Draft Day 1: Pick-by-pick rundown, analysis (2024)

The 2024 MLB Draft is here. Day 1 included the first 74 selections, covering Rounds 1 and 2, Competitive Balance Rounds A and B, two Prospect Promotion Incentive picks, plus two compensation picks. The Guardians got things going with the No. 1 overall pick.

Days 2 (Rounds 3-10) and 3 (Rounds 11-20) begin at 2 p.m. ET on Monday and Tuesday and will stream live exclusively on MLB.com.

Round 1

1) Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
The Guardians kept things very close to the vest until the very last minute, looking at a number of college players, especially the top hitters. Bazzana was always high on that list, and for good reason. The left-handed-hitting Australian infielder was a Golden Spikes Award finalist after he hit .407/.568/.911 with 28 homers and 16 steals in his junior year with the Beavers. His penchant for contact fits the Guardians’ hitting philosophy and he has plenty of thump that should get to Cleveland quickly. More »

2) Reds: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
The Reds were looking at many options and it may have come down to Charlie Condon vs. Chase Burns. In the end, they went for one of the best arms in the entire class, giving them their second straight Wake Forest pitcher taken in the first round (Rhett Lowder in 2023). Burns transferred to Wake Forest and its pitching lab and it had a tremendous effect as he took a step forward with all of his stuff. He has a fastball that touches 100 mph, but it’s his easily plus slider that misses a ridiculous amount of bats. Though Burns grew up in Gallatin, Tenn., he was born in Naples, Italy, because his parents were stationed there with the military. More »

3) Rockies: Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
Many thought Condon was the best player in the Draft and he certainly put up the numbers to back up that claim. The Golden Spikes Award winner led all Division I hitters with his .433 average and 37 homers (not to mention his 1.009 SLG). It’s hard not to get excited about how his 70-grade power will play at Coors Field, even if it takes a little to figure out what position he might settle into (I guess an outfield corner). More »

4) A's: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
A slow start because of a shoulder injury may have hurt his stock ever so slightly, but he was far too talented to slip too far. He got hot as the season wore on, finishing with 22 homers and leading Division I hitters with 78 walks. He has well above-average pop to all fields and is a complete hitter, and while he’s limited to first base, he’s a plus defender there. More »

5) White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
We at MLB Pipeline had him as the top-ranked pitcher in the class. Smith was a Golden Spikes Award finalist, leading all Division I pitchers in batting average against (.144) and setting a record for K/9 (17.3) rate. The southpaw sits at 93-97 mph and touches 100 with his fastball and has a filthy slider that is virtually unhittable. Add in a splitter and some deception in his delivery and he has frontline starter potential. More »

6) Royals: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
A tremendous player who has a 70-grade fastball from the left side on the bump and tremendous power at the plate, Caglianone was announced as a two-way player when his name was called, and the Royals plan to give him a shot to do both. If I had to guess, his future will be punishing pitches, not delivering them (if he doesn't stick as a two-way player). His lack of swing-and-miss given his power is impressive. More »

7) Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
The West Virginia standout missed a chunk of the season because of a hamstring injury, but an argument can be made that he’s one of the top pure hitters in the class. The left-handed hitter can drive the ball to all fields and is a plus runner with a very advanced approach at the plate. Some scouts felt there wasn’t much separating him from Travis Bazzana, with less power and more speed than his counterpart. More »

8) Angels: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Moore’s stock kept climbing the longer Tennessee’s championship season went on. The second baseman finished as the Volunteers’ all-time (61) and single-season (34) home run leader. His improved contact led to a lot more power, which should translate well and gives the Angels their third straight college hitter who could get to Los Angeles quickly after Zach Neto (2022 Draft) and Nolan Schanuel (2023). More »

9) Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep (Miss.)
There was a lot of talk about the Pirates going after a higher floor college bat, but instead they went all in with Griffin’s upside. He probably has the highest ceiling in the Draft, with four tools that rate at least plus. He has the chance to play shortstop with an easily plus arm, though he could look just as good in center field. More »

10) Nationals: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
This gives Wake Forest its third player in the top 10. King showed his tools could translate from Division II to the ACC this year after transferring from Wingate, using his compact right-handed swing to make a ton of contact, and he might be more hit over power. He can really run and play multiple positions, with a chance to stay in the infield, but the outfield perhaps is a better fit. More »

11) Tigers: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.)
Take one look at the 6-foot-3 left-handed-hitting shortstop and it’s impossible not to make the Corey Seager comps. A two-way guy in high school who is up into the mid-90s off the mound, Rainer took a huge step forward in his athleticism and power to cement him as a real shortstop, giving Harvard-Westlake another first-rounder in the Draft, joining big leaguers Pete Crow-Armstrong, Lucas Giolito, Max Fried and Jack Flaherty. More »

