The NFL, NBA, and NHL drafts have come and gone. Next on the clock is the 2024 MLB Draft. It’s time for SGPN to step up to the plate and deliver an MLB Mock Draft piece. My name is Noah Bieniek, and I host The College Baseball Experience and follow amateur baseball all year long.
As a former college player myself and being raised by a baseball coach I am a geek about baseball mechanics and statistics. I used those skills to label all 39 first-round picks with an MLB player comparison.
This year’s Major League Baseball draft takes place once again during the Mid-Summer Classic festivities. Day 1 of the Draft will be on Sunday, 7/14, in Arlington, TX, prior to Monday’s Home Run Derby and Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
The event’s popularity has grown exponentially since moving the date/location near the ASG. Fans in person and many front offices on site have helped improve the viewing quality a lot. Cleveland Guardians will be on the clock at No. 1 overall at 7:00 PM ET.
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2024 MLB Draft: Mock Draft and MLB Player Comparisons
The 2024 MLB Draft class is not very deep overall. Many view it as a weak high school player draft. There is also a very good crop of college hitters who will be drafted in the first round. After that, it gets shallow quickly.
At the top of many big boards, you will see college baseball’s Home Run king, Charlie Condon. Slightly behind him, you see a cluster of college bats like Travis Bazzana, JJ Wetherholt, Nick Kurtz, and Braden Montgomery. Two-way talent Jac Caglianone is also a no doubt Top 10 player this year. Will Cags attempt to do both like Shohei Ohtani, or will he devote himself to hitting?
Elite college pitchers Hagen Smith and Chase Burns are future Aces in the majors. Lastly, the top two prep stars, Konnor Griffin and Bryce Rainer, look to creep into this year’s top 10 as well.
If you are not aware, the MLB Draft is unlike any other pro sports draft. Sometimes, teams do not select the best player available. Each team is given a “Bonus Pool” prior to the draft. The teams have to spread the money among all of their picks throughout the 20-round extravaganza. Some teams will elect to spend less on their early picks in order to use more money on picks later in the draft.
In past years, the best MLB Mock Draft has only predicted 4 (FOUR!) correct landing spots. I do not have any sources; I believe that when it comes to the MLB Draft, nobody knows anything. In my belief, 75% of information from “sources” in MLB organizations filtering out information is doing so falsely.
Instead, most of the picks in my MLB Mock Draft are based on past draft history. I believe most front offices draft based on their organizational strengths rather than their team’s needs. So, with all that said, wish me luck.
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Guardians | TRAVIS BAZZANA (MLB Comparison: Edouard Julien) | 2B | OREGON STATE |
| Cleveland’s traditional early draft approach is selecting talented middle infielders. In 2023 they attempted to revamp a power-anemic farm system leaning on infielders with pop. The Guardians lead the MLB with nine under-slot draft selections since 2012 (when the bonus-pool era began). Travis Bazzana checks all the boxes for the Guard Dogs as he will be cheaper than College Baseball’s Home Run King Charlie Condon. The Sydney, Australia native has a Cape Cod League MVP Award to his name, thanks to his power, hit-for-average approach, and speed tools. Bazzana finished his Junior season at Oregon State with a .407 batting average, .1479 OPS, 28 home runs, a 76/37 K/BB ratio, and 65 career stolen bases. Bazzana’s swing mechanics and player archetype earn an Edouard Julien MLB comp from me. |
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| 2 |  Reds | CHARLIE CONDON (MLB Comparison: Patrick Wisdom) | 3B/1B/OF | GEORGIA |
| Cincinnati doesn’t have any strong draft trends. What the Reds do have is a roster that is ready to win right now but lacks some power-hitting. Charlie Condon is an MLB-ready hitter and has led all of college baseball with 37 home runs. Not only did Condon lead the nation in HRs, but the SEC Player of the Year led the country in batting average (.443) and OPS (1.601). Condon is an athletic 6-6 who has played the corner infield, corner outfield, and centerfield positions in 2024. Although Condon is a bit taller, his positional versatility (while not being elite anywhere) and his swing is similar to Patrick Wisdom’s. |
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| 3 |  Rockies JAC CAGLIANONE (MLB Comparison: Shohei Ohtani) | 1B/LHP | FLORIDA |
