The 2024 Major League Baseball Draft will be held July 14-16. In other words, it’s just two days away! So with that in mind, welcome to the penultimate edition of our 2024 MLB Mock Draft! It comes with some changes. We’ll do our final edition of the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Sunday morning.
The Sports Bank is the only independently-owned, mom and pop shop website to do a mock draft for all four of the major North American sports.
And while most mock drafts don’t fill out player descriptions, we do!
For our NHL Mock Draft go here. The final 2024 NFL mock can be found here. The NBA edition is here. And you can view the first edition of the 2025 NFL Mock Draft here.
Major League Baseball is a game that has become more regional in nature, with certain markets vastly outperforming the rest of the nation. The MLB Draft is one of those annual events that reaches baseball fans all across the country and transcends regionalism.
This mock is listed at Eat, Drink and Sleep Football’s MLB Mock Draft Database.
1. Cleveland Guardians, Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana is considered one of the more “can’t miss” prospects in this class.
2. Cincinnati Reds, Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
The top two way prospect in this class, Caglianone is definitely in the conversation to go No. 1. No matter which way he goes in the course of his career, this Gator can help the Rockies, who have needs all around. Most of the big name prospects these days come from the south, especially the Southeastern Conference (SEC), but also the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Given the young foundation already in place in Cincy, adding a great piece like this truly brings the rebuilding project up another notch.
3. Colorado Rockies, JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia
This draft class’s best pure hitter, it is probably a toss up between Bazzana, Caglianone, Wetherholt to determine who will be the No. 1 overall pick.
4. Oakland-Las Vegas Athletics, Charlie Condon, OF/1B, Georgia
The A’s are really in a dark period right now, and they can use a light, in any way, shape or form to help the guide way toward something better.
Condon is probably a top five overall prospect, regardless of position, in this class. College baseball is really only relevant in the warm weather parts of the country, and only really big in the south. We mention this because most of the top prospects in this year’s class come from the college ranks, not the high school level.
And college baseball is currently much bigger in the warmer weather parts of the country, like the south, west and Pacific coast areas.
5. Chicago White Sox, Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
The White Sox just look like a pathetically inept organization right now, on all levels. They won’t just lose 100 this year; they might lose 110. It is astounding that Owner Jerry Reinsdorf has confidence that he’ll get $1B in public funding from the city in order to finance the new stadium he wants.
Even if they were good they wouldn’t deserve a dime of public funds, but the fact that they’re so terrible makes the demand even more egregious. The South-Siders should go best pitcher available here.
Maybe someday they will actually put a team on the field that actually draws people to the ballpark.
6. Kansas City Royals, Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
More than ever, the MLB Draft is favoring college players more than high school, and no college has more first round talent than Wake Forest. Their group of blue chippers is led by Kurtz, who has more power than anyone in this class. Most of the top prospects in this year’s draft class come from the college ranks, not the high school level.
7. St. Louis Cardinals, Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt is a 5-tool guy, and for the sake of the BFIB, the STL needs to go best player available.
8. Los Angeles Angels, Seaver King, OF/SS, Wake Forest
Wake Forest is the new Vanderbilt- a southern school wearing black & gold that is overloaded with first round MLB talent, and among the favorites to win the college World Series. However, their 2024 season, so far, has been well below expectation.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates, Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
2019 first round draft selection Quinn Priester made his MLB debut this past season, and it didn’t go well. Neither did his rookie campaign overall, but we still believe in Priester, and in the reputation this organization has for developing pitching.
Smith would fit in nicely.
10. Washington Nationals, Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP, Texas A&M
Stanford transfer should likely fit in as a RF at the big league level
11. Detroit Tigers, Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
Tigers need help all-around, at every position, and Moore is a fantastic catcher with a big bat.
12. Boston Red Sox, Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.
The BoSox need pitching and Caminiti brings a four pitch repertoire.
13. San Francisco Giants, Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
A former Hawkeyes wide receiver, Brecht made the right call in leaving football and pursuing baseball. Because they don’t really believe in playing offense in the Iowa football program, and they sure as hell don’t believe in throwing the ball! Brecht was right to get away from sports’ worst nepo-baby Brian Ferentz.
Given all the Iowa-Cubs connections, we almost mocked him to the next slot.
14. Chicago Cubs, Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
Ah yes! Wouldn’t all the Cubs fan Hawkeyes love the idea of Brecht coming to the Friendly Confines! We’ll see if Brecht falls to them and makes that happen. The Cubs badly need pitching, and Lord knows Ricketts isn’t really interesting in spending money on getting it.
Or maybe Jed is the problem? Who knows, but this was a terrible offseason on the North side.
