The 2024 MLB draft is underway on ESPN, with the Cleveland Guardians starting things off by taking Travis Bazzana with the No. 1 overall pick on Sunday night.
The Cincinnati Reds followed by selecting Chase Burns with the second pick, the Colorado Rockies went with Charlie Condon, the Oakland Athletics with Nick Kurtz and Chicago White Sox rounded out the top five by taking Hagen Smith. History was made as college players were taken with the first eight picks of the draft; it was the latest without a high school player being selected since the MLB Draft was created in 1965, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Follow along for pick-by-pick coverage, with ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield and Dan Mullen breaking down everything you need to know about who your favorite team took in the first round as the picks come off the board.
Final mock draft | Draft rankings: Top 250 | Big question for all 30 teams
Who is Bazzana? The Australian-born Bazzana had a monster season for the Beavers, hitting .407/.568/.911 with 28 home runs and more than twice as many walks as strikeouts (76-37). The 28 home runs set a school record and the overall numbers are a little better than Adley Rutschman had for the Beavers when he went No. 1 overall in 2019. A left-handed hitter, Bazzana’s hit tool rates a little better than his raw power, although he learned to tap into that this season, improving from 11 home runs as a sophomore. He’s a pure second baseman who could potentially move to center field as well.
Passan: Inside Bazzana’s rise to the top of the MLB draft
Why the Guardians took him here: There was a lot of pre-draft discussion about what Cleveland would do with this pick, including speculation the Guardians might opt to cut a deal with a slightly lesser prospect — but in Bazzana they are getting one of the consensus top players in this draft class. The Oregon State star pushed himself to the top of draft boards by packing power and hitting ability into his compact frame, which makes him exactly the type of player Cleveland has thrived at getting the most of in recent years. He also gives off some Jose Ramirez vibes with the swagger that comes with his ability. — Mullen
2. Cincinnati Reds: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
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The plays that helped make Chase Burns the second pick in the MLB draft
Check out the highlights that helped make Chase Burns the second pick in the 2024 MLB draft by the Reds.
Who is Burns? The latest in the Wake Forest pitching pipeline, Burns transferred from Tennessee for his junior season and becomes the fifth Demon Deacon hurler taken in the first round since 2018, joining Rhett Lowder, Ryan Cusick, Jared Shuster and Griffin Roberts. He also joins Lowder (seventh overall last year to the Reds) and Kyle Sleeth (third overall in 2003) as the earliest selections in program history. Burns starts with a 98 mph fastball that can touch 101, with a hard, high-spin slider that helped him record the highest strikeout rate in Division I at nearly 49% (191 K’s in 100 IP). There is some concern about his delivery, but he averaged less than 3.0 walks per nine all three seasons in college.
Why the Reds took him here: The Reds can dream on Burns turning into the next Paul Skenes given his fastball velocity and strikeout rate in college. He isn’t projected to advance to the majors as quickly as Skenes, but there’s no denying Burns is a potential ace if everything comes together. With Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott already leading a much improved Cincinnati rotation, the Reds could have a fearsome foursome in a couple of years. — Schoenfield
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Why new Rockie Charlie Condon was worth a high draft pick
Kiley McDaniel describes what makes new Colorado Rockie Charlie Condon a top prospect.
Who is Condon? Condon had one of the most prolific seasons in NCAA history as a redshirt sophomore, hitting .433 with 37 home runs and a 1.565 OPS — becoming the first Division I hitter this century to hit 35 home runs and posting better numbers than Wyatt Langford and Dylan Crews put up in the same conference last season. At 6-foot-6, he draws comparisons to Kris Bryant and Alec Bohm for his lanky frame. He’s played all over the field for Georgia and has the arm to get a shot at third base, although he could end up as a corner outfielder.
Why the Rockies took him here: The No. 1 player on ESPN draft expert Kiley McDaniel’s board, this seems like an easy choice for Colorado at No. 3. A team that, despite playing at high altitude, is in desperate need of offensive upgrades gets a slugger who earned national player of the year honors by putting up incredible numbers in the nation’s toughest conference. And Condon’s polished game should have him aiming for the Coors Field fences in Colorado’s lineup sooner rather than later. — Mullen
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The plays that helped land Nick Kurtz on the Athletics
Check out the highlights that helped make Nick Kurtz the fourth pick by the Oakland Athletics.