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| In 2021 and 2022, Colorado drafted big power bats. The Rockies have also leaned in on taking pitchers early because Coors Field doesn’t attract free-agent pitching. Why not get the best of both worlds with Florida’s 2-way talent Jac Caglianone? Caglianone is a physical beast, standing 6-5 and weighing 250 pounds while being left-handed at the plate and on the mound. Cags led the country with 33 homers in 2023. In 2024, he followed it up with 35 homers and nearly raised his average by .100 points (.419) with a .1419 OPS. College coaches have labeled him as an elite defensive 1st baseman who could play right field as well. Pitching-wise, Caglianone has struggled with his walk rate in the SEC. However, he sits in the high 90s and has the ability to touch triple digits. Becoming a true MLB 2-way player could be a little bit of a project, but the power can play in the bigs immediately. Whether he pitches or not, Caglianone’s high hands and tall swing earns him a Shohei Ohtani MLB comparison in the batter’s box. |
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| 4 |  Athletics | NICK KURTZ (MLB Comparison: Freddie Freeman) | 1B | WAKE FOREST |
| The Athletics' have had 8 picks in the first round over the last 7 years. All eight selections were hitters and five were out of college. Nick Kurtz is a metrics darling so he fits well in many organization’s draft models. Kurtz is a super-talented (and tall) left-handed hitter. He possesses great power, elite bat speed, super strength, excellent bat-to-ball skills, and an outstanding eye at the plate. Kurtz led the country in walks (76) during the regular season while also missing time two weeks this season with a shoulder injury. The Wake Forest product is a career .333 hitter with a 1.24 OPS and 61 “Nicky Nukes.” Big stature, high hands, a slight bat wrap, and the ability to always make hard contact earns Kurtz a Freddie Freeman comp. |
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| 5 |  White Sox | CHASE BURNS (MLB Comparison: Jared Jones) | RHP | WAKE FOREST |
| The White Sox early draft selections in recent years have provided a good trend for pitchers with elite breaking balls. Chase Burns meet Chicago, CWS fans meet Burns’ aura, triple digit heater, and disgusting slider. Burns, the ACC Pitcher of the Year, is a close-2nd when it comes to the first pitcher off the board in 2024. The Wake Forest RHP features a lethal 4-pitch mix. Burns’ top-notch repertoire is highlighted by a hard heater that can reach 102 mph. He also features a superb slider that has generated a 60% whiff rate over the last two seasons. A plus Curveball and plus changeup tops off the best arsenal in the 2024 MLB Draft. The high-velocity fastball, dominant slider, plus two other great offspeed offerings makes for an outstanding Jared Jones comparison. Command is the only question, and the ability to control his fiery emotions are the only small questions surrounding the flamethrowing righty. |
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| 6 |  Royals | KONNOR GRIFFIN (MLB Comparison: Kris Bryant) | SS/OF/3B | JACKSON PREP, MS |
| Kansas City has drafted many prep players with early picks in the last few years. By all accounts, Konnor Griffin is the best high school player in the 2024 MLB Draft. Griffin, Gatorade’s National High School Player of the Year, has 30 home run and 30 stolen bases potential in the pros. He led the high school level with 87 stolen bases in 88 attempts this Spring. At 6-4, 205 Griffin has a long swing with a good eye at the plate and great power. His versatile defensive talent and swing mechanics earn him a very strong comparison to Kris Bryant. |
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| 7 |  Cardinals | HAGEN SMITH (MLB Comparison: Chris Sale) | LHP | ARKANSAS |
| St. Louis hasn’t drafted this high since they selected J.D. Drew 5th Overall in 1998. I know that I’m choosing not to look at recent trends and just to select the best available player, Hagen Smith. Smith was awarded SEC Pitcher of the Year after leading the country after the regular season with a 1.48 ERA, a .130 opponent batting average, and an all-time record-high 17.5 K/9. In high school, Smith set a record in the state of Texas with seven no-hitters during his senior season. The Arkansas Ace throws from a whippy ¾ slot and sits in the high 90s with a devastating slider. Smith rarely mixes in his cutter and splitter but will show it from time to time. The only concern with Smith is that he has already had Tommy John surgery once before (Sophomore HS). Outside of Chris Sale’s more exaggerated crossfire delivery, Smith's arm slot and repertoire are different from Sale’s. |
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| 8 |  Angels | BRADEN MONTGOMERY (MLB Comparison: Anthony Santander) | OF | TEXAS A&M |
