In Mock Draft 1.0, the Cleveland Guardians were highlighted as they won the second annual draft lottery. Bonus pools have been announced, the college baseball regular season is wrapping up and we’re about seven weeks away from the Major League Baseball Draft.The #1 pick is worth a record setting $10,570,600 this year and their entire pool comes in at $18,334,000 which is tops in the draft. Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews each broke bonus records last year after signing for $9.2 million and $9 million respectively as the first and second overall selections.
There isn’t a player in this class expected to exceed the bonus that Skenes received in 2023 however and that could make things potentially interesting at the top of the draft with the majority of clubs hunting for discounts on players. The Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics all possess bonus pools with $15 million or more to spend on the totality of their draft classes.
After signing reliever Josh Hader in free agency, the Houston Astros will have the smallest bonus pool overall with a total of $5,914,700 and they’ll pick #28 overall in the first round. The New York Mets and San Diego Padres will drop ten spots apiece in the first round due to going over the highest threshold of the competitive balance tax. The Mets will pick at #19 while the Padres select at #25 overall. Neither club made the playoffs last season.
The Minnesota Twins will be able to spend $12,200,600 on their class while the Detroit Tigers will choose #11 overall in round one with a total bonus pool of $11,921,800. The Chicago Cubs will select 14th with a bonus pool just under $10 million. The Twins used the fifth overall selection last year to draft North Carolina prep outfielder Walker Jenkins and they signed him for $7,139,700. The Chicago White Sox selection at #5 overall this year is worth $7,763,700 which is a significant increase.
The White Sox’s bonus pool is worth $14,593,300 before taxes and they are expected to exceed $15 million spent on this year’s class. In addition to the pick at #5 overall, the Pale Hose will select at #43 in round two and #78 overall in round three. Chris Getz and company also acquired the #68 overall pick in the second round from the Seattle Mariners in a trade for righty reliever Gregory Santos back in February. That selection is worth $1,197,200 and adds to the club’s bonus pool.
I will be making just one selection for the White Sox in this mock draft but I’ll release a separate five round mock with just their picks later this week.
1. Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Cleveland could look to cut a deal with this pick and it’s unlikely anyone gets what Paul Skenes signed for last year. Bazzana fits the profile of what the Guardians typically like. He has Cape Cod success and an extensive history hitting with wood and he’s having a huge offensive season with a .590 OBP and 26 homers.
Travis Bazzana's 17th HR of the season is a no-doubter way out to RF. Plus power to the pull side, elite-level bat speed – as explosive of an operation as you'll find. Special player. pic.twitter.com/Aec3cSNkTo
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) April 6, 2024
2. Cincinnati Reds: Charlie Condon, 3B/OF, Georgia
Condon leads the country in homers, is young and is the front runner for the Golden Spikes Award. Cincinnati has the easiest decision in the entire draft at #2 overall.
3. Colorado Rockies: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
The Rockies have taken a lot of college pitching of late and that continues here with the best arm in the class. Burns leads Division 1 in strikeouts and he possesses a ghoulish fastball/slider combination.
4. Oakland Athletics: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Any number of college players could be in the mix for Oakland here but they opt for Kurtz due to his raw power, on base ability and swing decision making.
5. Chicago White Sox: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard Westlake HS (CA)
The White Sox have been linked to almost every player in the top ten but I think they want to grab a prep hitter and pocket some money for later if possible.
I wasn't able to make it out to NHSI today, but have some slow-mo film of Bryce Rainer to show off.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 11, 2024
Recorded two opposite-field doubles in yesterday's game that nearly got out. Really smooth swing with burgeoning pop. Pitched today and was up to 95 MPH, too. First-round talent. pic.twitter.com/BkP0Xtw8Al
6. Kansas City Royals: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
The Royals will be ecstatic if the board falls this way as they’ll just scoop up the top lefty in the class. Smith is a southpaw with top-of-the-rotation upside.
7. St. Louis Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
Wetherholt is one of the best hitters in the class but there are some defensive questions and hamstring injuries have lingered. This is great value at this point though.
8. Los Angeles Angels: Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida
Caglianone is a two-way player who won’t pitch as a professional. There’s massive raw power and lots of chase but he doesn’t swing and miss often. The bat is the carrying tool with a likely first base profile.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Pirates grab a high upside college performer as the best player available. Montgomery is a switch-hitter who almost turned pro out of high school. The slugger hit 24 homers in the SEC this year.
10. Washington Nationals: Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep HS (MS)
The Nationals might have a new drafting philosophy under their new scouting department but Konnor Griffin is the clear best player available at this spot. Very toolsy and young prep hitter who could play shortstop or center field.
11. Detroit Tigers: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
The Tigers probably prefer a bat at this pick but Yesavage is too good of a value to pass on at this point. The 6-4, 225 ponder shows a four pitch mix and profiles as a physical mid-rotation starter.
12. Boston Red Sox: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
An upside pick in Craig Breslow’s first draft. Brecht might have the best stuff in the entire draft but command issues have been a factor. He’s a supreme athlete with explosive stuff and multiple 70 grade offerings.
Brody Brecht's impressive 2nd-half development continues for @UIBaseball, sustaining 95-97 to go with his signature 85-88 SL & an 88-90 mph CH he continues to work into his sequencing, threw 72 of 113 pitches for strikes (63.7%)
— Patrick Ebert (@PatrickEbert44) May 22, 2024
7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 10 K, 2 BB
His first 2 Ks ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/vSkGIfxKw6
13. San Francisco Giants: James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
Some defensive questions exist with left field as the ultimate home most likely but Tibbs can really hit and his stock has risen this spring. The left-handed hitter has had success with wood and shows a solid approach.