Who is Kurtz? A three-year star for the Demon Deacons, Kurtz hit .306/.531/.763 with 22 home runs in 54 games in 2024 while also posting the highest walk rate in Division I. A load at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Kurtz brings some Anthony Rizzo vibes for his combination of power, hit tool, strike zone judgment and plus defense at first base. With a compact swing, he has a chance to move up quickly to the majors.
Why the A’s took him here: Taking Kurtz over Jac Caglianone is a minor surprise if the A’s wanted a first baseman, but Kurtz might have the better hit tool and definitely has the better plate discipline right now, so he can perhaps be viewed as a bit of a safer pick. It’s also possible that Kurtz will sign for a little below slot, giving the A’s more pool money to spend later in the draft. — Schoenfield
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The plays that helped land Hagen Smith on the White Sox
Check out the highlights that helped make Hagen Smith the fifth pick by the White Sox.
Who is Smith? Maybe the next left-handed starter from Arkansas, following in the footsteps of Cy Young winners Cliff Lee and Dallas Keuchel as well as Drew Smyly. Following Tommy John surgery in high school, Smith switched between starting and relieving during his first two seasons with the Razorbacks before breaking out in 2024, becoming the SEC pitcher of the year after going 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA and striking out 161 in 84 innings – including a 17-strikeout performance in six innings against Oregon State. He sat in the mid-90s with a wipeout slider, although he averaged barely five innings per start, so there might be some reliever risk here.
Why the White Sox took him here: The big question here is if the White Sox will end up regretting making this pick with Jac Caglianone still on the board. The White Sox have had a lot of success going with left-handed starting pitching in the draft lately (Garrett Crochet and Noah Schultz) and Smith is a lefty with nasty stuff — namely a wicked slider — who should move quickly through the minors. The Arkansas ace has drawn comparisons to Carlos Rodon and even had some evaluators mentioning Chris Sale — and he has frontline starter upside if it all comes together. — Mullen
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What makes Jac Caglianone worthy of a high draft pick?
Kiley McDaniel describes what makes new Royal Jac Caglianone a top prospect.
Who is Caglianone? Nicknamed “Jactani” after Shohei Ohtani and for his two-way play, Caglianone profiles best as a hitter in the pros — and with good reason. A huge presence at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he became one of the greatest sluggers in NCAA history the past two seasons, leading the country with 33 home runs as a sophomore and then following up with an even more dominant junior season, hitting .419 with 35 home runs. (He went 5-2 with a 4.76 ERA as a pitcher, hitting 100 mph.) It’s grade 80 raw power on the 20-to-80 scale. His 58-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio looks impressive, but 31 of those walks were intentional and he has a very high chase rate that he’ll have to improve as a pro.
Why the Royals took him here: Imagine Bobby Witt Jr. batting in front of a 40-homer-hitting Caglianone? That’s what the Royals are hoping for — and this is definitely an offense that needs some juice besides Witt, Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino. Note that the Royals announced Caglianone as a two-way player, so it’s possible they will try to develop him as a two-way player. With Pasquantino at first base, Jactani could turn into a DH/SP … sound familiar? — Schoenfield
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The attributes that make JJ Wetherholt worthy of a high pick by the Cardinals
Kiley McDaniel describes what makes West Virginia’s JJ Wetherholt worthy of a high pick in the MLB draft.
Who is Wetherholt? He began the season as ESPN’s No. 1 prospect in February, then missed two months with a hamstring injury — the same injury that hampered him last summer after he had hit .449 with 16 home runs and 36 stolen bases for WVU. He returned from the injury this season to hit .331/.472/.589. Scouts still love his left-handed swing, bat speed, contact ability and approach. He’s been a plus runner when healthy and while he played shortstop in college, he might end up at second base. He becomes the highest-drafted player in WVU history. (Alek Manoah and Chris Enochs both went 11th overall.)