| Los Angeles needs a lot of talent to beef up a bare-bones farm system. The Angels have built a reputation for drafting players higher than projected and signing them to deals under slot value. Because of a broken right ankle, Braden Montgomery may qualify at No. 8. Montgomery is a switch hitter that impacts the baseball with 99th percentile exit velocity. His right-handed swing has a few more holes and less power than his left. With a good approach and bat-to-ball skills, BMont was no doubt one of the top 5 prospects in this year’s class. The untimely injury will cause him to slip a bit. However, when healthy, his elite athleticism and excellent arm strength (former 2-way talent) help him be an elite all-around outfielder. The strong arm, switch-hitting power, and similar swing mechanics make me label Montgomery an Anthony Santander comparison. |
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| 9 |  Pirates | JJ WETHERHOLT (MLB Comparison: Ozzie Albies) | SS/2B | WEST VIRGINIA |
| Pittsburgh hired away Boston’s Scouting Director, Justin Horowitz, this past offseason. In recent years, the Red Sox have valued hitters much more than pitchers because of their early selections. If that’s the case, it sets up the Pirates to select hometown kid JJ Wetherholt. The West Virginia shortstop was listed as the 2024 MLB Draft class’ #1 overall prospect in the college preseason and labeled “the best pure hitter in the class” by some. Two hamstring injuries this year have scared away some front offices, but Pittsburgh is probably his floor. In 2023, Wetherholt won Division I’s batting title and Big 12 Player of the Year with a .449 average, 1.299 OPS, 35 stolen bases, and 16 steals. Some scouts suggest Wetherholt may not be a good enough shortstop at the next level. The potential to be a 2nd baseman and a drastically open stance with a big gain step earn Wetherholt a comp to Ozzies Albies’ left-handed swing. |
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| 10 |  Nationals | BRYCE RAINER (MLB Comparison: Gunnar Henderson) | SS | Harvard-Westlake, CA |
| Washington also made a new hire in the offseason, Brad Ciolek from Baltimore. Ciolek is the Nationals’ new Senior Director of Amateur Scouting. The Orioles always take tooled-out hitters early in drafts. Assuming the Nats adopt this theory, I have mocked Bryce Rainer for their selection. Rainer (6-3 195) has everything it takes to be a 5-tool player at the next level. He has outstanding arm strength, power to all fields at the plate, great speed, makes consistent hard contact, and is a solid defender at shortstop. With a similar build and load in his swing, I draw a Gunnar Henderson MLB comparison for Rainer. |
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| 11 |  Tigers | JAMES TIBBS III (MLB Comparison: Jesse Winker) | OF | FLORIDA STATE |
| Detroit selected a bunch of prep talent with a slight lean towards hitters in their first season with Scott Harris as the President of Baseball Operations. This year, the crop of great prep position players is bare. Instead, the Tigers may select a college bat that excels in the batted ball statistics. James Tibbs III is a qualified candidate for that description. The ACC Player of the Year batted .363, with a 1.264 OPS, 28 HR, 95 RBI, and more walks (58) than strikeouts (37). Tibbs demolishes fastballs and has power to all fields. At 6-0, 204 pounds, Tibbs is thick and lacks straight-line speed. From the outfield, he does have an above-average arm, but let’s not kid. It’s a big-league bat. Tibbs’ attributes compare to Jesse Winker. |
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| 12 |  Red Sox | CHRISTIAN MOORE (MLB Comparison: Willy Adames) | 2B | TENNESSEE |
| Boston has drafted four straight middle infielders in the first round. They do have a tendency to lean more to the prep side (3), but again this year is a shallow prep class. After an outstanding season and helium in his draft stock this is a nice landing spot for Christian Moore. C-MO was slept on all season. Condon won SEC Player of the Year, but Moore won the SEC Regular season Triple Crown. Moore broke both of Tennessee’s program home run records by smoking 34 home runs this year, which tallied up to 61 for his career. To go along with his great power, Moore batted .375 with a 1.248 OPS while scoring 84 runs this season. Moore has an aggressive approach but isn’t afraid to work counts. He is a real physical 6-1 210. Moore played some shortstop for the Volunteers this year, but scouts think he projects best at 2nd or in the outfield. Wherever he plays defense, the bat and his underrated will perform. Christian Moore has a build and swing mechanics similar to Willy Adames. |
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| 13 |  Giants | CAM CAMINITI (MLB Comparison: Cole Ragans) | LHP | Saguaro, AZ |
