2024 MLB Draft: Baseball America Staff Draft V 2.0
Image credit: Charlie Condon (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As we head into the final weekend of college baseball’s regular season we bring you our second staff draft for the 2024 class.
As usual, this is not a mock draft. We aren’t making picks in an attempt to project what will actually happen on draft day, but instead making selections based on who we would take if we were calling the shots.
Five writers participated in this exercise: Ben Badler, Carlos Collazo, JJ Cooper, Peter Flaherty and Geoff Pontes.
Related:
| Pk | Rd | Team | Writer | Player | Pos | School | Rank |
| 1 | 1 | Guardians | Carlos | Charlie Condon | OF | Georgia | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | Reds | Ben | Travis Bazzana | 2B | Oregon State | 2 |
| 3 | 1 | Rockies | Peter | Braden Montgomery | OF | Texas A&M | 5 |
| 4 | 1 | Athletics | Geoff | Hagen Smith | LHP | Arkansas | 6 |
| 5 | 1 | White Sox | JJ | Jac Caglianone | 1B | Florida | 3 |
| 6 | 1 | Royals | Carlos | Chase Burns | RHP | Wake Forest | 4 |
| 7 | 1 | Cardinals | Ben | JJ Wetherholt | SS | West Virginia | 8 |
| 8 | 1 | Angels | Peter | Nick Kurtz | 1B | Wake Forest | 7 |
| 9 | 1 | Pirates | Geoff | Trey Yesavage | RHP | East Carolina | 10 |
| 10 | 1 | Nationals | JJ | Bryce Rainer | SS | Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif. | 11 |
| 11 | 1 | Tigers | Carlos | Konnor Griffin | OF/SS | Jackson Prep, Flowood, Miss. | 9 |
| 12 | 1 | Red Sox | Ben | Carson Benge | OF | Oklahoma State | 23 |
| 13 | 1 | Giants | Peter | Caleb Lomavita | C | California | 13 |
| 14 | 1 | Cubs | Geoff | James Tibbs III | 1B/OF | Florida State | 17 |
| 15 | 1 | Mariners | JJ | Cam Smith | 3B | Florida State | 16 |
| 16 | 1 | Marlins | Carlos | Walker Janek | C | Sam Houston State | 22 |
| 17 | 1 | Brewers | Ben | Christian Moore | 2B | Tennessee | 40 |
| 18 | 1 | Rays | Peter | Vance Honeycutt | OF | North Carolina | 12 |
| 19 | 1 | Mets | Geoff | Slade Caldwell | OF | Valley View HS, Jonesboro, Ark. | 27 |
| 20 | 1 | Blue Jays | JJ | Brody Brecht | RHP | Iowa | 34 |
| 21 | 1 | Twins | Carlos | Theodore Gillen | SS | Westlake HS, Austin, Tex. | 33 |
| 22 | 1 | Orioles | Ben | Bryce Cunningham | RHP | Vanderbilt | 56 |
| 23 | 1 | Dodgers | Peter | Billy Amick | 3B | Tennessee | 20 |
| 24 | 1 | Braves | Geoff | Dakota Jordan | OF | Mississippi State | 25 |
| 25 | 1 | Padres | JJ | William Schmidt | RHP | Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, La. | 18 |
| 26 | 1 | Yankees | Carlos | Seaver King | SS | Wake Forest | 14 |
| 27 | 1 | Phillies | Ben | PJ Morlando | OF/1B | Summerville (S.C.) HS | 37 |
| 28 | 1 | Astros | Peter | Braylon Doughty | RHP | Chaparral HS, Temecula, Calif. | 44 |
| 29 | 1 | D-backs | Geoff | Ryan Waldschmidt | OF | Kentucky | 151 |
| 30 | 1 | Rangers | JJ | Kaelen Culpepper | SS | Kansas State | 15 |
| 31 | PPI | D-backs | Carlos | Kellon Lindsey | SS/OF | Hardee HS, Wauchula, Fla. | 28 |
| 32 | PPI | Orioles | Ben | Cam Caminiti | LHP | Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz. | 24 |
| 33 | 1C | Twins | Peter | Jared Thomas | OF/1B | Texas | 57 |
| 34 | 1S | Brewers | Geoff | Tommy White | 3B | LSU | 21 |
| 35 | 1S | D-backs | JJ | Drew Beam | RHP | Tennessee | 29 |
| 36 | 1S | Guardians | Carlos | Dasan Hill | LHP | Grapevine (Texas) HS | 55 |
| 37 | 1S | Pirates | Ben | Tegan Kuhns | RHP | Gettysburg (Pa.) Area HS | 48 |
| 38 | 1S | Rockies | Peter | Jonathan Santucci | LHP | Duke | 26 |
| 39 | 1S | Royals | Geoff | Tyler Bell | SS | Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill. | 174 |
1. Guardians — Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
Writer: Carlos
Rationale: I made the case for Travis Bazzana as a real 1-1 candidate earlier this week, but I still think Condon offers more impact and has proven himself to be one of the most impressive offensive players in the nation for two years now—while doing it against SEC competition. Cleveland could be getting a .280 hitter who hits 35+ homers in his peak seasons and while the defensive versatility isn’t a huge factor for me it’s a nice cherry on top.