Why the Cardinals took him here: This just feels like a Cardinals pick. In Wetherholt, St. Louis gets a very polished college player who is above average at everything from hit tool and power to defense (whether he stays at shortstop in the pros remains to be seen). Wetherholt might not have the star potential of some of the other players picked around him, but he is one of the safest bets to be a solid major leaguer. — Mullen
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The plays that helped make Christian Moore an Angel
Check out the highlights that helped make Christian Moore the eighth pick by the Angels in the 2024 MLB draft.
Who is Moore? The most prolific slugger in the best lineup in college baseball this year, Moore helped the Vols bash their way to the program’s first College World Series title. Moore showed off his well-rounded game by becoming the second player in MCWS history to hit for the cycle during Tennessee’s first game in Omaha and hit .375 with 34 home runs on the season — doubling his home run total from the previous year.
Why the Angels took him here: The Angels love to take college players who appear close to the majors and Moore fits that mold, becoming their sixth straight college selection in the first round. The last two of those — Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel — are already in the majors, so if Moore follows their path, he could be one of the first players from this draft to reach MLB. He’s limited to second base because of his arm, but his contact rate should allow him to move quickly through the minors. — Schoenfield
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep (Miss.) HS
Who is Griffin? A dynamic two-way talent, Griffin earned Gatorade national player of the year honors after hitting .559 with 9 home runs and 87 stolen bases in 43 games and posting a 10-0 record with a 0.72 ERA this spring. Despite those gaudy pitching statistics, his ceiling as a position player is what got him drafted here with some evaluators saying Griffin might have the highest ceiling in this draft class.
Why the Pirates took him here: A year after getting the best pitcher in the draft in Paul Skenes at No. 1 overall, the Pirates land the position player who might have the most upside of any player in this year’s draft with the No. 9 pick. If Griffin can fix a hitch in his swing that scouts have pointed to this spring, his ceiling is perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. It’s a pretty big if, but one the Pirates are betting heavy on with this selection. While he’s unlikely to be a two-way pitcher in the pros, his pitching ability does give him a fallback if his swing doesn’t work out. — Mullen
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The plays that helped make Seaver King a Washington National
Check out the highlights that helped make Seaver King the 10th pick of the 2024 MLB draft by the Nationals.
Who is King? King arrived at Wake Forest as a transfer from Division II Wingate, where he hit .411 and had a 47-game hitting streak as a sophomore before proving himself against top competition with a standout summer in the Cape Cod League. Though his numbers declined slightly with the move to the ACC, King still hit .308 with a career-best 16 home runs as one of three first-round prospects on Wake Forest’s roster this spring.
Why the Nationals took him here: Hey, how can you pass on a player named “Seaver”? With James Wood just called up, Dylan Crews (last year’s No. 2 overall pick) in Triple-A and Jacob Young looking like a Gold Glove center fielder, maybe it makes sense the Nationals would go infielder here over one of the college outfielders who might be ranked higher on the draft boards. He has the speed and arm to play all over the infield, and, as ESPN analyst Chris Burke says, King’s all-around athleticism gives him a really high ceiling. — Schoenfield
11. Detroit Tigers: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.) HS
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New Tiger Bryce Rainer’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that have helped make Bryce Rainer the 11th pick of the MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers.
Who is Rainer? The latest top draft prospect out of national power Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles, Rainer was a two-way star during his prep career but is expected to move through the minors as a position player. Rainer is the top-ranked high school prospect in this draft class, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, and as a 6-foot-3 left-handed-hitting shortstop — with a real chance to stick at the position as a pro — he has been compared to Texas Rangers star Corey Seager.
Why the Tigers took him here: It’s usually a good sign anytime a draft prospect is drawing comparisons to the reigning World Series MVP like Ranier does to Seager. And Rainer actually seems more likely to stay at shortstop as a pro than Seager did when he was drafted. Of course, a whole lot has to go right between now and the majors for Ranier to approach that kind of production. And since he is old for his class — having already turned 19 years old — there are some questions about how his high school performance will translate to the next level. — Mullen
12. Boston Red Sox: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M
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New Red Sox OF Braden Montgomery’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that helped make Braden Montgomery the 12th pick in the MLB draft by the Red Sox.