| In recent drafts, San Francisco has drafted a few left-handed pitchers. This trend matches some recent buzz in draft circles that this pick may be Cam Caminiti’s floor. Caminiti (cousin of Ken) currently has a great frame at 6-2 195 pounds. There is potential for Caminiti to develop into a 4-pitch pitcher. He has a mid-90s fastball that can touch 98 with good ride. He has solid breaking balls, one with slider characteristics and the other being curveball. Caminiti’s best offspeed offering is his changeup. The leg kick, arm angle, and pitch repertoire of Caminiti remind me of Cole Ragans. |
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| 14 |  Cubs | TREY YESAVAGE (MLB Comparison: Casey Mize) | RHP | EAST CAROLINA |
| The Cubs’ President of Baseball Operations has made seven first-round selections, five of which have been college pitchers. CHC’s farm system is littered with talented position players, so it would make sense for them to draft Trey Yesavage, the best available college arm. Yesavage will be the third pitcher from East Carolina to be selected in the first two rounds in the last four years. The Pirates have been a mid-major pitching powerhouse, but Yesavage might be the best one yet. He was named the AAC Pitcher of the Year after an 11-1, 2.02 ERA, 145 K, 93.1 IP campaign. Yesavage has great feel for four pitches and has a great frame at 6-4 225. Yesavage has a similar repertoire and arm angle to Casey Mize. |
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| 15 |  Mariners | WILLIAM SCHMIDT (MLB Comparison: Seth Lugo) | RHP | Catholic, LA |
| Seattle has picked prepsters with 8 of their last 11 Top 100 selections in the MLB Draft. William Schmidt fits the trend and an organizational need on the mound. Schmidt’s fastball sits in the mid-90s, but his curveball is disgusting. I’ve played and watched a lot of baseball, but the first time I saw Schmidt’s Uncle Charlie my jaw dropped. At 3,000 rpm it very well could be the best curveball in the 2024 MLB Draft. Schmidt stands 6-4 with plenty of time to fill out the frame before he gets to the big leagues. Similar height, pitching mechanics, and nasty curveballs labels a Seth Lugo comp on Schmidt. |
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| 16 |  Marlins | KASH MAYFIELD (MLB Comparison: Nick Lodolo) | LHP | Elk City, OK |
| Miami has selected four high school pitchers over the last three years inside the Top 100. If the Marlins stick to their organizational strengths (developing pitchers) Kash Mayfield could be the guy for the Marlins. Mayfield is a long and lanky lefty with a ¾ arm slot and low-to-mid 90s fastball. A strike-thrower who misses a ton of bats, Mayfield has an arsenal that really performs despite not yet possessing some of the octane of his peers. Mayfield’s physical build, arm slot, and fastball all draw a MLB player comparison of Nick Lodolo for Mayfield. |
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| 17 |  Brewers | VANCE HONEYCUTT (MLB Comparison: Julio Rodriguez) | CF | NORTH CAROLINA |
| Milwaukee’s General Manager, Matt Arnold, has made four first round selections in his career with the Brewers. All four of the picks were college hitters. Vance Honeycutt has always been one of the most tooled out college players for the 2024 MLB Draft class. Getting Honeycutt at No. 17 would be a big win. Honeycutt has a chance to become a five-tool player at the next level. He has won back-to-back ACC Defensive Player of the Year awards while posting 28 home runs, 28 stolen bases with a .318 batting average an 1.124 OPS, 88 runs scored and 70 RBI. There is only one (big) knock against Honeycutt which is keeping him outside of the Top 10, his strikeout rate. Honeycutt had a 27.5% K% in 2024 and 29.7% during his Freshman season. His Sophomore year the strikeouts were cut back to 20% but his production also severely dipped. A great MLB comp for Honeycutt is Julio Rodriguez. High strikeout rates but also high octane streaky power and speed on the basepaths, among other talents. |
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| 18 |  Rays | SEAVER KING (MLB Comparison: Mookie Betts) | OF/SS/3B/2B | WAKE FOREST |
| Tampa Bay has selected hitter heavy early in drafts recently. The Rays have taken 8 hitters with their last 12 first round picks. It’s an even split of four high schoolers and four college hitters. Seaver King is the best available hitter as a college hitter run is likely to take place in the late teens early 20s. King has the low K-rate that Tampa Bay looks for (12%). King excels with his bat-to-ball skills with great bat speed. During his first season in the ACC King batted .308 with a .954 OPS, 16 homers, 11 steals, 64 RBI , and 59 runs scored. Wake Forest’s shoebox ballpark helped inflate King’s power numbers, because that’s the lone question mark keeping King from being a five-tool player. King’s elite positional versatility, personality, and player profile give a strong Mookie Betts vibe. King played centerfield, shortstop, and 3rd base this past season with capability of playing all over the field. |