2. Reds — Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Writer: Ben
Rationale: Having the No. 2 overall pick is great. Let the Guardians make the decision about whether they want Charlie Condon or Travis Bazzana, then I happily scoop up the other one. If for some reason the Guardians buck consensus and take a different player at 1-1, then it’s a hard decision and I would probably take Condon here instead. But Bazzana looks like a potential impact player as well, with stellar plate discipline, bat control and offensive track record with the ability to play in the middle infield.
3. Rockies — Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Writer: Peter
Rationale: With Bazzana and Condon off the board, I was down to Mongtomery and Hagen Smith. I opted for Montgomery, though it wasn’t an easy decision. With an ever-improving hit tool, thunderous bat speed and plus raw power from both sides of the plate—not to mention his near 80-grade arm—Montgomery has a loud tool set that is difficult to pass up on.
4. Athletics — Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Writer: Geoff
Rationale: In a draft where there’s truly no consensus top pick or pitcher at the moment, how you handle your picks in the top 10 is a matter of preference. I chose Smith over Burns despite a strong case for both. I prefer Smith as a lefthander with outlier fastball shape and release with a signature secondary. The lack of a third pitch is a question, but as we’ve seen with many dominant college starters in recent years, pro development staffs have success developing third and fourth offerings.
5. White Sox — Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida
Writer: JJ
Rationale: I’m a little concerned to make a bat-only pick for the White Sox, who took Andrew Vaughn not that long ago. But Caglianone has shown this year much-improving bat-to-ball skills to go with his massive power.
6. Royals — Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Writer: Carlos
Rationale: I was stunned Chase Burns fell here and am thrilled to take him with the sixth overall pick. Though, now that I look through all of the player names and realize that someone has to fall to No. 6 I think I would have been thrilled with whatever player that was. Montgomery? Yep. Smith? Yep. Caglianone? Yep. Perhaps the six-hole is a great spot to be picking in this draft class. Burns has as much pure stuff and upside as any pitcher in this class and he has posted consistently this season with Wake Forest.
7. Cardinals — JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
Writer: Ben
Rationale: Picking seventh overall, I know I’m going to get a good college player, and I know my options will probably be limited to likely two or three of the elite group that will still be on the board. In this case, it’s West Virginia shortstop J.J. Wetherholt vs. Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz. I do love Kurtz; he’s a lefthanded hitting first baseman with huge raw power, a sound swing and great plate discipline, with similarities to Anthony Rizzo. But Wetherholt is just as good if not better as a pure hitter and offers more defensive value. I don’t think he’s a shortstop long term—probably he’s a second baseman in the big leagues—and while injuries have slowed him down, his plate coverage and ability to barrel any type of pitch thrown at him makes him an exciting hitter.
8. Angels — Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Writer: Peter
Rationale: I was hoping that Carson Benge would be there for me at 13—as you can see he wasn’t—but either way I scooped Kurtz. Following a slow start to the season, the 6-foot-5 first baseman has been swinging it well for the last month-and-a-half and has upped his home run total to 20. With an above-average feel for the barrel and an overall chase rate less than 20%, Kurtz boasts an impressive hit-power combination and is a nimble defender at first base.
9. Pirates — Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
Writer: Geoff
Rationale: The Pirates have had far better success picking pitching in the first two rounds of the draft than they have selecting position players in the top 10. The Pirates select the most well-rounded starting pitching prospect in the draft in Yesavage. The righthander has a great mix of pitchability, stuff and prototypical starter’s traits.
10. Nationals — Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif.
Writer: JJ
Rationale: This pick came down to Konnor Griffin or Rainer, as 10 seems around the spot for the first high school player to come off the board. I went with Rainer, preferring the fast-rising California product to the equally impressive Griffin.