Who is Montgomery? After starring for two years at Stanford, Montgomery landed at A&M for his draft season and hit .322/.454/.733 with 27 home runs. The Aggies reached the College World Series, losing in the championship to Tennessee, although Montgomery injured his leg in the super regional win over Oregon and missed the CWS. He’s a switch-hitter with a big arm (he pitched a little in college) and plus-plus raw power, although he’s probably limited to right field. He’s improved his approach and swing, although he profiles as power over hit.
Why the Red Sox took him here: As a consensus top-10 player on most draft boards, the Red Sox simply couldn’t pass up on Montgomery’s 70-grade power and 80-grade arm. He’ll have to make enough contact as a pro and he’s recovering from that broken ankle, but with a nice group of young players in the majors — plus some highly-rated prospects in their farm system — the Red Sox could be developing an impressive lineup of position players to build into a consistent winner. — Schoenfield
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New Giant James Tibbs III’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that helped make James Tibbs III the 13th pick by the Giants in the 2024 MLB draft.
Who is Tibbs? Arguably the most polished hitter in this draft class not named Travis Bazzana, Tibbs hit .363 with a 1.264 OPS while leading the Seminoles to their first College World Series appearance since 2019. The left-handed hitter followed up on a strong Cape Cod League showing by taking his power game to another level this season at Florida State, highlighted by a three-homer, six-RBIs super regional performance to send the Noles to Omaha. `
Why the Giants took him here: He’s polished at the plate, and that should translate to a quick rise to the majors for the left-handed outfielder. The drawback is his ceiling is likely more solid player than star, as a corner-only outfield prospect with 20-25 home run upside. — Mullen
14. Chicago Cubs: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
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New Cub Cameron Smith’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that have helped make Cameron Smith the 14th pick of the 2024 MLB draft by the Cubs.
Who is Smith? A draft-eligible sophomore, Smith made huge gains in his second year with the Seminoles, improving from a .258 average and .843 OPS to .387 and 1.142, with nearly as many walks (44) as strikeouts (48). He has already made some mechanical adjustments at the plate, but it’s possible more could be in order to fully tap into his plus raw power from his 6-3, 220-pound frame. (He still hit 16 home runs this season.)
Why the Cubs took him here: It’s a power game in the majors and the Cubs are near the bottom of the National League in home runs this season, so they’re betting on Smith making further improvements on his swing to tap into his power. He had a 52% groundball rate in college, so there are still adjustments to make — that rate isn’t going to work in the pros. It’s a pick with 30-homer upside if the swing comes together. — Schoenfield
15. Seattle Mariners: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State
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New Mariner Jurrangelo Cijntje’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that helped make Jurrangelo Cijntje the 15th pick by the Mariners in the 2024 MLB draft.
Who is Cijntje? Cijintje rose to notoriety as a switch-pitcher at Mississippi State, but is a major league prospect because of his ability from the right side and took off this season when he focused primarily on that. (He went 8-2 with a 3.67 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings.) A member of Curacao’s 2016 Little League World Series team, Cjintje has drawn comparisons to Marcus Stroman because of his stuff and smaller frame.
Why the Mariners took him here: Cijntje was one of the hottest names on draft boards in the final weeks ahead of Sunday, and he’s going to a franchise that has done very well at developing starting pitchers in recent years. Yes, being a switch-pitcher has garnered him attention over the years, but it’s no coincidence that his rise has coincided with throwing from the left side less frequently to focus on his more powerful right-handed delivery. That likely played a big role in the Mariners jumping on him here. — Mullen
16. Miami Marlins: PJ Morlando, RF/1B, Summerville (South Carolina) HS
Who is Morlando? A left-handed hitter with a nice combination of power potential and hit tool, Morlando impressed scouts last summer with his all-around skills at the plate, although he didn’t have the best of high school seasons as a senior. He has below-average speed, which limits him to an outfield corner (although the Marlins announced him as a center fielder) and could eventually land him at first base.
Why the Marlins took him here: Look, there is no doubt the Marlins need hitting and Morlando has legitimate upside, but this is certainly the biggest surprise so far. As Jeff Passan reported, the Marlins will sign him to a below-slot bonus and use that money later in the draft, but it’s a risky strategy — and Morlando’s lack of defensive profile is a drawback for a first-round pick. — Schoenfield
17. Milwaukee Brewers: Braylon Payne, CF, Elkins (Texas) HS
Who is Payne? Payne is one of the youngest players — and one of the fastest runners — in this year’s draft as a 17-year-old prep outfielder out of Texas who won’t turn 18 for another month.
