .386/.484/.800, 1.284 OPS, 25 HRs, 67 RBI
The Georgia Bulldogs have been a football factory for the NFL in recent years, but Charlie Condon could be one of the best success stories from the baseball program. He enrolled at Georgia as a preferred walk-on and then redshirted in 2022. Making his Bulldogs’ debut in 2023, he looked like one of the best hitters in college baseball. Scouted by MLB.com as having 60-grade power and hit tools, Condon could develop into becoming the long-term star of the Chicago White Sox lineup.
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6. Kansas City Royals: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
- Jac Caglianone stats (pitching): 4.34 ERA, 87-55 K-BB, 10.5 K/9, 6.1 H/9
- Jac Caglianone hitting stats: .323/.389/.738, 1.126 OPS, 33 HRs, 90 RBI, 4 steals
The best two-way player in the 2024 MLB Draft, Jac Caglianone is only scratching at the surface of his potential. At the plate, he led DI players in home runs (33) last season, but he wasn’t nearly as effective on the mound coming back from Tommy John surgery. However, the 6-foot-5 southpaw carries a 70-grade fastball with the opportunity to develop above-average secondary pitches. It will take some work, but the Kansas City Royals could develop him into their own two-way sensation.
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7. St. Louis Cardinals: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
- Vance Honeycutt stats (2023): .257/.418/.492, .910 OPS, 12 home runs, 43 RBI, 19 steals
There certainly wouldn’t be any complaints from the St. Louis Cardinals if Vance Honeycutt slides to them in the 2024 MLB Draft. A back issue caused him problems in 2023, but he was a breakout freshman as a 10-year-old at North Carolina with 25 home runs, 29 steals and a 1.082 OPS. If the 6-foot-3 outfielder can stay healthy this season, the high-end power and athleticism make him one of the top draft prospects in 2024.
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8. Los Angeles Angels: Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
- Josh Hartle stats 2023: 2.81 ERA, 140-24 K-BB, 12.3 K/9, 5.83 K/BB, 1.12 WHIP in 102.1 IP
Southpaws are always at a premium and Josh Hartle is the best left-handed pitcher in the 2024 MLB Draft. Wake Forest’s 6-foot-5 lefty handled an increase in his innings well last season and posted one of the best strikeout-to-walk ratios in the nation. While he won’t light up the radar gun or wow anyone with one elite pitch, he is remarkably polished for a hurler in his age-20 season and there’s even more room to grow and reach his ceiling as a front-line starter.
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9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Tommy White, 3B/1B, LSU
- Tommy White stats (2023): .374/.432/.725, 1.158 OPS, 24 home runs, 24 doubles, 41-23 K-BB
The Pittsburgh Pirates are going to need to start finding more power hitters for their future lineup. Enter LSU’s Tommy White. While he doesn’t have the athleticism or arm strength to stick at the hot corner in the majors, his bat is what matters. Power is his calling card, but the 6-foot-1 slugger also does a nice job getting the barrel on the ball consistently and putting it in play. Whether he’s a first baseman or designated hitter long-term, White’s power can get him to the majors as long as his plate discipline improves.
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10. Washington Nationals: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
- Brody Brecht stats 2023: 3.74 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 109-61 K-BB in 77 innings pitched
Pushed down five spots because of draft rules, the Washington Nationals take the upside gamble here in our 2024 MLB mock draft. The appealing angle with Brody Brecht is the electric fastball-slider pairing, which has drawn comparisons to Paul Skenes. Unfortunately for his draft stock, the 6-foot-4 right doesn’t have much command of those pitches right now and he’s very much a two-pitch guy in his age-21 season. Still, believers in big, athletic pitchers with raw stuff will be willing to bet on his potential and Brecht might have the highest upside in the 2024 MLB Draft.
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11. Detroit Tigers: Seaver King, SS/OF, Wake Forest
The run on college players continues in our MLB mock draft 2024, with the Detroit Tigers snagging Wake Forest hitter Seaver King. The 6-foot infielder/outfielder started his collegiate career at DII Wingate before transferring to one of the best college baseball teams in the country. King won’t develop much power, but he provides above-average hit tools and speed. He could play second base or center field in the minors next year and a strong season at Wake Forest might make him a top-10 pick.
