2024 MLB Draft Report: Mock Draft I

In what was expected to be a weak MLB draft class, the 2024 group of prospects have fared better in the last month, which is a good sign because the White Sox will have multiple interesting routes to take with the fifth overall pick in this mock draft. The industry consensus is that college bats are the strength in this class. Outside of Hagen Smith, Chase Bruns, and Trey Yesavage, I feel that college pitching has taken a step back. Lots of preseason first-round pitching talents are dropping considerably on prospect lists. 

Below are my best-educated guesses, combined with gossip that I’m hearing from other analysts and scouts and considering a team’s recent draft history. 

No. 1 — Cleveland Guardians: 2B Travis Bazzana, Oregon State

Regarding the MLB Draft and Cleveland Guardians, I trust Locked On Guardians podcast host Jeff Ellis. In his recent mock draft, Ellis has Cleveland taking Travis Bazzana, who has been tied to the first overall pick since the college season started. With the exception of one bad game against Hagen Smith, Bazzana is having a fantastic 2024 season, and his swing improvements, which generate more bat speed, have paid off. 

No. 2 — Cincinnati Reds: 3B Charlie Condon, Georgia

As of this moment, Charlie Condon is the consensus No. 1 prospect in this draft class because of his hitting ability. Condon has already surpassed his home run total from last year and, with roughly 16 games left in the season, has a chance of reaching the 35 HR milestone. The previous college hitter to reach that mark was Lance Berkman, who hit 41 home runs for Rice University in 1997. The big unresolved question about Condon is his future home defensively. In the long run, he’s probably a left fielder or first baseman.

No. 3 — Colorado Rockies: RHP Chase Burns, Wake Forest

Colorado should continue drafting pitchers with early picks since it will continue to struggle to recruit top-line free-agent starting pitchers. Chase Burns has big-time stuff, with a 100 MPH four-seam fastball and low 90s slider, and he’s done an excellent job of maintaining velocity after the fifth inning.

No. 4 — Oakland Athletics: 1B Jac Caglianone, Florida

College baseball’s unicorn, Jac Caglianone, doesn’t have a clear future in his professional role. He’s got a great arm but lacks command, which will take time in the minors to harness. With that arm strength, Caglianone could try playing right field, but Florida has kept him at first base defensively with concerns about his overall range. When I watch Caglianone this season, I get a lot of Matt Olson vibes. He mashed in Oakland before getting traded to Atlanta and becoming a monster last season. 

No. 5 — Chicago White Sox: RF Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M

Four picks in, and four college players (and three bats) off the board. If I were in the White Sox draft war room, this would be my board for this pick: 

Pitcher: Hagen Smith, Arkansas
College Bat: Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M
Prep Bats: Konnor Griffin or Bryce Rainer

I wouldn't mind if the White Sox continued to stockpile pitchers. Hagen Smith has excellent stuff and the ability to be a frontline starter, which is the type of profile the White Sox are currently missing. It could be Drew Thorpe, even though his arsenal is not typical of an ace, or Garrett Crochet, if he keeps figuring out the learning curve. 

When it comes to draft gossip, the White Sox are the first team discussed about pivoting from consensus and taking a prep player. Konnor Griffin checks many boxes for what the White Sox are hoping to develop with future position players. At the recent NHSI tournament, Bryce Rainer impressed scouts with his defensive ability, and many think he's this class's best shortstop prospect. We know Mike Shirley has an affinity for high school players, and it wouldn't surprise me if the White Sox selected either Griffin or Rainer. 

However, taking Griffin or Rainer requires at least a three-year plan before reaching the majors. As it's been pointed out ad nauseam with each loss, the White Sox cannot select higher than 10th in next year's draft. So it brings us back to this lingering question: What exactly is Chris Getz's roadmap for getting this team back to contention? 

If the goal is still building around Luis Robert Jr., either Jerry Reinsdorf will need to open his pockets and spend a lot of money in free agency, or the White Sox need to draft college bats with the hope they rise through the system quickly (within three years). Everyone that follows the White Sox knows which is the more likely route taken.

I'm currently leaning toward a college bat for the White Sox, and the best available is Texas A&M's Braden Montgomery. I recently wrote about Montgomery, and maybe he can be the White Sox's best hope in figuring out a long-term solution in right field.

No. 6 — Kansas City Royals: 1B Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest

Kansas City has Bobby Witt Jr. locked up long-term, and the best draft route for them is to add more bats. Nick Kurtz has been on a tear for Wake Forest since March 31, hitting 14 home runs in as many games, and he was under preseason consideration for being the best college bat in this class. It didn’t work out that way in 2024, but Kurtz has the hitting profile that can help anchor the middle of a lineup. 

No. 7 — St. Louis Cardinals: LHP Hagen Smith, Arkansas

St. Louis typically takes the best player available approach in recent drafts, and in this case, it’s Hagen Smith, who had the best pitching performance this season against Oregon State. If the Cardinals wanted, they could pencil Smith with an ETA of 2025. I don’t think he’ll need a lot of time in the minors to get adjusted to the competition.

No. 8 — Los Angeles Angels: 2B JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia

The Los Angeles Angels have been college-heavy with first-round picks, and JJ Wetherholt falls to them in this spot. It’s a great “What If?” if Wetherholt didn’t have a hamstring injury that forced him to miss significant time. West Virginia just had Wetherholt back in the field this past Sunday against Texas Tech after ten straight games as the designated hitter. Again, there’s uncertainty in Wetherholt’s future defensive position, but he led the country in hitting last year.

No. 9 — Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Trey Yesavage, East Carolina

Pittsburgh is building a promising stable of starting pitchers with Jared Jones and Paul Skenes, and Trey Yesavage could be another great addition. It’s a sinker/slider mix that opposing hitters have a terrible time barreling up. In 2024, Yesavage is striking out batters at a 42.8 percent clip along with a 51.4 percent groundball rate, and opposing hitters are slugging just .214 against him.

No. 10 — Washington Nationals: SS Konnor Griffin, Jackson Prep HS 

If the White Sox don’t go the prep route, I think Washington makes sense for Konnor Griffin or Bryce Rainer. The best college bats on the board are Wake Forest’s Seaver King and North Carolina’s Vance Honeycutt. I don’t think either King or Honeycutt has the type of ceiling Griffin or Rainer have. I think Griffin will ultimately play in center field, but I think it’s worth seeing if Griffin can stick at shortstop. 

Remaining First Round Picks