11. Tigers — Konnor Griffin, OF/SS, Jackson Prep, Flowood, Miss.
Writer: Carlos
Rationale: After Geoff took Trey Yesavage with the ninth pick of the draft I assumed I would take one of the top two high school players available. Griffin has the more electric pure toolset and athleticism, but Rainer is a lefthanded hitter with a good shot to stick on the left side of the infield and be a good defender there. I would have been happy with either player and since JJ opted for the SoCal shortstop I’ll take the most exciting set of physical tools in the 2024 draft class and be quite happy about it at No. 11 overall.
12. Red Sox — Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State
Writer: Ben
Rationale: I would love to get East Carolina righthander Trey Yesavage here for the Red Sox, but I figured that wasn’t going to be the case with the way he has been pitching. Bryce Rainer would have given the Red Sox another southern California high school infielder, but he wasn’t an option either after he went off the board two picks earlier. When I look around at who’s available, there just aren’t many players who feel like typical No. 12 overall type picks. With Benge, you’re getting one of the more advanced hitters in college baseball, someone who has posted an OPS above 1.000 with more walks than strikeouts in both of his seasons at Oklahoma State. He’s a disciplined hitter with a knack for squaring up both fastballs and soft stuff, leading to consistent quality contact.
13. Giants — Caleb Lomavita, C, California
Writer: Peter
Rationale: I was *this* close to selecting James Tibbs here, but I opted for who I believe to be the best catcher in this year’s draft. Lomavita has plus power to the pull side, his hit tool has taken a step forward and he is an ultra-athletic catcher who defends well with an above-average arm. As a cherry on top, Lomavita has turned in above-average run times and will likely swipe 10-15+ bases each season.
14. Cubs — James Tibbs III, 1B/OF, Florida State
Writer: Geoff
Rationale: This is where the draft gets tricky. Over the last few years a player like Tibbs likely would have dropped into the late first to mid-second round, but this year Tibbs is clearly one of the best combinations of power and skill in the draft. The Cubs have done well developing bats over the last few seasons and Tibbs should provide a fast-moving, high-floor bat with real projection for 25+ home runs at peak.
15. Mariners — Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Writer: JJ
Rationale: Smith doesn’t wow scouts with his approach, but hitters who tear up the Cape Cod League (.347/.406/.575) and follow it up by torching the ACC (.389/.473/.654) are hard to ignore.
16. Marlins — Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State
Writer: Carlos
Rationale: We’re officially in wild territory here. The board is wide open here and there are about 10-12 players who I view in a similar tier of talent. Going with Janek is more of a high-probability play than my previous high-upside pick with Konnor Griffin, but I believe Janek is the best defensive catcher in this class with solid hit and power tools to go along with it. I’m probably passing up some upside potential but I feel good about getting a big leaguer. Plus a defensive catcher with Janek’s ability to control the run game has only gotten more valuable in the majors.
17. Brewers — Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Writer: Ben
Rationale: The Brewers have gravitated toward college hitters with their top picks in recent years and have been fine drafting infielders who don’t project as true shortstops. Moore has been one of the top offensive performers this year in the SEC, and while generally the Brewers have gravitated toward high contact rates and good swing decisions, Moore’s value comes more from his bat speed and ability to drive the ball for extra-base damage. He has cut down on his swing-and-miss though—he struck out 24% of the time last year, down to 16% this year—and has an OPS that ranks sixth in the SEC, with players like Charlie Condon, Jac Caglianone and Braden Montgomery ahead of him.
18. Rays — Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Writer: Peter
Rationale: Given who was selected inside the top 17 overall picks, nobody in this range overly excited me. So, I opted for the player who I think has the highest ceiling. Honeycutt’s miss and chase rates have reverted back to his 2022 numbers, though he is striking out at a little bit less of a clip. He is an elite athlete who is a plus defender in center field, a plus runner, and has lightning quick hands with borderline plus power in the box. I’ll bet on the upside here.
19. Mets — Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS, Jonesboro, Ark.
Writer: Geoff
Rationale: Caldwell is a gamer in the mold of Jett Williams and Drew Gilbert, clearly something the Mets value. Regardless of the Mets’ affinity for gritty short kings, Caldwell is among the top prep positional players in the draft. He’s an above-average athlete with good skills and more power than you’d expect for his size.