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| 19 |  Mets | JURRANGELO CIJNTJE (MLB Comparison: Marcus Stroman) | SHP | MISSISSIPPI STATE |
| Lately the Mets have targeted pitching and high school shortstops with their picks inside the Top 100. Jurrangelo Cijntje, a switch pitcher, is a super fun project that has a chance to shine under the bright lights in the Big Apple. At the highest level of college baseball, the SEC, Cijntje started to abandon pitching with his left wing. Left-handed Cijntje has a low 90s fastball from a low arm slot and a breaking ball. However from the right side, Cijntje is in the upper 90s with a hard slider and great changeup. A cool stroy about Cijntje is that he played on Curacao’s Little League World Series team in 2016. Cijntje has played on the biggest stages throughout his entire life. At 5-11 with an explosive right arm, the industry often compares Cijntje to Marcus Stroman. Cijntje would be a unicorn if he continues to pursue switch pitching. |
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| 20 |  Blue Jays | BRODY BRECHT (MLB Comparison: Dylan Cease) | RHP | IOWA |
| Toronto’s front office tandem of Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins has made nine first-round selections since 2016. Six of those selections have been out of college. Five of those players were pitchers. Brody Brecht would be the next available college arm. Brecht has a super live arm sitting in the high 90s and often triple digits on the radar gun. He also possesses a slider that can be perfectly tunneled from the fastball that just falls off the table. Brecht had football aspirations (wide receiver) but gave that up after two unproductive years at Iowa (go figure). In his first offseason of just baseball, Brecht and Iowa attempted to make some mechanical adjustments to address some control issues. Brecht struggled early in 2024, readjusted to his 2023 mechanics, and then dominated to finish the season. Brecht struck out 128 and walked 49 in 78.1 innings with a 3.33 ERA. With a big leg kick, big-time heater, and reliance on his slider, there’s a little bit of Dylan Cease in Brody Brecht. |
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| 21 |  Twins | MALCOLM MOORE (MLB Comparison: Adley Rutschman) | C | STANFORD |
| Minnesota’s front office has been intact since 2016. They’ve made 11 first round selections in that time period, nine hitters, five of them college bats. The Twins also need a catcher in their farm system. All signs point to Stanford’s catcher Malcolm Moore. Moore is my favorite of what is perceived to be a great top crop of college catchers. He makes hard contact to all fields with good power. Moore grades out metrically quite well with high contact rates, low chase rates so he’ll be very model friendly for Minnesota. The left handed slugger is a career .288 hitter with 31 homers. Rumors are that Moore absolutely knocked it out of the park in his interviews at the MLB Draft Combine. Moore sets his hands low with a severely open stance, although Adley Rutschman does not have as severe of an open stance, Moore’s hitting attributes are similar. |
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| 22 |  Orioles | CARSON BENGE (MLB Comparison: Oscar Colas) | OF/RHP | OKLAHOMA STATE |
| Baltimore has been one of the best organizations in baseball lately. General Manager Mike Elias values their org’s draft model and has selected hitters in the first round in 7 straight drafts. The Orioles have also drafted under slot in three of the last four years. Ultimately, like last year (Enrique Bradifeld) I think they draft at slot value with Carson Benge. Benge is well known for strong exit velocity off the bat while having a good eye at the plate. The left handed hitter can slug to all fields with his great bat speed. Benge batted .335 with a 1.109 OPS, 18 homers, and a 151 wRC+. Benge has flirted with the mound during his college career but his plus plus arm is a weapon in right field. An open stance at the plate, with consistent hard exit velo, and a strong arm in the outfield earns Benge an Oscar Colas MLB comp. |
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| 23 |  Dodgers | CAM SMITH (MLB Comparison: Austin Riley) | 3B | FLORIDA STATE |
| Los Angeles only has one pick prior to their second pick at No. 98. The Dodgers need to hit big with this selection. Cam Smith is a name that should be taken much higher than No. 23 but by the way the dominoes fall L.A. could spend up to get a superb college hitter. Cam Smith batted .387 this year as a Sophomore in the ACC. Couple that with an 1.142 OPS, 16 homers, and a 165 wRC+ and the Dodgers have themselves a great haul at No. 23. Smith crushed it in the Cape Cod League, being named the “Most Outstanding Pro Prospect” after the 2023 season. He is super physical and runs well for his size and he is great defensively at 3rd base with a strong arm. Smith has a similar build and swing mechanics to Austin Riley. |