Why the Brewers took him here: This is a surprising pick by the Brewers at this juncture of the first round as Payne’s earliest potential landing spots seemed more likely in the late-20s than mid-teens. His speed is his calling card and his hit tool is developing quickly, but there’s a good chance the reasoning for this pick will become clearer when the Brewers start spreading bonus money around in upcoming rounds. — Mullen
18. Tampa Bay Rays: Theo Gillen, 2B, Westlake (Texas) HS
Who is Gillen? Gillen has long been viewed as one of the best pure hitters in the 2024 high school class, with above-average overall tools and up-the-middle defensive value. The 6-foot-2 lefty swinger did have shoulder surgery in 2022 and a knee injury as a junior, but hit .416 as a senior to become a first-round talent. His arm strength likely necessitates a move to second base, although he also has the speed to try center.
Why the Rays took him here: The Rays have focused heavily on position players in the first round in recent years (seven of their last eight first-round or supplemental first-round picks) and they go that route again despite all the current injuries to the pitching staff. Gillen may be the best high school hitter in this draft, and while he was an infielder in high school, the Rays announced him as an outfielder. — Schoenfield
19. New York Mets: Carson Benge, RF, Oklahoma State
Who is Benge? Benge redshirted his first season at OSU as he recovered from Tommy John surgery and while he did pitch the past two seasons (primarily in relief this year) and rates as a prospect as a pitcher who can hit 96 mph, his pro future is in the outfield after hitting .335/.444/.665 with 18 home runs. A left-handed hitter with good plate discipline and plus exit velocity, Benge profiles best in right field with his arm strength.
Why the Mets took him here: The first pick of the David Stearns era, Benge hits the ball exceptionally hard while also managing to control the strike zone and make consistent contact. While he has pro-level pitching potential, the Mets are expected to try to tap into that hitting ability and focus on developing Benge as an outfielder from here. — Mullen
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
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New Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that helped make Trey Yesavage a first-round pick by the Blue Jays.
Who is Yesavage? Yesavage first showed off his promising arm with a 15.9 K/9 rate as a freshman at East Carolina before moving into the rotation once he improved his command as a sophomore and went 18-2 with a 2.28 ERA over his final two seasons with the Pirates. Yesavage was hospitalized with a partially collapsed lung during the 2024 season but returned to the mound less than two weeks later and defeated fellow first-round prospect Chase Burns of Wake Forest in an NCAA regional elimination game.
Why the Blue Jays took him here: He’s the top college pitcher remaining on the board and feels like good value at this spot. He may be more floor than ceiling, but with Yusei Kikuchi a free agent and Chris Bassitt possible trade bait, Yesavage’s polished repertoire could mean he moves quickly through the minors to fill an immediate need. If he adds even a little more velocity, he could end up being one of the steals of the first round. — Schoenfield
21. Minnesota Twins: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Who is Culpepper? A third baseman early in his college career who has shined since moving to shortstop, Culpepper’s ultimate pro position remains a bit unclear. What is clear though is the K-State star can hit to all fields. Unheralded out of high school, Culpepper put himself on draft radars by posting a .934 OPS during his three seasons in the Big 12 and leading a U.S. collegiate national team featuring several of this draft’s top prospects in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging last summer.
Why the Twins took him here: Culpepper was one of the most dynamic hitters in college baseball this season and only helped his draft stock by making the move from third base to shortstop. He put up huge numbers at K-State, including hitting for the cycle in an NCAA regional game and taking No. 5 overall pick Hagen Smith deep the next day, and has shown himself against top competition in the summers. Ultimately, his pro ceiling will likely be decided by whether he can stick at shortstop or if he moves to third base on his way to the majors. — Mullen
22. Baltimore Orioles: Vance Honeycutt, CF, North Carolina
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New Orioles OF Vance Honeycutt’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that helped make Vance Honeycutt a first-round pick by the Orioles in the 2024 MLB draft.