20. Blue Jays — Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Writer: JJ
Rationale: This may be a little early for Brecht, but it’s hard not to be impressed with his in-season improvements. Through the end of March, he was walking everyone (a 49-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and had a 58% strike percentage. Since April 1, he has a 61% strike rate, a 59-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has a .133 opponents average.
21. Twins — Theodore Gillen, SS, Westlake HS, Austin, Tex.
Writer: Carlos
Rationale: At this stage I’m looking to target a few of the last remaining bats I really like. Gillen has trended up boards this spring and I’ve heard from scouts who think he might be the best pure hitter in the entire state of Texas. That’s high praise and something that I’m excited about in the 20s—particularly with a high school shortstop profile I am always a sucker for. Others I debated with this pick include Seaver King and Billy Amick, though both have some pure hit questions for me.
22. Orioles — Bryce Cunningham, RHP, Vanderbilt
Writer: Ben
Rationale: Cunningham’s fastball sits in the mid 90s with good carry, his changeup gets a lot of swing-and-miss and he shows a solid slider. At times he has been outstanding, though not quite as dominant as you might typically associate with a first-round pick. But it’s some of the better stuff available for a potential starting pitcher still on the board, with a chance he could take another leap forward under pro instruction.
23. Dodgers — Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
Writer: Peter
Rationale: I am betting on Amick’s upside offensively here. He is in the midst of an all-SEC type season for the Volunteers to the tune of a .347/.413/.734 slash line with a career-high 18 home runs and 48 RBIs. Amick has comfortably plus power to all fields and does not sell out at all to generate high-quality impact. He has an ultra-physical, big league body at 6-foot-1 and 220-pounds with big-time bat speed and serious wrist and forearm strength. While a move to first base isn’t out of the question, I have been pleasantly surprised with Amick’s defensive acumen this season at third.
24. Braves — Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
Writer: Geoff
Rationale: While the acceptable standard for college bats that strikeout too much has slid back in recent years, it’s no understatement to say that Jordan’s strikeout issues are concerning. This weighs down a profile that overall is exciting and ripe with upside. Jordan is a standout athlete with power and speed, but his below-average bat-to-ball skills have been a lingering concern. The Braves play the upside card here.
25. Padres — William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, La.
Writer: JJ
Rationale: It takes until the 25th pick for the first high school pitcher to come off the board. Schmidt has one of the best pure breaking balls in the draft class and earns 70-grade reviews for his breaking ball. He has a projectable frame and he has tracked in the right direction with his velocity this spring.
26. Yankees — Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
Writer: Carlos
Rationale: I think it’s time to stop the Seaver King slide. Yes, the approach is maybe a bit more aggressive than I would prefer but he’s a special athlete with 70-grade speed, quick hands in the box and surprising exit velocities considering his size. He’s also been on a heater over the last month or so. In 19 games dating back to the Boston College series and going through last weekend’s Clemson series King hit .346/.420/.615 with four homers and more walks than strikeouts.
27. Phillies — PJ Morlando, OF/1B, Summerville (S.C.) HS
Writer: Ben
Rationale: Morlando has one of the best hit/power combinations in the 2024 high school class. It’s a simple swing, he tracks pitches well, makes frequent contact and has plus bat speed to hammer the ball with impact when he gets off his A swing. Guardians first baseman Ralphy Velazquez went No. 23 overall last year to the Guardians, and I see Morlando’s value as comparable to Velazquez during his draft year. In an area of the draft where the hitters carry a lot of question marks, Morlando is one of the best bets of the group.
28. Astros — Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS, Temecula, Calif.
Writer: Peter
Rationale: I was honestly a little surprised Doughty was still here at 28, so I happily snatched him off the board. He has a strong, durable build—especially in his lower-half—with an under control, low effort and repeatable delivery. Doughty’s fastball will sit 92-94 and top out at 95 with some carry up in the zone. He pairs his heater with a plus, high-spin slider in the mid-80s and a distinct curveball. Doughty’s changeup also shows promise as a potentially average fourth pitch. When you combine all of that with the fact that Doughty is an advanced strike-thrower, there is very little reliever risk.
29. D-backs — Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
Writer: Geoff
Rationale: There’s a case that Waldschmidt is the most publicly underrated prospect in the draft. Behind the scenes I’ve heard from at least four evaluators with major league clubs that Waldschmidt has a real shot to go in the first round. Waldschmidt is hitting .354/.488/.609 with nine home runs and nearly identical walk and strikeout rates. An above-average athlete per the athletic testing MLB teams use, Waldscmidt might be a major win for a team at the backend of the first.