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| 24 |  Braves | RYAN SLOAN (MLB Comparison: Hunter Greene) | RHP | YORK, IL |
| Atlanta has a good trend of drafting pitchers recently. Ryan Sloan provides plenty of stuff on the mound to give the Braves some intrigue in picking the tall RHP Wake Forest commit. Sloan’s fastball is in the mid-to-high 90s with good ride. He also has two plus pitches with a changeup and slider to offer to hitters on both sides of the plate. With a strong lower half, Sloan creates a great extension of the rubber. I couldn’t find a super strong MLB comparison for Sloan. Sloan’s MLB comp is Hunter Greene for me. Sloan doesn’t hit triple digits as often as Greene, but the mechanics and pitch repertoires are similar between the two. |
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| 25 |  Padres | SLADE CALDWELL (MLB Comparison: Cedric Mullins) | OF | Valley View, AR |
| San Diego has drafted 11 high schoolers with their last 13 1st round draft picks. AJ Preller has built a reputation of taking pride in having his boots on the ground at high schools all over the country. Talk about taking pride, look out for mighty mite Slade Caldwell. Standing at just 5-9, Caldwell, pound for pound, has one of the best swings in the draft. Caldwell is an advanced hitter with a mature approach who makes consistent line-drive contact to all fields. He has a lightning-quick left-handed swing and is an on-base machine. Caldwell has game-breaking speed. Some of these characteristics and similar swing mechanics point me to a comparison between Cedric Mullins at the MLB level. |
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| 26 |  Yankees | DYLAN DREILING (MLB Comparison: Juan Soto) | OF | TENNESSEE |
| Brian Cashman and New York have selected seven college hitters in their last 11 first-round picks. Most of those hitters were left-handed with strong exit velocities. The most likely reason for that is to try to take advantage of their short porch in the right field. No college hitter may have more helium in their draft stock than Tennessee’s Dylan Dreiling. Dreiling has the chance to hit for average and power because he makes consistent hard contact to all fields. He drives the ball in the air while managing the strike zone, drawing plenty of walks, and keeping his quick left-handed swing under control. Dreiling blasted 23 dingers and was the first player ever to hit home runs in all three Men’s College World Series Finals games. He was named the Most Outstanding Player during the CWS. This season, Dreiling hit .341 with a 1.174 OPS, 74 RBI, and 72 runs scored. It’s aggressive, but my comparison with a Dylan Dreiling MLB player is Juan Soto. They are both aggressive, swinging lefties with good eyes that play okay defense. |
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| 27 |  Phillies | THEO GILLEN (MLB Comparison: Corey Seager) | SS/2B | Westlake, TX |
| Philadelphia enters their fourth draft with Dave Dombrowski as their General Manager. With all five of their first-round picks, they’ve grabbed prep players (three hitters, two pitchers). Theo Gillen fits the mold for the Phillies. Gillen has a disciplined approach, quick hands, and a sweet left-handed swing that combine to produce line drives to all fields. Gillen has battled a few injuries in high school, so the power hasn’t been evident all the time, but there is raw power potential. If Gillen taps into that, he could be the best high school stick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Being a local Texas kid, some scouts have labeled Gillen with a Corey Seager comparison. |
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| 28 |  Astros | WALKER JANEK (MLB Comparison: Gabriel Moreno) | C | SAM HOUSTON |
| Recently, Houston has used their early round draft picks on position players, specifically infielders. The Astros know that their core will be on the way out sooner rather than later. How about a hometown kid, Walker Janek? The Sam Houston Catcher has good strength both behind the plate and in the batter’s box. Janek won Conference USA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 courtesy of his strong arm. He has impressive bat speed with great pull-side pop. In 2024, Janek batted .368 with a 1.193 OPS and 17 jacks. With Janek's strong arm and two-handed swing with pop, I give him a Gabriel Moreno MLB comp. |
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| 29 |  Diamondbacks TOMMY WHITE (MLB Comparison: Miguel Cabrera) | 3B | LSU |