Who is Honeycutt? The most polarizing prospect in this draft class, Honeycutt leaves North Carolina as one of the most decorated players in the history of the storied program. He batted .318 with 28 home runs and 28 stolen bases in leading the Tar Heels to the College World Series this year and is a potential Gold Glove winner in center field. The big question is how much Honeycutt’s high strikeout rates will hold him back against upper-level pitching.
Why the Orioles took him here: Given the strength of the major league team, the Orioles could afford to roll the dice here and that’s what they did with perhaps the biggest boom-or-bust player in the first round. Chris Burke dropped a George Springer comp on his upside, but can Honeycutt overcome the swing-and-miss (83 K’s in 62 games)? Given that players this late in the first round rarely hit it big anyway, you have to love the Orioles going for a home run here and trusting their player development system, which has certainly excelled in producing hitters. — Schoenfield
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee (Florida) HS
Who is Lindsey? One of the most athletic prospects in this draft class, Lindsey has drawn comparisons to Phillies star Trea Turner (and to Padres rookie Jackson Merrill). His 80-grade speed is his calling card, which could eventually lead to a move from shortstop to center field. As a multisport athlete in high school (he played quarterback), he’s surprisingly polished, with a good approach and contact skills. The biggest question is how much power he can develop.
Why the Dodgers took him here: Tools. Tools. Tools. When it comes to athleticism and explosiveness, Lindsey is one of the elite prospects in this class. The downside of his profile is that he simply has not faced the same level of competition as many of the players who have come off the board before him. But, like the Orioles taking Honeycutt with the previous pick, this is a case where the organization matters as much as the draft spot, and the Dodgers landing a player drawing Turner comps here is scary for the rest of the league. — Mullen
24. Atlanta Braves: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro (Ariz.) HS
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New Braves P Cam Caminiti’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that have helped make Cam Caminiti a first-round pick by the Braves in the 2024 MLB draft.
Who is Caminiti? A cousin of the late NL MVP Ken Caminiti, Cam reclassified from the class of 2025 and won’t turn 18 until August. A two-way star in high school, he is the top-ranked prep pitcher, sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball and pumping it up to 98. His breaking ball needs to improve and while he didn’t throw his changeup much, it projects as a plus pitch. Scouts love his athleticism and his crossfire delivery creates some deception. He has an LSU commitment.
Why the Braves took him here: It would not have been surprising to see Caminiti go up to a dozen picks before this, so this could be a steal at 24. Caminiti was long thought of as the top prep pitching prospect in this draft class and he lands with an organization that turns talent into top-flight major league pitching as well as anyone in the sport. Braves fans will need to be patient though, as he reclassified to the 2024 draft class — and as a 17-year-old, his days pitching at Truist Park are probably at least a few years away. — Mullen
25. San Diego Padres: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (Oklahoma) HS
Who is Mayfield? The two-time Gatorade Oklahoma high school player of the year, Mayfield saw his stock soar this spring after skipping the summer showcases last year. His fastball climbed from the upper 80s to the 92-95 mph range, touching 97, with a plus changeup and developing slider. He turned 19 in February, so that was a turn-off for model-heavy teams, but he has a nice, easy delivery that projects to good control.
Why the Padres took him here: Mayfield is a high-upside high school starting pitcher and that is a type of player that the Padres crave as much as any franchise in the majors, so it’s no surprise they would grab him — especially after Caminiti went one pick prior. There is some clear need for improvement in Mayfield’s delivery and the development of his pitches, but picking late in the first round, San Diego has to be happy to land a potential mid-to-front-of-the-rotation starter. — Mullen
Who is Hess? A big-framed right-hander, Hess struggled with command and finished the 2024 season with a 5.80 ERA at Alabama — though he posted a 3.22 ERA in seven 2023 starts. He is Alabama’s all-time leader in K/9 ratio with 13.3 for his career, including a 14.0 rate this season.
