Pros and Cons of Guardians taking Jacob Cozart of NC State baseball in 2024 MLB draft

N.C. State baseball’s Jacob Cozart was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday in Texas.

Cozart was taken with the No. 48 overall pick. The Wolfpack have seen a former player taken in the first two rounds in each of the last two drafts.

At No. 42 among draft prospects listed on MLB.com, Cozart will get the chance to follow in the footsteps of former N.C. State catcher Patrick Bailey, who plays for the San Francisco Giants.

This season, Cozart had his best year at the plate with a .305 batting average, 19 home runs and 52 walks. He also remained among the best defensive players in the country.

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Here’s what Cozart can bring to the Guardians organization.

Jacob Cozart strengths

One of the stars during the Wolfpack’s run to the College World Series this year, Cozart gets it done at the plate and behind the plate as one of the top catchers in the nation. His framing helped him steal strike after strike for pitchers and improved each year as a hitter. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Cozart had led the team with 52 walks, which ranks second all-time in NC State single-season program history.

Jacob Cozart weaknesses

His speed and arm strength aren’t his strengths, but his fundamentals help him make up for those weaknesses. Cozart also had a career-worst 48 strikeouts this season, but has improved his walk-to-strikeout ratio each season.

Final thoughts on Jacob Cozart’s MLB future

Cozart’s balance as a threat in the batter’s box and as a catcher make him a viable professional prospect. He improved every year in Raleigh. There’s no reason to believe he won’t be capable of keeping that trend going as a minor leaguer.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached atrbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.