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12. Boston Red Sox: Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern
Mike Sirota might not hail from a prominent program, but his numbers and talent speak for themselves. The 6-foot-3 outfielder posted a .246/.472/.678 slash line last year, along with 18 homers and 19 steals in 55 contests. While he might not have MVP-caliber upside, Sirota’s well-rounded skill set gives him the profile of a potential All-Star center fielder who will post solid numbers across the board and hold up defensively.
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13. San Francisco Giants: Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep HS
Konnor Griffin would’ve been one of the top outfield prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft, but he reclassified to become eligible for this year’s class. An LSU commit, the 6-foot-4 outfielder is still just 17 years old and won’t turn 18 until the end of April. The physical tools – bat speed, athleticism, arm strength – are there to become a special player. While the risks are much higher with drafting young players out of high school, the upside is worth it for the San Francisco Giants.
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14. Chicago Cubs: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
After dominating high school ball in Texas, Hagen Smith enrolled at Arkansas and has consistently mowed down batters in the SEC. The 6-foot-3 southpaw offers an excellent fastball-slider combo that helped him post a 30 percent strikeout rate over the last two seasons. For the Chicago Cubs, the goal will be to refine Smith’s command (13.4 percent walk rate) and help him develop a third ‘out’ pitch. If that happens, Smith has the long-term upside of a No. 2 starter.
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15. Seattle Mariners: Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP, Texas A&M
Another potential two-way prospect in Round 1 of our 2024 MLB mock draft, Braden Montgomery has plenty of intriguing tools. The 6-foot-2 righty’s fastball reaches into the upper 90s and it is complemented nicely by a solid slider-changeup pairing. Offensively, he boasts the arm strength made for right field and the switch-hitter has displayed some nice pop (17 home runs in 2023) with an average hit tool.
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16. Miami Marlins: Carson Benge, OF/RHP, Oklahoma State
While Carson Benge is another one of the two-way players in the 2024 MLB Draft, his long-term position is likely in the corner outfield. The 21-year-old’s background on the mound provides him with ample arm strength and he pairs it with athleticism, which could make him an above-average defensively. At the plate, Benge’s .468 OBP last season with a higher walk rate than strikeout rate showcases his plate vision. Where he is picked in 2024 will just depend on how consistently he can tap into his power this spring.
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17. Milwaukee Brewers: Thatcher Hurd, RHP, LSU
After dominating in his freshman season with the UCLA Bruins, Thatcher Hurd had to make his way back from injury. He later transferred to LSU, struggling early in the 2023 season before recapturing his form in the College World Series and becoming a hero for LSU. The 6-foot-4 righty could develop three above-average pitches (fastball, curveball and slider), but his command needs plenty of work. Fortunately, a team like the Milwaukee Brewers could be the perfect landing spot for his development.
18. Tampa Bay Rays: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
A draft-eligible sophomore, there is no questioning what Malcolm Moore can do behind the plate. He dominated with the bat last season at Stanford, posting an outstanding .311/./386/.564 slash line. Entering his age-21 season, the biggest question is Moore’s glove work behind the plate. If he improves in that regard, the Tampa Bay Rays might not have a shot at him. For now, he’s a nice high-upside bet for Tampa.
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19. New York Mets: PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS
Another high school bat sneaks into the top 20, with the New York Mets rolling the dice on outfielder PJ Morlando. The 6-foot-3 slugger out of South Carolina certainly made a strong impression on scouts at the High School All-American Game last July, winning the Home Run Derby and winning All-Star Game MVP. He is older (19) for a high school player, but above-average power and hit tools should cement his status as a first-round pick.
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20. Toronto Blue Jays: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS
The Toronto Blue Jays snag arguably one of the best under-19 hitters in the 2024 draft class, landing Ole Miss commit Slade Caldwell. Turning 18 in June, the left-handed hitter is underside (5-foot-8), but he more than makes up for hit with a future 60-grade hit tool. Profiling as an above-average defensively, Caldwell could develop into a nice future piece for the Blue Jays lineup.