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| Arizona doesn’t have a strong draft trend, but we know that they love high exit velocities. Tommy White is a collegiate superstar who gives great value at No. 29. White had a tremendous college career. He broke a Freshman home run record at NC State in 2022. In 2023, he broke RBI records with LSU while playing through a torn labrum. White blasted a majestic walk-off home run en route to a National Championship during the College World Series. During 2024, White led the Tigers with 24 “Tommy Tanks.” Over his three-year career, he has 75 career tanks, with a .356 batting average, 1.125 OPS, 14.5 K%, and 141 wRC+. White always finds the barrel and has top-notch power to all fields. White has improved defensively this season, too. While not being afraid to take the ball the other way, with great contact rates, plus plus power and a wide batting stance, Miguel Cabrera is a bit aggressive but is the MLB comp for me. White has said in the past that because he grew up in South Florida, he compares his game to Miggy. |
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| 30 |  Rangers | BRAYLON DOUGHTY (MLB Comparison: Aaron Civale) | RHP | Chaparral, CA |
| Texas’ President of Baseball Operations, Chris Young, has three drafts under his belt. Last year, Wyatt Langford fell to their lap at No. 4. However, when they had decisions to make in his first two years, the Rangers drafted pitchers. Braylon Doughty, out of Chaparral (CA), will be selected for this scenario. Doughty’s curveball frequently reaches 3,000 rpm and is his calling card. The plus Uncle Charlie directly supports a sneaky mid-to-high 90s fastball with life. Doughty has a strong and sturdy build at 6-1 and throws consistent strikes. Doughty has a tight arm angle and a snap follow-through that creates good deception. He also likes to mess with hitters’ timing by throwing in a mix of different leg kicks. It was tough for me to find an MLB player comparison for Doughty. Aaron Civale has a similar build and is a breaking ball wizard, so I’ll go with that. |
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| 31 | Diamondbacks RYAN WALDSCHMIDT (MLB Comparison: Davis Schneider) | OF | KENTUCKY |
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| Again, Arizona doesn’t have very strong early draft pick trends. This is their second selection in a span of 7 picks. The Diamondbacks could be really creative with how they spend their money. At No. 31 I think the DBacks will elect to be cheap, then spend up on a prepster at No. 35 in order to sway them out of their college commitment. Ryan Waldschmidt has been a really cool success story in 2024. Waldschmidt wasn’t recruited hard as a high schooler in Florida. Then he stepped in a hole and blew out his left ACL during Cape Cod League play in 2023. Waldschmidt started the 2024 season hobbled but finished it scorching hot. He batted .333 with a 1.079 OPS and 14 homers. Waldschmidt makes consistent contact, avoids chasing pitches, and produces high exit velocities. Similar swing mechanics give off a Davis Schneider vibe. |
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| 32 | Orioles | BILLY AMICK (MLB Comparison: Josh Jung) | 3B | TENNESSEE |
| Baltimore has selected hitters in the first round in seven straight drafts, and they like high exit velocities. Billy Amick has a quality right-handed swing and repeatedly barrels baseballs with mammoth exit velos. His athleticism, bat speed, and strength create plus raw power that plays all over the ballpark. Amick blasted 23 home runs with a .306 batting average and 1.026 OPS in 2024. Similar swing mechanics earn Billy Amick a Josh Jung MLB player comparison. | ||||
| 33 | Twins | KAVARES TEARS (MLB Comparison: Alec Burleson) | OF | TENNESSEE |
| Minnesota’s front office has been intact since 2016. They’ve made 11 first-round selections in that time period, nine hitters, and five college bats. Also, the Twins love their left-handed hitters. Kavares Tears’ draft stock rose quite a bit after playing some centerfield during the College World Series. Tears possess a flat left-handed swing with wicked bat speed and strength, generating a lot of hard line drives. He is super physical with good speed and above-average defense in the outfield. Tears batted .324 with a 1.070 OPS, and 20 tanks. Tears has a similar hand position and bat path to Alec Burleson in the MLB. |
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| 34 | Brewers | BLAKE BURKE (MLB Comparison: Seth Brown) | 1B | TENNESSEE |
| Milwaukee’s General Manager, Matt Arnold, has made four first-round selections in his career with the Brewers. All four of the picks were college hitters. Blake Burke, another Tennessee slugger, comes off the board! That’s three in a row and five in the first round, which (4) would be an all-time record. Burke is a sturdy left-handed 1st baseman who is 6-3 and weighs 240 pounds. He has put some plus-plus light tower power on display during his days with the Volunteers. The 2023 Hattiesburg Super Regional home run is still flying right now. Burke cut back on the strikeouts, and his production skyrocketed in 2024. He finished the season with a .379 average compared to batting .280 in ‘23. Burke parlayed that with a 1.151 OPS and 20 (50 career) home runs. Burke has a similar physical build and swing path to compare him to Seth Brown. |