Why the Yankees took him here: The Yankees clearly believe that those eye-popping strikeout rates are more indicative of Hess’ true talent than his less-than-stellar 2024 ERA and walk rate. He throws in the mid-90s and has a true starting pitcher build with a solid slider, so there is plenty to work with here. New York seems confident it can develop the best version of the Bama pitcher. — Mullen
27. Philadelphia Phillies: Dante Nori, CF, Northville (Michigan) HS
Who is Nori? One of the most decorated players to come out of Michigan in recent memory, Nori won a state championship and the state’s Mr. Baseball award as a center fielder this spring hitting .477 with 20 stolen bases. His father, Micah, is an assistant coach for the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.
Why the Phillies took him here: Nori is the oldest high school prospect in this class, which is a turnoff to many draft model-focused teams — but not the Phillies. Philadelphia is banking on the center fielder’s approach, contact ability and short left-handed swing translating to success as he steps up in competition from playing high school baseball in a northern state to the pros. — Mullen
28. Houston Astros: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State
Who is Janek? After hitting .300 all three years at Sam Houston State, topped by a .364 mark this year with 1.185 OPS, Janek won the Buster Posey Award as college baseball’s top catcher. He’s regarded as the top defensive catcher in the draft with a quick release and strong arm and won Conference USA defensive player of the year honors. His defense alone should get him to the big leagues, but the bat has a chance as well.
Why the Astros took him here: Janek is viewed as the safest of the catchers in this draft and becomes the first one off the board — and, well, you can never have too much catching. Yainer Diaz is more of an offense-first catcher, but the Astros lived for years with the offensively deficient Martin Maldonado, so Janek gives them a chance to upgrade defensively while also giving them depth at a position that has been their weakest during their long-running dynasty. — Schoenfield
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Slade Caldwell, CF, Valley View (Arkansas) HS
Who is Caldwell? Caldwell won back-to-back Gatorade state player of the year awards in Arkansas, hitting .485 with 51 stolen bases while leading his team to a state championship. Listed at 5-foot-9, his strengths are his ability to make contact and get on base consistently.
Why the Diamondbacks took him here: Caldwell’s game reminded some in the industry of Corbin Carroll before the Diamondbacks took him here and it’s easy to see why: undersized, explosive athlete with speed and contact/on-base ability. Of course, that’s not saying Caldwell will turn into a future Rookie of the Year winner in Arizona, but getting a guy who reminds some of a franchise cornerstone at the end of the first round is never a bad thing. — Mullen
30. Texas Rangers: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
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New Rangers catcher Malcolm Moore’s MLB draft profile
Check out the highlights that helped make Malcolm Moore a first-round pick by the Rangers in the 2024 MLB draft.
Who is Moore? Viewed as one of the top high school hitters in 2022, Moore instead elected to attend Stanford and was a draft-eligible sophomore. He hit .311 with 15 home runs to earn Freshman All-America honors, but hit just .255 with 16 home runs as a sophomore. He did improve his plate discipline (7% walk rate to 18%) and he suffered from a low BABIP, but scouts view him as a polished hitter with a chance to hit for both average and power. He’s a fringe defensive catcher right now, so could have to move to a corner.
Why the Rangers took him here: After drafting fourth, third and second in the past three drafts, respectively, the Rangers are at the bottom of the first round after winning the World Series — but they stick with a college selection, their sixth in a row in the first round. While that run has come under two different top baseball executives (Jon Daniels and now Chris Young), Kip Flagg has remained the scouting director and Moore fits a similar profile as Josh Jung, Justin Foscue and Wyatt Langford: bat over glove. With Moore, we’ll see if he can stick at catcher. — Schoenfield
Prospect Promotion Incentive picks
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Ryan Waldschmidt, LF, Kentucky
(for Corbin Carroll winning ROY)
A breakout star for a Kentucky team that reached the College World Series for the first time in school history, Waldschmidt rocketed up draft boards by posting a 1.079 slashline this season after returning from a torn ACL suffered during Cape Cod League play last summer. Waldschmidt started his college career at Charleston Southern before proving his bat could play in the best conference in the country during his two seasons in Lexington.
32. Baltimore Orioles: Griff O’Ferrall, SS, Virginia
(for Gunnar Henderson winning ROY)
The best pro prospect in a potent Virginia lineup, O’Ferrall is among the most polished hitters in this draft class. He slashed .324/.367/.454 during this time at Virginia and what he lacks in power (only eight home runs in three college seasons), he makes up for in contact ability (just 24 strikeouts in 284 at-bats this season.)