14. Chicago Cubs: Seaver King, OF/SS, Wake Forest
Up and down spring for King but he’s a premium athlete with the ability to play multiple positions. He has impressive bat speed and has had plenty of success with wood in the past.
15. Seattle Mariners: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)
One of the highest upside players in the entire class. This is an unusual selection for the Mariners but it’s an unusual draft class.
16. Miami Marlins: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith is young for the class and offers big raw power and a third base profile. There are some hit tool concerns but this is good value at this point.
17. Milwaukee Brewers: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Culpepper becomes the first position player from Kansas State to go in the first round. The shortstop hit .471 for Team USA last year and he has shown an all fields approach with good defense to boot.
18. Tampa Bay Rays: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (FL)
Lindsey has a lot of helium after the former quarterback missed much of the showcase circuit with an injury. Lindsey is a premiere athlete who will stay on the dirt with a hit over power profile.
19. New York Mets: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State
Two-guy that will give up pitching as a professional. Benge is a left-handed hitter who displays high exit velocities leading to above-average power and he defends well as a right fielder.
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt might be a top five pick in this class if his strikeout rate wasn’t so high. He’s a premium athlete who will excel in center field. He has potential Gold Glove ability and big raw power but the swing and miss in college is very concerning.
Yet another 1st-round talent playing tonight is UNC’s Vance Honeycutt, but Chase Burns get him for a 2nd time tonight, this time with a nasty 89-mph slider. Wake up 2-0, B4.
— jeff cohen (@TripleAJeff) May 25, 2024
@FutureSox pic.twitter.com/Y0pSc7Y0UQ
21. Minnesota Twins: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake HS (TX)
Twins go back to the prep ranks in consecutive years and they land the best prospect from the state of Texas. Gillen can really hit with a disciplined approach and plus raw power from the left side. He’s not likely to stay at shortstop but second base and the outfield are realistic.
22. Baltimore Orioles: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State
Janek is being drafted for the bat but he can definitely stay behind the plate as well. There’s plus raw power with real strength and bat speed as well.
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
Jordan is a former high-level football who is now focused on the diamond and the Dodgers take the upside swing here. He shows excellent bat speed with plus raw power to all fields but there are some defensive and hit tool concerns.
24. Atlanta Braves: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State
20-year-old switch-pitcher who profiles as a Martcus Stroman type in the rotation from the right side but there’s relief upside as a southpaw. Really interesting draft eligible Sophomore who could intrigue a general manager like Alex Anthopolous.
25. San Diego Padres: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (OK)
Preller isn’t afraid to shoot for upside and Mayfield possesses it despite the short track record and the fact that he’s 19.5 years old on draft day. Mayfield is the best prep prospect in Oklahoma and he shows extension and now stuff with a fastball that hits 96 mph from the left side. He could develop multiple plus offerings as a starter.
26. New York Yankees: Caleb Lomavita, C, California
Former Hawaiian prep with plenty of Cape success. Lomavita excels at the dish and should stay behind the plate but there’s potential versatility here as well.
27. Philadelphia Phillies: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (LA)
Big upside swing here for Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies. The 6-4, 180 pounder is the top prep pitcher in the class and he attended the same Louisiana high school as Aaron Nola. He throws a mid 90’s fastball with a massive 70-grade curveball.
28. Houston Astros: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
Amick transferred from Clemson to play third base regularly and he looks like he might stay there. He projects as a power hitting third baseman.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Slade Caldwell, OF, Jonesboro HS (AR)
The Diamondbacks run of three prepsters starts here as the repeat the Seattle plan from 2023. Caldwell is a dynamic player but he’s 5-8, 175 pounds. He’s an advanced hitter with a left-handed swing who will definitely stay in center field long-term.
30. Texas Rangers: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
20-year-old left-handed hitting catcher who has displayed plus power and hard contact regularly. There are some defensive questions.
Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS (NE)
Lewis is the best prep from the state of Nebraska and the athlete with a quick left-handed swing possesses plus speed and should stay on the dirt.
32. Baltimore Orioles: Tommy White, 3B, LSU
White has huge right-handed all fields power in three seasons of NCAA baseball. He possesses bat speed, power and an aggressive approach with huge exit velocities. He’s a likely first baseman as a professional however.
Compensatory Selection
33. Minnesota Twins: Bryce Cunningham, RHP, Vanderbilt
Cunningham is a 6-5, 230 pound workhouse who has improved the consistency of his strike throwing. He profiles as a mid-rotation starter.
Competitive Balance Round A
34. Milwaukee Brewers: Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee
Beam’s stuff hasn’t been as good this year but he’s still a very safe bet to be a big league starter.
35. Arizona Diamondbacks: Dante Nori, OF, Northville HS (MI)
Center field upside with plus run ability but Nori is the oldest high school player in the draft class.
36. Cleveland Guardians: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (IL)
Illinois prep who is challenging William Schmidt to be the top prep pitcher in the draft class. The 6-4, 220 pounder dominated on the showcase circuit and during the Illinois high school season. The Wake Forest recruit possesses premium stuff and polish. Sloan could go much higher than this but Cleveland’s bonus pool could heavily benefit them here.
37. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
The southpaw is a tremendous athlete with great stuff who doesn’t throw enough strikes. He looked like a potential top 20 pick at times this spring for Duke.
38. Colorado Rockies: Luke Holman, RHP, LSU
Holman is a 6-4, 200 pound consistent strike thrower who was also successful pitching for Team USA last summer.
39. Kansas City Royals: Levi Sterling, RHP, Notre Dame HS (CA)
Upside swing here on the better athletes in the class. Sterling has two-way ability but his future is on the mound. The 6-4, 195 ponder is a premium athlete with multiple plus pitches.