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| 35 | Diamondbacks GRIFFIN BURKHOLDER (MLB Comparison: Byron Buxton) | OF | Freedom, VA |
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| Like I said, for pick No. 31 the Diamondbacks will most likely use at least one of these three picks to throw a ton of cash at a high schooler with a super high ceiling in order to keep them from attending school. Griffin Burkholder is probably a candidate for this situation, as he is skyrocketing up draft boards. Burkholder’s name is floating around everywhere as a possible under slot early or overslot late on Day 1. He has super speed and will likely cause havoc on the basepaths and in centerfield. The West Virginia commit has a strong athletic frame that gives him raw power. With some fine-tuning at the plate, Burkholder has the possibility of becoming a 4-tool player in the bigs, minus the arm strength. The dream scenario would be a MLB player comparison to Byron Buxton. |
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| 36 | Guardians | WYATT SANFORD (MLB Comparison: Vidal Brujan) | SS | Independence, TX |
| Cleveland’s traditional early draft approach is selecting talented middle infielders. The Guardians could elect to use some of the money saved at 1.1. on Wyatt Sanford at No. 36. The Texas A&M recruit has a mature gap-to-gap approach and makes good swing decisions. It’s a good-looking, quick, loose left-handed swing, and if Sanford develops power, it could pack a punch. But his calling card is the excellent defense. Sanford has great side-to-side range with a plus arm. His father, Chance, had a cup of coffee in the big leagues as well. With his arm strength and top-notch defensive capabilities, Vidal Brujan is the MLB player I would compare him to. |
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| 37 | Pirates | DAKOTA JORDAN (MLB Comparison: Adolis Garcia) | OF | MISSISSIPPI STATE |
| Pittsburgh hired away Boston’s Scouting Director, Justin Horowitz, this past offseason. In recent years the Red Sox have valued hitters much more than pitchers with their early selections. Dakota Jordan is a really fun player profile. Jordan has a lightning-fast bat speed and one of the most powerful right handed swings in the 2024 MLB Draft class. He is super physical, has elite speed, and has a plus arm. Everybody knew that there was a “but” coming right? Jordan had a strikeout rate of 29% at Mississippi State this Spring. He also hit .354 with a 1.129 OPS and 20 home runs this season. If the farm system can push the right buttons throughout Jordan’s development, there will be star upside. All of Jordan’s physical characteristics and attributes point to an Adolis Garcia player comp. |
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| 38 | Rockies JONATHAN SANTUCCI (MLB Comparison: Carlos Rodon) | LHP | DUKE |
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| Colorado’s General Manager Bill Schmidt and co. have taken a college pitcher in the first round in two straight drafts. Jonathan Santucci should interest the Rockies late in the 1st round. Santucci has elite strikeout stuff. The Duke LHP K’d 90 in 58 innings this past season. He finished the year with a 3.41 ERA and a .188 opponent’s batting average. Santucci’s mid-90s fastball has great iVB with some run out of a high arm slot. He has two plus offspeed offerings, a low 80s slider, and a mid-80s change piece. Santucci’s physical build and pitch repertoire earn him an MLB player comparison to Carlos Rodon. |
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| 39 | Royals | KELLON LINDSEY (MLB Comparison: Ha-Seong Kim) | SS | Hardee, FL |
| Kansas City has drafted many prep players with early picks in the last few years. Kellon Lindsey would come off the board in this range. Lindsey is a premium athlete (high school QB) and features elite speed. At only 6-2, 175 pounds, he could add some strength as right now he is only producing line drives. Lindsey’s great arm and good range project him as a big-league shortstop or centerfielder. He has a similar build and defensive ability as Ha-Seong Kim in the MLB. | ||||
2024 MLB Draft: Mock Draft and MLB Player Comparisons
Tune into The College Baseball Experience podcast and show to hear about any more MLB Draft developments. Stick with Noah Bieniek and TCE throughout the NCAA Baseball offseason for periodical transfer portal and coaching carousel updates as well as any other news along the way.