30. Rangers — Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Writer: JJ
Rationale: Culpepper may not stick at shortstop long-term, but in a draft lacking in up-the-middle college bats, Culpepper is one of the best in a thin demographic.
31. D-backs — Kellon Lindsey, SS/OF, Hardee HS, Wauchula, Fla.
Writer: Carlos
Rationale: I liked JJ’s Culpepper selection right in front of me and was debating him, Lindsey and LSU slugger Tommy White for this pick for the D-backs. Ultimately Lindsey’s more well-rounded upside potential makes him the pick though I admit there’s considerably more hit tool risk here than with White who has proven it for three years against some of the best competition in college baseball. I’m too enamored with Lindsey’s athleticism, speed and shortstop profile to pass him up though.
32. Orioles — Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Writer: Ben
Rationale: When the real draft comes, the only way Caminiti is going to be available here is if he gets a way above slot bonus commensurate with a higher first-round pick, like Marlins lefthander Thomas White last year. Caminiti could end up the first high school pitcher off the board, potentially within the top 15 overall picks, so while this pick seems unlikely to happen in July, I’m happy to snap him up here.
33. Twins — Jared Thomas, OF/1B, Texas
Writer: Peter
Rationale: In looking at the board at this juncture, I took a little bit of a “flier” on Thomas. He’s added strength to his 6-foot-2 frame since last season, and it has translated to an uptick in power and impact. On top of hitting a career-best .359/.440/.650, Thomas has hammered 15 doubles and 14 home runs. He has a twitchy operation in the box with serious hand speed and has a knack for finding the barrel. Thomas this year has split time between the outfield and first base, though I think he ends up in center field long-term where his plus speed, athleticism and baseball sense translate well.
34. Brewers — Tommy White, 3B, LSU
Writer: Geoff
Rationale: Few players have had the college career Tommy White has. He’s been among the best hitters in division one dating back to his freshman season at NC State and has enjoyed two great seasons in the SEC with LSU. White has shown more ability at third base this year and has continued to hit for average with plus game power. HIs approach is still overzealous at times, but White is a good pick for the Brewers as a potential mid-first round talent falls into their laps.
35. D-backs — Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee
Writer: JJ
Rationale: Beam doesn’t blow hitters away, but his track record of durability and success makes him an excellent comp round pick. He hasn’t been as sharp this spring as last year, but there’s a lot to work with.
36. Guardians — Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine (Texas) HS
Writer: Carlos
Rationale: Before this draft started I had Dasan Hill down as a name to think about in the 31-39 range and I wasn’t sure what others in this draft thought about him. I liked Hill last summer when he was pitching in the upper 80s and touching 92-93 so I like him even more now that the fastball has ticked up considerably. He’s a projection play who still has considerable room to fill out his frame and add even more power to his arsenal and I like his ability to spin the baseball as well. He’s one of the top-ranked lefties in the class at this stage and it wouldn’t be shocking to me if some scouts viewed him as the best southpaw in the class after Hagen Smith.
37. Pirates — Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Gettysburg (Pa.) Area HS
Writer: Ben
Rationale: Let’s keep it in state and get one of the top high school pitchers in the nation with Kuhns, who has outstanding arm speed and advanced ability to manipulate his secondary pitches, especially his high-spin breaking stuff. Kuhns can reach the mid-90s now, and with his arm speed and room to fill out his lean, long-limbed frame, there should be even more velo in the tank.
38. Rockies — Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
Writer: Peter
Rationale: While it’s been somewhat of an underwhelming spring for Santucci, getting him at this juncture—the equivalent of a team’s second pick in the draft—is something to be at least a little excited about. He has a clean, aesthetically pleasing operation on the mound. Santucci has an advanced feel for his slider, which is his best pitch, and does a nice job of varying its shape. His fastball sits 93-95 and tops out at 97 with carry in the top part of the zone, though his command of the pitch is below-average. Santucci sparingly throws his changeup, a pitch I think is a potentially promising third offering. Showing improved control and command, especially with his fastball, is imperative for Santucci.
39. Royals — Tyler Bell, SS, Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.
Writer: Geoff
Rationale: One player with significant helium as we enter the late stages of the draft cycle is Illinois prep infielder Tyler Bell. A standout defender, Bell gets 55 to 60 grades on his defense at short, while providing a highly developed set of skills at the plate. Bell is just an average athlete and has moderate power projection, but in many ways he’s similar to other high skill shortstops that have gone in the late first in recent seasons.
