The 2024 MLB Draft is almost here, and the mock drafts continue to roll in. MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo has released his penultimate mock of this cycle, with some movement within the top ten.
This year’s class, of course, is still dominated by college players. In Mayo’s first round, 23 of the 30 players selected are from the college ranks, with the other seven coming from high school. Nine out of the first ten picks are college, too.
This year’s MLB Draft will begin on Sunday, July 14 with Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A, Round 2, and Competitive Balance Round B. It continues on Monday, July 15 with Rounds 3-10, and concludes on Tuesday, July 16 with Rounds 11-20.
While Travis Bazzana continues to get a lot of buzz as the potential top overall pick, it’s far from a lock at this point. This year’s class is a good one if you’re looking for impact college bats, and plenty of teams are going to be very happy after the draft concludes.
Travis Bazzana goes first overall again, and for good reason. He started his collegiate career as a .306 hitter with six home runs in 2022, and ended it as a .416 hitter with 28 home runs this past season. Bazzana finished this year with a great OPS of 1.512, and his bat is intriguing teams in the pre-draft process.
If it’s not Bazzana at the top, Mayo mentioned J.J. Wetherholt as another possibility. Charlie Condon also can’t be ruled out.
If Bazzana does go first overall, Charlie Condon is the most likely option to be selected second, which is where he goes in Mayo’s penultimate MLB mock draft. After hitting .386 with 25 home runs in 2023, he took a notable jump in 2024 by hitting .440 with 36 home runs, leading the country. He slugged 1.022 in 2024 with an OPS of 1.584.
Mayo noted that Condon is less likely to be selected first overall due to his likely bonus demand. Jac Caglianone and Chase Burns are other options for Cincinnati.
Jac Caglianone (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
What Jac Caglianone did during the past two years is remarkable. This season, he hit .411 with 31 home runs and 63 RBI. Over the last two seasons, he hit 64 home runs with 153 RBI. Caglianone can pitch, too, as he struck out 82 in 72.2 innings in 2024, though he’s likely to focus more on hitting at the next level.
Bazzana, Condon and Caglianone feel like the pretty clear top three players in this draft class. Mayo did note that the Rockies could take someone projected to go later to cut a deal.
Braden Montgomery started his career at Stanford and turned into a star, and then transferred to Texas A&M ahead of the 2024 season and had another great year. On the season, he hit .322 with 27 home runs and 85 RBI, finishing with a 1.187 OPS.
Montgomery suffered and injury during Super Regionals, though that isn’t hurting his draft stock, seemingly. He has been mocked all over the top ten.
5. Chicago White Sox:West VirginiaSS/2B J.J. Wetherholt
(@WVUBaseball)
Despite going at No. 5 in Mayo’s latest 2024 MLB mock draft, J.J. Wetherholt is a real candidate to be taken first overall. He would likely come cheaper than Bazzana or Condon, allowing Cleveland to spend more later on in the draft.
Still, Wetherholt is a great player and would be an intriguing pickup for Chicago. He hit .449 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI in 2023, emerging as a top player in this class. He missed some time in 2024, but still put together a strong season by hitting .345 with eight homers and 30 RBI.
Jun 17, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons first baseman Nick Kurtz (8) celebrates after retiring Stanford Cardinal third baseman Tommy Troy (not pictured) to end the game at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Kurtz became one of the top bats in college baseball in 2023, hitting .353 with 24 home runs and 69 RBI. Though he took a slight step back in 2024, he still hit .306 with 22 homers and 57 RBI.
Kurtz has been mocked pretty much all throughout the top ten, but he lands at No. 6 for Mayo. He mentioned that the Royals could also look at one of the top college arms in this spot.
Jun 22, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks starting pitcher Hagen Smith (33) pitches against the Ole Miss Rebels during the first inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Hagen Smith had the best year of his career this past season, starting 16 games and pitching to a 9-2 record with a 2.04 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. He struck out 161 compared to 34 walks.
Smith is in a group that includes Chase Burns and Trey Yesavage as the top pitchers in the 2024 MLB Draft class, and Smith is the first taken in this mock.
8. Los Angeles Angels: Wake Forest RHP Chase Burns
Credit: Wake Forest Athletics
Just behind Smith goes Chase Burns, who has been mocked as high as the top three in recent weeks. The energy-filled flamethrower tossed 100 innings in 16 starts this season, finishing 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP while striking out 191 compared to 30 walks.
Burns could absolutely become the first pitcher taken in this draft, but he’s the second in this mock. He could be a fast riser through the minor leagues and pitch in the majors perhaps quicker than any other arm in this class.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates:Florida StateOF James Tibbs III
Junior James Tibbs prepares for a pitch in Florida State’s season-opening series against Butler. (Gene Williams/Warchant)
The Pirates have a ton of quality options in this mock, and they opt to go with an impressive bat in James Tibbs III in Mayo’s penultimate MLB mock draft. He had a great season at Florida State, hitting .363 with 28 home runs and 95 RBI. He slugged .777 with a 1.264 OPS.
If the Pirates don’t go with Tibbs in this scenario, Mayo mentioned Christian Moore, Trey Yesavage or one of the top high school bats in this slot.
10. Washington Nationals: Harvard-Westlake HS SS Bryce Rainer (Texascommit)
May 4, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals hat and glove sit on the dugout steps against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Washington Nationals won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Bryce Rainer and Konnor Griffin are widely viewed as the top two high school players in this class, and Rainer gets the nod as the first non-college player selected at No. 10. Rainer is seen as the top pure hitter among high school batters, with his tools intriguing MLB organizations.
The Nationals have been linked to Rainer and Griffin a lot in the pre-draft cycle. If one of them is available at No. 10, it’s more than likely that’s who they take.
2024 MLB Mock Draft: 11-30
Christian Moore celebrates scoring the tying run in the College World Series. Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
11. Detroit Tigers: Jackson Prep HS SS/OF Konnor Griffin (LSU commit)
12. Boston Red Sox:
2B Christian Moore
13. San Francisco Giants: Saguaro HS LHP Cam Caminiti (LSU commit)
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