It’s not just the holiday season right now; It’s also kind of draft season in MLB Pipeline, after we just revealed the top 100 draft picks for 2024 on Wednesday night.
The Guardians won’t actually exercise the No. 1 overall pick for another seven months, but that’s not stopping us from having a full-blown case of draft fever. So, although it’s still very early, we’ll take some educated guesses and show the entire first round.
College hitters largely represent the strength of the 2024 draft class, the top six picks below, and nine of the top 11 come from that demographic. There are several potential college shooters in the first round, although many of them have something to prove. Since demand outstrips supply, we’ve bumped a few of these weapons up a notch in their rating.
1. Guardians: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest (No. 2)
Kurtz has the most commonly used power in this class, which would satisfy Guardians’ most obvious needs.
2. Reds: JJ Weatherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia (No. 1)
The Reds could really use a pitcher but there’s no one worthy of getting to that level right now, so they’ll add to their embarrassment of outfield riches with the best pure hitter in the draft.
3. Rockies: Charlie Condon, OF/1B, Georgia (No. 4)
Remember how good Matt Holiday was for the Rockies? Condon has that kind of upside.
4. Athletics: Jack Caglianoni, 1B/LHP, Florida (No. 5)
Getting top-tier talent in the draft would help spur interest in quality players after some tough times.
5. White Sox: Travis Bazana, 2B, Oregon State (No. 3)
The White Sox could rebuild around the Bazzana/Colson Montgomery double play combination.
6. Royals: Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina (No. 6)
Honeycutt has the best all-around tools in the college class and wouldn’t last much longer if he showed more consistency at the plate.
7. Cardinals: Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest (No. 13)
As a short-time starter for the Minors, Hartle is the favorite to be the first pitcher selected.
8. Angels: Seaver King, OF/SS, Wake Forest (No. 9)
The transfer from NCAA Division II Wingate (NC) provides a quality bat, well above average speed and defensive versatility.
9. Buccaneers: Connor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep, Flowood, Miss. (number 8)
Griffin, the highest-rated prospect in high school, must be at least an average hitter and have plus or better tools across the board.
10. Nationals: Tommy White, 3B, Louisiana State (No. 7)
Known for his slugging exploits, White is not appreciated for his hitting ability but will likely end up at first base in professional ball.
11. Tigers: Mike Sirota, Northeastern (No. 11)
The only college player in this projection who doesn’t hail from a Power 5 conference, Sirota is a 20-20 quarterback.
12. Red Sox: Hagen-Smith, LHP, Arkansas (No. 15)
Smith has more exciting stuff than Hartle and won’t last long if he finds more at-bats and consistency in the spring.
13. Giants: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest (No. 16)
Burns has an untouchable slider and a fastball that reaches 102 mph but gets hit too hard. Those are four Wake Forest players in the top 13 picks, and right-hander Michael Massey gives the Demon Deacons a potential No. 5 pick.
14. Cubs: Brodie Brecht, RHP, Iowa (No. 17)
No pitcher in this draft has a higher ceiling than Brecht, a former Iowa State wide receiver who has a Paul Skenes-style fastball/slider combination but lacks polish.
15. Mariners: Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP, Texas A&M (No. 10)
Montgomery’s stock is a bit volatile after landing softly after his transfer from Stanford, yet he fits the classic profile of right field with power from both sides of the plate and great arm strength.
16. Marlins: PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville (SC) HS (No. 14)
The best overall offensive player in the prep class would be a perfect fit for an offense-starved Marlins team.
17. Brewers: Carson Bing, OF/RHP, Oklahoma State (No. 26)
Benge’s combination of ball-striking skills and high exit speeds is among the best in college and will top this list if his power develops as hoped this spring.
18. Rays: Thatcher Hurd, RHP, Louisiana State (No. 18)
There are some evaluators who believe Hurd — a College World Series champion at LSU — could emerge as the best pitcher in this college crop by Draft Day.
19. Mets: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS, Jonesboro, Arkansas (No. 20)
Two years after taking Jett Williams 14th overall, the Mets can grab the outfield version.
20. Blue Jays: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford (No. 12)
The top college-qualifying sophomore, Moore is an offensive-minded player who can rise to a higher level if he cleans up his defense.
21. Twins: Caleb Lomavita, Calif. (No. 21)
If Moore isn’t the first player drafted, that distinction would likely fall to Lomavita, who is more defensively advanced.
22. Orioles: Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee (No. 22)
The Orioles are on a roll and would be lucky to land Beam, whose polish stands out more than his steadily improving tools.
23. Dodgers: Noah Franco, OF/LHP, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (No. 23)
Clubs seem to like the top two-way prospect among high schoolers as an advanced hitter with power potential more than as a pitchable left-hander.
24. Braves: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz. (No. 19)
Caminiti is one of the youngest players in the 2024 draft after reclassifying from 2025, and is an athletic four-pitch left fielder.
25. Padres: Caleb Bonnemer, SS/3B, Okemos (Mich.) HS (No. 24)
Bonemer has one of the fastest bats in the prep ranks and may be the best high school prospect in Michigan since Derek Jeter.
26. Yankees: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State (No. 25)
Smith broke into the Cape Cod League last summer and looks like a big-league third baseman with his strong frame, power and extra arm.
27. Phillies: Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State (No. 27)
Jordan may have more bat speed than anyone else in the draft, and he’s a good athlete who was recruited to play wide receiver by the Bulldogs.
28. Astros: Kaylen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State (No. 28)
Culpepper’s stock is pointing higher after he was the top player on the U.S. National Team last summer.
29. RB: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke (No. 29)
After removing bone fragments from his elbow, Santucci once again looked like an athletic southpaw with the potential to throw three more pitches this fall.
30. Rangers: Kevin Basile, C, Texas Tech (No. 47)
Let’s wrap this up with a tapping pick on Bazzell, an underrated, athletic, gifted hitter who has the tools to make a successful move from third base to catcher.
“Alcohol enthusiast. Twitter ninja. Tv lover. Falls down a lot. Hipster-friendly coffee geek.”