That said, the NL Central is still winnable. Also, these photos of GM Carter Hawkins and President Jed Hoyer are from an animal adoption event that the Cubs did with PAWS Chicago. Learn more about that here.
15. Seattle Mariners, Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep, Flowood, Miss.
And our first high school prospect is off the boards! Yes, it took this long to get here.
16. Miami Marlins, Tommy White, 3B, LSU
A great pure hitter, landing White ability but probably winds up at first base in pro ball.
17. Milwaukee Brewers, P.J. Morlando, OF, Summerville (S.C.) HS
Morlando might be the best overall offensive prospect, in the high school ranks, in this draft class.
18. Tampa Bay Rays, Noah Franco, OF/LHP, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
The best two-way prospect at the prep level comes out of a school that’s nationally known for their athletic programs.
19. New York Mets, Thatcher Hurd, RHP, Louisiana State
It’s the New York Mess at this point, and they can begin cleaning up by taking one of the better college pitchers in this class.
20. Toronto Blue Jays, Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS, Jonesboro, Ark.
The Ole Miss commit is maybe the best U19 hitting prospect in this class.
21. Minnesota Twins, Caleb Lomavita, C, California
Could the Twins land their next Joe Mauer here?
22. Baltimore Orioles, Mike Sirota, CF, Northeastern
He’s considered, hands down, the best small school prospect in this class.
23. Los Angeles Dodgers, Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee
Rocky Top! Beam has the kind of stuff that has him seeing himself rocket up the draft boards.
24. Atlanta Braves, Carson Benge, OF/RHP, Oklahoma State
Benge’s combination of bat-to-ball skills and high exit velocities ranks with among the very best in college and he’ll shoot up this list if his power develops as hoped this spring.
25. San Diego Padres, Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B, Okemos (Mich.) HS
This suburb of Lansing, which all Michigan State grads know all too well, hasn’t produced many pro athletes. However, Bonemer has the potential to be really special.
26. New York Yankees, Jacob Cozart, C, NC State
Yankees always have the luxury of drafting best player available, regardless of position.
27. Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS, Elmhurst, Illinois
Philly should likely go best pitcher available here. And yes, The Dukes of York! This team is literally called the Dukes of York, not the York Dukes. This is the first of our back to back picks from the suburbs of Chicago.
28. Houston Astros, Tyler Bell, SS, Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Illinois
All hail the Griffins! Out of the SWSC, which used to be the SICA West. Glad to see another local boy among the top prospects in this class, and thus I can include at least two in my 2024 MLB mock draft.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks, Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith is a big, strong dude, who looks and acts the part of a power hitting third baseman in the making.
30. Texas Rangers, Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
Jordan would definitely be a steal at this point, as he has the potential to go Top 15-20 picks. He has all the tools.
Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks
31. Arizona Diamondbacks, Bryce Cunningham, RHP, Vanderbilt
The Vandy Boys have become a juggernaut since the mid-to-late 2000s, when Tim Corbin revitalized the program. Under Corbin, the ‘Dores have won national titles in 2014 and 2019. They also finished national runner-up in 2015 and 2021. With their ascension they have produced a ton of MLB talent, and Cunninhgam leads the way for this year’s class.
32. Baltimore Orioles, Carter Holton, LHP, Vanderbilt
All time, 51 Vanderbilt alums have reached the major leagues, will eleven alumni having earned All-Star Game selections. David Price leads the way with five. Joey Cora leads Vandy alumni for all-time MLB games played with 1,119 while Scott Sanderson has the most innings pitched in majors by a former Commodore with 2,561 2/3.
Holton looks pretty pro ready, and he could be fast tracked to the big leagues, once he is selected.
Compensation Picks
33. Minnesota Twins, Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee (FL)
Rising up the draft boards.
Competitive Balance Round A
34. Milwaukee Brewers, Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Very athletic prospect who has the ability to play multiple positions at the next level.
35. Arizona Diamondbacks, Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence (TX)
Here comes a run on shortstops.
36. Cleveland Guardians, Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
The SEC is absolutely loaded with first round talent this year, and Rocky Top look set to land two players in the first round.
37. Pittsburgh Pirates, James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
The Seminoles will join the Vols in landing two prospects in the first round.
38. Colorado Rockies, Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
Duke isn’t known to be a baseball hotbed by any means, but Santucci really has the goods.
39. Kansas City Royals, Connor Foley, RHP, Indiana
The Big Ten is pretty barren this year when it comes to having Major League prospects, as Foley is just the second to make our mock. And he might even be a reach at this point.
Right now, we only have the base first round of 30 picks. But be sure to check in soon for our next update, where we’ll then have the next rest of the round, i.e. the competitive balance and supplemental picks.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.