Draft
Credit: Robert Smith/Jackson Prep

2024 MLB Mock Draft 3.0

By / / 2024 MLB Draft, Minors

In Mock Draft 1.0, the Cleveland Guardians were highlighted as they won the second annual draft lottery. The draft is next week and things are still unclear in regards to the Guardians at the top. 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. In Mock Draft 2.0, Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana went at #1 overall. That will change again here.

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.

Draft
Mike Shirley via White Sox Zoom

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: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia

The Guardians can take anyone they want and this likely decides the next few picks. Cleveland has gone underslot in round one often and they do this again with Wetherholt who was also in this spot in Mock Draft 1.0.

2. Cincinnati Reds: Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida

Jac Caglianone likely scraps pitching as a professional but he has prodigious LH power. He could go anywhere from 2-5 and should move quickly to the big leagues.

3. Colorado Rockies: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

Colorado has been rumored to be taking a pitcher but it will be tough for them to pass on the Golden Spikes Award winner.

4. Oakland Athletics: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Many believe that Bazzana is the best player in the draft class. He’s a legitimate option to go #1 overall but he might fall to this spot if he doesn’t cut a deal with Cleveland.

5. Chicago White Sox: Konnor Griffin, SS/CF, Jackson Prep HS (MS)

Griffin is an 18-year-old tool shed and the top prep player in the class. The White Sox probably take Jac Caglianone if he gets to this spot but the Mississippi prep with an under-slot bonus makes sense too.

6. Kansas City Royals: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

The Royals have been tied to California prep Bryce Rainer but it will be difficult for new scouting director Brian Bridges to pass on a lefty starter with Smith’s upside.

7. St. Louis Cardinals: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

There are rumors that Chase Burns could be in play at #1 and #3 as well but the Cardinals land the best righty in the class in this projection.

8. Los Angeles Angels: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

The Angels have taken a bunch of college players lately and many of them have arrived in the majors. Montgomery could move fairly quickly as well.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates: James Tibbs, OF, Florida State

Tibbs can really hit and the Pirates might be able to save some money to disperse throughout the class.

10. Washington Nationals: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

This is a tough call between Rainer and Kurtz but the slugger from Wake Forest fits nicely with the current core in Washington.

11. Detroit Tigers: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)

Rainer is al ready 19-years-old but he might be the best prep position player in the class. The Tigers took prep bats with their first two picks in 2023 and they follow it up this time around.

12. Boston Red Sox: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Yesavage shows a four pitch mix and the physical right hander projects as a mid-rotation starter who could move through the minors quickly.

13. San Francisco Giants: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)

Caminiti is really young after reclassifying but he’s the best prep lefty in the class. He has been great this spring and the Giants have been heavily linked to him.

14. Chicago Cubs: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

20-year-old catcher with left-handed power and he has impressed teams during the pre-draft process with his leadership and plus makeup.

15. Seattle Mariners: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Christian Moore really showed out in the College World Series. The Mariners have skewed younger but they buy the bat here. It’s all fields power but with a second base profile and limited versatility defensively.

16. Miami Marlins: Seaver King, CF, Wake Forest

King had an up and down season with Wake Forest but he can play multiple positions. Becomes the first draft pick under Peter Bendix in Miami.

17. Milwaukee Brewers: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

Solid outfield defender but the Brewers are drafting Benge for his improving bat here. He has displayed high exit velocities and improving power and Oklahoma State.

18. Tampa Bay Rays: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

Waldschmidt has really risen throughout the spring to where he’s expected in this range now. The right-handed hitter makes lots of contact with an all fields approach and pull side power. Some defensive questions remain however.

19. New York Mets: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

Smith could go higher than this after a big spring. The righty shows plus power and has had success on The Cape.

20. Toronto Blue Jays: Vance Honeycutt, CF, North Carolina

Honeycutt is a definite center field with huge power and premium tools. The strikeout rate is staggering though and it’s a huge red flag for teams.

21. Minnesota Twins: Caleb Lomavita, C, California

Lomavita has power and improving defensive skills with lots of Cape Cod success in his past.

22. Baltimore Orioles: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

Amick should stay at third base and displays an aggressive approach with plus raw power but he barrels lots of balls.

23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

Brecht might have the highest upside of any pitcher in the college class. Legitimate 70 fastball and 70 slider combination with major command concerns. The Dodgers gamble on the premium athlete with premium stuff.

24. Atlanta Braves: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

Cijntje is a switch-pitcher and Atlanta loves taking arms. He has earned comparisons to Marcus Stroman from the right side but also has some utility as a potential lefty reliever.

25. San Diego: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (IL)

Sloan is huge with big stuff and the Padres scout Illinois heavily and have invested eight straight first rounders in prep players.

26. New York Yankees: Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls HS (NJ)

Late riser in the draft process after leading his high school to a state title in hockey. Dickerson is the best prep prospect in the northeast and the multi-sport star should stay up the middle.

27. Philadelphia Phillies: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (LA)

Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies have taken big swings in recent years and they nab perhaps the top prep pitcher in the entire class again.

28. Houston Astros: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake HS (TX)

Athletic teenager from Texas with a sweet left-handed swing, hitting ability and plus raw power. The Astros don’t have a ton of money to spend but they could prioritize one premium talent.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (FL)

Premium athlete with 80-grade tun times. Former football player who should stay up the middle now that he’s committed to baseball.

30. Texas Rangers: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

Janek won the Buster Posey Award as the nation’s top catcher. He’ll definitely stay behind the dish and possesses raw power and bat speed.

Prospect Promotion Incentive Draft Picks

31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

Culpepper played on the Collegiate National Team but he’s struggled with wood bats. He makes consistent contact but likely moves off shortstop.

32. Baltimore Orioles: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

White is a power prospect after clubbing 75 college homers but he’s likely contained to first base or designated hitter as a professional.

Competitive Balance A Draft Picks

33. Minnesota Twins: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

Boom or bust type prospect with maximum exit velocities, huge power to all fields and high strikeout rates.

34. Milwaukee Brewers: Jacob Cozart, C, North Carolina State

Cozart has 20 homer potential from the left side as a catcher despite being a 6-3 catcher.

35. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kash Mayfield, Elk City HS (OK)

Mayfield is old for the class but the 19-year-old southpaw shows a high 90’s fastball with an advanced changeup.

36. Cleveland Guardians: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (AR)

Guardians use some of their savings on the third best prep position player in the draft class. He’s a left-handed hitter with bat speed and a good approach who is a no doubt center fielder.

37. Pittsburgh Pirates: David Shields, LHP, Mt. Lebanon HS (PA)

Local product from Mt. Lebanon who reclassified and will be 17-years-old on draft day. He’s a really athletic and protectable southpaw.

38. Colorado Rockies: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke

Santucci was getting some top 20 love as a premium athlete from the left side but he’s had inconsistent results on the mound.

39. Kansas City Royals: Dax Whitney, RHP, Blackfoot HS (ID)

Royals have been tied to Whitney who is a large prep righty from Idaho with projection and feel to pitch.

1 thought on “2024 MLB Mock Draft 3.0”

  1. Jim David

    Where do you project PJ Morlando to be taken? Been trying to follow him for a few years through his grandfather, Bill Nahorodny. Do you think his OF defense will play?

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