12) Red Sox: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
After his name was floating all over the top 10, this is a pretty soft landing spot for Montgomery, whose tremendous season at Texas A&M ended prematurely because of a broken ankle suffered in the Super Regionals. The transfer from Stanford served him well, and he’s a switch-hitter with plenty of power, doing more damage from the left side. More »

13) Giants: James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State
Tibbs was a solid college performer over his first two seasons but catapulted himself into conversations in the middle of the first round -- and a bit higher -- with the year he had for the Seminoles, posting a 1.264 OPS. His improved approach helped him get to more power (28 homers) and should fit the profile for a corner outfielder. More »

14) Cubs: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
It’s a run on Seminoles! Smith shook off a rough freshman season to rake in the Cape Cod League and kept it going in his sophom*ore-eligible year. He cut down his swing and miss and chase considerably this spring, giving him the chance to hit for average and power at the next level, while having the chance to be a solid third baseman. More »

15) Mariners: Jurrangelo Cijntje, SHP, Mississippi State
The switch-pitching might sound like a novelty act, but Cijntje has legitimate ability from both sides. His stuff is more electric as a right-hander, and there’s a chance he might focus on that full-time as a Marcus Stroman type. This snaps a streak of three straight high school hitters taken in the first round by the Mariners. More »

16) Marlins: PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS (S.C.)
While this might seem like the first big reach in the first round, Morlando was ranked as a mid-first round talent last offseason. He struggled through a senior season where he rarely saw a strike to hit and hasn’t always gotten to his power in games, though the plus raw pop is evident in batting practice. Miami will love his 1,000-watt personality, too. More »

17) Brewers: Braylon Payne, OF, Lawrence E. Elkins HS (Texas)
That’s two slightly surprising high school bats in a row. Payne is one of the fastest players in the Draft and isn’t afraid to use it on the basepaths or while playing a very good center field. He’s not a one-tool guy, either, with the potential to have some extra-base thump. It’s the fifth straight year the Brewers have taken a hitter with their first pick, but the first of that group to come out of high school. More »

18) Rays: Theo Gillen, OF, Westlake HS (Texas)
There was some late buzz that Gillen might go as high as 11 to the Tigers, but that didn’t materialize. He’s one of the better pure high school hitters in the class and he has the chance to hit for solid power in due time. An infielder in high school, it’s interesting the Rays announced him as an outfielder, and his athleticism could play very well in center. More »

19) Mets: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State
Benge was a legitimate two-way guy who largely pitched in relief with a fastball up to 96 mph at Oklahoma State. But his contact skills and exit velocities made it clear he was heading toward a career in the outfield. He could get a shot at playing center, but might settle in as an athletic right fielder with above-average hit and power tools. More »

20) Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
After Chase Burns and Hagen Smith, who were both taken in the top 10, Yesavage was the consensus next best college arm and it might surprise some he lasted to 20. He has the chance to have three plus pitches in his fastball, slider and splitter, and he has a solid spike curve to boot. There’s some effort in his delivery, but he throws strikes. It’s the third pitcher Toronto has taken with its first pick in the last four years. More »

21) Twins: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Culpepper moved from third to shortstop at Kansas State this year and handled that move well. He’s more hit over power right now, but there could be more pop to come, and he already uses all fields well with excellent bat speed. He could be given every opportunity to stick at short and has the potential to be a Gold Glover at third. More »

22) Orioles: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
The Orioles aren’t afraid of guys who have some swing and miss in their game (Jud Fabian, a 2022 Draft pick), and they got one of the toolsiest performers as a result. He had two 20-20 seasons at North Carolina and is a potential Gold Glove center fielder, but he will have to work on a strikeout rate that crept up to 27.5 percent in 2024. More »

23) Dodgers: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (Fla.)
Because of an injury over the summer, the former two-sport standout -- he was his high school’s QB -- wasn’t seen on the showcase circuit, but he jumped up boards with his performance this spring in Florida. He has plus-plus speed and took big steps forward in his swing decisions along with his ability to play shortstop. It’s the second straight year the Dodgers have taken a premium prep athlete after taking Kendall George last year. More »

24) Braves: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)
The Braves likely didn’t expect Caminiti, the best left-hander in the class, to be available here. Because he reclassified, he’s one of the youngest players in the class at 17 years old and offers a ton of upside. Caminiti has the chance to have a legit four-pitch mix and was spinning the ball more consistently last spring. The Braves have taken a pitcher with their first pick in five straight Drafts (two high schoolers). More »

