Derek Schiller President & CEO, Atlanta Braves | Atlanta Braves Website
Derek Schiller President & CEO, Atlanta Braves | Atlanta Braves Website
As the 2024 MLB Draft approaches, teams are entering a phase of final preparations, with many top prospects having concluded their seasons. The upcoming MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field in Phoenix will provide teams an opportunity to evaluate players face-to-face.
The latest mock draft sees some changes in the top selections, though college hitters remain prominent. Here is a summary of the projected top picks:
1. **Guardians**: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State (No. 1)
- "No change here as Bazzana is still the name most often mentioned at the very top."
2. **Reds**: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest (No. 5)
- "Burns is in the conversation as a second straight college arm who could get to Cincinnati sooner rather than later."
3. **Rockies**: Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Georgia (No. 2)
- "It would be hard to pass up on Condon’s bat."
4. **A’s**: Braden Montgomery , OF, Texas A&M (No. 8)
- "Montgomery’s ankle injury shouldn’t impact his Draft stock much at all."
5. **White Sox**: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida (No. 3)
- "Sticking with Cags here as a first baseman."
6. **Royals**: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas (No. 6)
- "Smith’s season setting an NCAA record for K/9 (17.3) is even more extraordinary."
7. **Cardinals**: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia (No. 7)
- "Wetherholt came back strong from his hamstring issue and his name is coming up all over the 5-8 range."
8. **Angels**: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest (No. 4)
- "Kurtz’s power might be too good to pass up."
9. **Pirates**: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF Jackson Prep Miss., (No .9 )
- "Don’t rule out Pittsburgh taking the toolsiest player -- albeit one who is a bit further away -- in the Draft."
10 . **Nationals:** Bryce Rainer , SS , Harvard-Westlake Calif ., ( No .10 )
-"There are many scouts who prefer Rainer among the prep set.”
Other notable projections include Cam Caminiti going to the Tigers at No .11 and Trey Yesavage to Red Sox at No .12 .
Teams are also considering various strategies for later picks with discussions around both high school and college talents .
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