Compensation picks
33. Minnesota Twins: Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana
(Compensation for Sonny Gray)
The Sun Belt Conference player of the year, DeBarge had a huge season, hitting .356/.418/.699 with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs in 62 games. Despite the power numbers, his contact ability projects as his best skill (just 30 strikeouts) and he has the tools to stick at shortstop (despite being a catcher in high school). He did struggle with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer, slugging just .297.
Competitive Balance Round A
34. Milwaukee Brewers: Blake Burke, 1B, Tennessee
(Acquired from Orioles in Corbin Burnes trade)
A potent power hitter in the middle of the lineup for national champion Tennessee, Burke put up huge numbers for the Vols: .378 batting average, 20 home runs and a 1.151 OPS. He is likely limited to first base professionally, so the bat is going to have to continue to carry him as he progresses through the minors.
35. Arizona Diamondbacks: JD Dix, SS, Whitefish Bay (Wisconsin) HS
Dix comes from the same high school program that produced former major league shortstop and current Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Dix, a switch-hitting infielder, was hampered by a shoulder injury during last summer’s showcase season, but he has a compact swing to all fields and the ability to stick at shortstop defensively when healthy.
36. Cleveland Guardians: Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral (California) HS
A breakout performer on the summer circuit last year, Doughty followed up with a dominant senior season this spring. He’s been up to 96 mph and has two potential plus breaking balls with a high-spin power curveball and hard slider in the mid-80s. He’s 6-1, a little short for a first-round right-hander, but scouts like his makeup and delivery.
37. Pittsburgh Pirates: Levi Sterling, RHP, Notre Dame (California) HS
The 6-foot-4 right-hander is more projection over stuff right now, sitting at 89-92 mph, but he had some of the best command in the high school ranks — and he has three other potential plus pitches in a slider, curveball and changeup. He played shortstop when not pitching, so he comes with good overall athleticism as well.
38. Colorado Rockies: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
A two-sport athlete for the Hawkeyes, Brecht caught nine passes as a redshirt freshman wide receiver in 2022 before giving up football and focusing on baseball this year. He has some of the best arm strength in the draft with triple-digit velocity (he struck out 128 batters in 78 1/3 innings), plus a big, 6-foot-4 frame and the obvious athleticism. His slider is a wipeout offering and he’ll have to improve his command, but the upside here made him Iowa’s first first-round pick since Tim Costo in 1990.
39. Washington Nationals: Caleb Lomavita, C, Cal
(Acquired from Royals in Hunter Harvey trade)
A native of Hawai’i, Lomavita continued to cement himself as one of the best hitting catching prospects in this draft class by posting a .322/.395/.586 slash line with 15 home runs for the Golden Bears this season. Expected to stick at the position throughout his pro career, Lomavita has also proven himself against the best competition by hitting over .300 in consecutive summers in the Cape Cod League.
Second round
40. Oakland Athletics: Tommy White, 3B, LSU
41. Kansas City Royals: David Shields, LHP, Mt. Lebanon (Pennsylvania) HS
42. Colorado Rockies: Jared Thomas, OF, Texas
43. Chicago White Sox
44. Washington Nationals
45. Los Angeles Angels
46. New York Mets
47. Pittsburgh Pirates
48. Cleveland Guardians
49. Detroit Tigers
50. Boston Red Sox
51. Cincinnati Reds
52. San Diego Padres
53. New York Yankees
54. Chicago Cubs
55. Seattle Mariners
56. Miami Marlins
57. Milwaukee Brewers
58. Tampa Bay Rays
59. Toronto Blue Jays
60. Minnesota Twins
61. Baltimore Orioles
62. Atlanta Braves
63. Philadelphia Phillies
64. Arizona Diamondbacks
65. Texas Rangers
Competitive balance round B
66. Tampa Bay Rays
67. Milwaukee Brewers
68. Chicago White Sox (Acquired from Mariners in Gregory Santos trade)
69. Minnesota Twins
70. Miami Marlins
71. Cincinnati Reds
72. Detroit Tigers
73. Oakland Athletics
Compensation picks
74. Los Angeles Angels (For Shohei Ohtani)
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