25) Padres: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)
It’s another Draft and another high schooler selected in the first round by the Padres. This makes eight in a row for San Diego, and the fourth prep arm (three of them lefties). Mayfield is the second high school lefty in a row here and has a ton of projection in his 6-foot-4 frame with a potential three-pitch mix led by his fastball and changeup. More »

26) Yankees: Ben Hess, RHP, Alabama
There was more and more buzz that the Yankees wanted an arm here, and when the top college ones already announced were off the board, they opted not to go with a high school arm. Hess gives off Lance Lynn vibes with his big 6-foot-5 frame and could develop into a solid No. 2 or 3 starter with four pitches, led by a plus fastball and slider, if he can throw more strikes. More »

27) Phillies: Dante Nori, OF, Northville HS (Mich.)
There was talk that the Phillies were leaning college hitter after going high school four years in a row (two bats, two arms), but they opted for Nori and his considerable tools. Not deterred by him being an older high schooler (19 years old), the Phillies are getting a no-doubt center fielder with easily plus speed and an outstanding approach from the left side of the plate. More »

28) Astros: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston
There were three college backstops generally thought to be in first-round conversations and many felt Janek was the best all-round catcher of the bunch. He’s agile behind the plate and has plus arm strength while showing off impressive bat speed and strength from the right side of the plate. More »

29) D-backs: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (Ark.)
Don’t let the size deceive you. Caldwell might only be 5-foot-9 but he can really hit, generating a ton of line-drive contact to all fields and enough bat speed to provide more pop than you might think. He’s an aggressive player who should play center field long-term as a pro. That’s four straight bats in the first round for the D-backs. More »

30) Rangers: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
We’d been projecting a college catcher to the Rangers for quite some time, and it was a matter of which one would be available. It turned out it was the left-handed-hitting Moore from Stanford. His surface numbers weren’t outstanding this year, but his underlying metrics were, and he has the chance to hit for average and power. He’s improved behind the dish, too, though his bat is ahead. More »

31) D-backs: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
Waldschmidt had a breakthrough season at Kentucky to vault him into many first-round conversations. He makes a ton of contact, doesn’t chase and produces high exit velocities. Fully recovered from a knee injury, he also started recording plus run times, and that speed could give him a shot in center.

32) Orioles: Griff O'Ferrall, SS, Virginia
O’Ferrall’s instincts and makeup help him play above his tools and give him the chance to be an everyday shortstop eventually. He has terrific bat-to-ball skills and an advanced approach with feel for the barrel. He’s a smart baserunner and his footwork helps him be a solid defender as well.

Compensation pick

33) Twins: Kyle DeBarge, SS, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
A high school catcher, DeBarge moved to shortstop at Louisiana-Lafayette and has the chance to stick there at the next level with a strong arm and quick hands. He’s a contact-first hitter with excellent pitch recognition and a quick right-handed swing, and while he hasn’t driven the ball that much, there’s some sneaky pull pop.

Competitive Balance Round A

34) Brewers: Blake Burke, 1B, Tennessee
A big part of Tennessee’s College World Series-winning team, Burke offers a ton of left-handed power thanks to bat speed, strength and leverage. He’s made more contact to get to that power more and it’s his bat that will carry him as a first-base-only profile.

35) D-backs: JD Dix, SS, Whitefish Bay HS (Wisc.)
That’s three bats in a row for the D-backs, two from the high school ranks. Dix is a switch-hitting gamer with some tools. A shoulder injury slowed down his production some at the plate and his ability defensively, though he has the chance to stick at short, reminding some of a more athletic D.J. LeMahieu type.

36) Guardians: Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS (Calif.)
We don’t know yet what the Guardians will sign Travis Bazzana for, but it’s assuredly below the $10.57M assigned value to the top pick. That savings will allow them to go after some high-end talent like Doughty, a Southern California prep arm whose name was being mentioned in the first round.

37) Pirates: Levi Sterling, RHP, Notre Dame HS (Calif.)
The Pirates are going all-in on upside. After getting Konnor Griffin and his multiple tools at No. 9, they went for Starling’s upside on the mound. He didn’t have a great spring, but he could take a big step forward now that he’ll be focusing on pitching only and no longer playing shortstop, a la top Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler.

38) Rockies: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
From a pure stuff perspective, there were few arms better than Brecht in this class. The effectiveness of his heater that touches triple digits and his nasty upper-80s slider can be Paul Skenes-esque. Command has been the big issue, but that was trending in the right direction at the end of his junior season at Iowa.

39) Nationals: Caleb Lomavita, C, UC Berkeley
The third of the three college catchers to come off the board, there had been early buzz the Nationals might have been interested in Lomavita at No. 10. He’s an aggressive hitter who has the chance to hit for average and power, especially if he can refine his approach a bit, while sticking behind the plate.