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21. Minnesota Twins: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS
The Minnesota Twins have a quality track record in developing pitching, providing the organization with even more reason to roll the dice on one of the top prep arms in the 2024 class. There’s undeniable risk with taking a lefty out of high school, but Cam Caminiti (6-foot-2) reclassified from the 2025 class to the 2024 MLB Draft for a reason. He’s rated as having the potential to develop four ‘plus’ pitches and his command is surprisingly good for someone of his age (17).
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22. Baltimore Orioles: Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee
The Baltimore Orioles have a lot of position players in their farm system, but they could benefit from adding more pitching depth with an accelerated timeline to the majors. While Drew Beam doesn’t offer a high ceiling, the 6-foot-4 righty offers enough stuff and feel for his repertoire and the strike zone to become a major-league starter in the next few years.
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23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Caleb Lomavita, C, California
The Los Angeles Dodgers have demonstrated in recent years that they can take athletic players behind the plate and mold them into above-average catchers defensively. Caleb Lomavita already boasts the physical tools to be a very good catcher, he just needs a lot of refinement in the details of playing the position. Los Angeles can help him get there and with his hit tools, he could mature into a top-10 catcher in the majors.
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24. Atlanta Braves: Noah France, OF/LHP, IMG Academy
The Atlanta Braves aren’t afraid to make some dice rolls on prep talent and the skills IMG Academy’s Noah Franco offers up are enticing. Standing at 6-foot-3, the 17-year-old moves well for his size and that athleticism also translates well to the mound. While there’s natural debate over whether he’s a pitcher or corner outfielder long-term, the tools are there for Atlanta to find which is the best fit for him. Plus, only 17 years old, he will have time to develop.
25. San Diego Padres: Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B, Okemos HS
It’s time for the San Diego Padres to start preparing for the future with contending seemingly out of the cards for the next few years. Caleb Bonemer is more flash than substance right now, but the arm strength and electric bat speed give him the ceiling of an above-average third baseman if his hit tool develops.
26. New York Yankees: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
The New York Yankees’ ability to find and develop talent is outstanding, especially in international free agency and the later rounds of the MLB Draft. Here, they land a plus defender who has at least flashed some ability to become a decent hitter. Smith is also one of the later picks in Round 1 who could significantly improve his draft stock with a strong campaign at Florida State in 2024.
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27. Philadelphia Phillies: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS
While 6-foot-4 righty Ryan Sloan won’t light up the radar gun, at least not right now (96 mph max), the Wake Forest commit does already have a fastball-changeup combo that is advanced for his age. If the Philadelphia Phillies can sharpen up his slider, with his size, he could develop into an innings-eater in the middle of the Phillies rotation a few years from now.
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28. Houston Astros: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
Dakota Jordan is more athlete than a baseball player right now, but there have been some flashes from Mississippi State’s 21-year-old outfielder. However, unlike some other college players going ahead of him, Jordan is only a sophomore who turns 21 in May. If he can start tapping into more of his raw power, there’s a chance he could become a 20-20 player in his prime.
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29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
The Arizona Diamondbacks have put together a strong farm system relatively quickly and are now making moves to become perennial contenders. For a team in that position, we prioritize college pitching. Jonathan Stantucci’s future is on the mound, but his past reps in the outfield highlight the athleticism he brings to the table. Santucci’s command is a major work in progress, but he’s gotten off to a strong 2024 season at Duke and his three-pitch mix (fastball, slider and changeup) is highly effective when he hits his spots.
30. Texas Rangers: Kaelen Culpepper, 3B, Kansas State
The defending World Series champions close out our mock draft didn’t hit for much power last season, but that could easily be attributed to recovering from a broken hamate bone. While he’s primarily playing shortstop in college, Culpepper’s average athleticism likely means he’ll have to shift to the corner. Still, with a 50-grade hit tool and a strong arm, he could transition to third base quite nicely and stick there for a long time.