Best of the rest from Night 1

Here are 10 picks from the first night of the Draft that came after the first 39 picks and stood out:

40) A’s: Tommy White, 3B, LSU
There might be some concern about his defensive home, but Tommy Tanks hit 75 homers over three years at NC State and LSU, with many thinking his power potential belonged in the first round.

41) Royals: David Shields, LHP, Mt. Lebanon HS (Pa.)
There was a lot of talk the Royals wanted him at 39, but they traded that pick to the Nationals, so they’re happy to land the athletic former QB who is a projectable prep lefty here.

44) Nationals: Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls HS (N.J.)
Dickerson is a terrific athlete who was also a hockey standout and came on late after finishing off a state championship on the ice. He’s a plus runner with a chance to stay up the middle and has some power to tap into.

47) Pirates: Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence HS (Texas)
One of the many prep shortstops who were mentioned as potential top-39 pick, Sanford is one of the best defenders of the group with good bat speed from the left side of the plate.

51) Reds: Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS (Neb.)
Lewis was getting some first-round buzz thanks to him showing more impact with his left-handed swing, solid speed and the ability to stay up the middle on the infield.

52) Padres: Boston Bateman, LHP, Adolfo Camarillo HS (Calif.)
It’s not easy to find 6-foot-8 lefties, but the Padres did here in Round 2, and this one has one of the better pure curveballs in the class to go along with a fastball that touches 97 mph.

55) Mariners: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York Community HS (Ill.)
The Mariners discussed taking Sloan in the first round, so getting him here must have gotten their Draft room pumped as Sloan was our second highest-ranked high school righty.

57) Brewers: Bryce Meccage, RHP, The Pennington School (N.J.)
The nephew of Pirates bullpen coach Justin Meccage, Bryce didn’t give up a hit all spring (albeit in a small sample) and has a big league body at 6-foot-4 with the chance to have a legit four-pitch mix.

60) Twins: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
I had Amick going to the Twins in the first round in our mock draft (do I get partial credit?). It’s unclear why he lasted this long, but could this be the second straight year the Twins got a really good college bat in this round? (They picked 2024 Futures Game participant Luke Keaschall last year.)

68) White Sox: Blake Larson, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.)
One more projectable prep lefty to talk about here, with Larson having the potential to eventually have three plus pitches, even if it takes him a while, though he’ll have to improve his command to get there.

Round 2

40) A's: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

41) Royals: David Shields, LHP, Mt. Lebanon HS (Pa.)

42) Rockies: Jared Thomas, OF, Texas

43) White Sox: Caleb Bonemer, SS, Okemos HS (Mich.)

44) Nationals: Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls HS (N.J.)

45) Angels: Chris Cortez, RHP, Texas A&M

46) Mets: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke

47) Pirates: Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence HS (Texas)

48) Guardians: Jacob Cozart, C, NC State

49) Tigers: Owen Hall, RHP, Edmond North HS (Okla.)

50) Red Sox: Payton Tolle, LHP, TCU

51) Reds: Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS (Neb.)

52) Padres: Boston Bateman, LHP, Adolfo Camarillo HS (Calif.)

53) Yankees: Bryce Cunningham, RHP, Vanderbilt

54) Cubs: Cole Mathis, 3B, College of Charleston (SC)

55) Mariners: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York Community HS (Ill.)

56) Marlins: Carter Johnson, SS, Oxford HS (Ala.)

57) Brewers: Bryce Meccage, RHP, The Pennington School (N.J.)

58) Rays: Emilien Pitre, 2B, Kentucky

59) Blue Jays: Khal Stephen, RHP, Mississippi State

60) Twins: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

61) Orioles: Ethan Anderson, C, Virginia

62) Braves: Carter Holton, LHP, Vanderbilt

63) Phillies: Griffin Burkholder, OF, Freedom HS (Va.)

64) D-backs: Ivan Luciano, C, El Shaddai Christian Academy (P.R.)

65) Rangers: Dylan Dreiling, OF, Tennessee

Competitive Balance Round B

66) Rays: Tyler Bell, SS, Lincoln Way East HS (Ill.)

67) Brewers: Chris Levonas, RHP, Christian Brothers Academy (N.J.)

68) White Sox: Blake Larson, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.)

69) Twins: Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine HS (Texas)

70) Marlins: Aiden May, RHP, Oregon State

71) Reds: Luke Holman, RHP, LSU

72) Tigers: Ethan Schiefelbein, LHP, Corona HS (Calif.)

73) A's: Gage Jump, LHP, LSU

Compensation pick

74) Angels: Ryan Johnson, RHP, Dallas Baptist (Texas)