Sure, the mud has barely settled from the 2023 Draft, however there’s no relaxation for the weary. It’s time to begin digging into the Class of 2024.

If the scouting business can do it, so can we! After all, many of those gamers are already out and being seen by scouts at occasions just like the PDP League and All-American Game on the highschool aspect and the Cape Cod League and USA Baseball’s College National Team trials on the collegiate aspect.

Below is a really early take a look at what a prime 20 might seem like if a crew wanted to construct a 2024 Draft board proper now. While there will probably be a Draft lottery to find out the highest of the primary spherical, we’ll use the reverse order of the MLB standings on the All-Star break to make a Draft order. And whereas this checklist will change usually between now and the top of the summer time, and can undoubtedly be impacted by fall studies earlier than we put out a brand new Top 100 in December, it ought to be famous that final 12 months’s model of this story included 13 gamers who ended up going within the first spherical this 12 months, with two extra who went within the compensation spherical.

1. A’s: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake ForestBurns is slated to affix Wake Forest after having entered the switch portal. He’s coming off a 12 months the place he began and relieved for the Volunteers, putting out 14.3 per 9 whereas strolling simply 2.8 with a fastball that averaged a contact over 96 mph and an upper-80s slider that generated a 61 % miss fee in 2023.

2. Royals: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/3B, West VirginiaWetherholt gained the Division I batting title by hitting .449 as a sophomore in 2023. He additionally slugged .787, with 16 homers and 24 doubles, whereas putting out in simply 8.2 % of his plate appearances. He might increase his profile much more if he will get the possibility to play shortstop subsequent 12 months, however the bat alone is sufficient to put him right here.

3. Rockies: Konnor Griffin, OF/RHP, Jackson Prep (Florence, Miss.)The 6-foot-4 projectable two-way participant is a five-tool kind as a place participant. A Louisiana State recruit who reclassified from the Class of 2025, Griffin has great bat velocity from the correct aspect of the plate and has plus velocity together with a plus arm that may get the radar gun scorching from the mound, although he is perhaps higher as a place participant long-term.

4. Nationals: Cam Caminiti, LHP/OF, Saguaro HS (Scottsdale, Ariz.)The business was enjoying catch up as Caminiti reclassified from 2025 proper at the beginning of the summer time. A cousin of late huge leaguer Ken Caminiti, Cam is one other LSU recruit who needs to play each methods for so long as doable. On the mound, the left-hander has the possibility to throw actually laborious with an excellent really feel to spin.

5. White Sox: Brody Brecht, RHP, IowaA former two-sport man who was additionally a large receiver at Iowa, Brecht is now focusing solely on baseball, which might assist him attain his appreciable upside. The 6-foot-4 right-hander must refine his command, however the stuff is legit, with a fastball that touches triple digits and an upper-80s slider that misses a ton of bats.

6. Cardinals: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake ForestIf you’re on the lookout for huge left-handed energy, then Kurtz is your man. He hit 16 homers and had a 1.108 OPS as a freshman in 2022 after which set a brand new customary by mashing 24 balls over the fence and ending with a 1.311 OPS. He helps himself by strolling in 21.2 % of his plate appearances over his first two seasons mixed whereas putting out simply 16.8 % of the time.

7. Tigers: Tommy White, 3B, Louisiana StateAfter hitting 27 homers and slugging .757 as a freshman at North Carolina State, Tommy Tanks transferred to LSU and saved on raking, with 24 homers and 105 RBIs, which tied him for the Division I lead, as he helped the Tigers win the College World Series.

8. Pirates: Jac Caglianone, LHP/1B, FloridaCaglianone got here again from Tommy John surgical procedure and confirmed off appreciable two-way prowess as a sophomore at Florida in 2023, hitting 33 homers to steer the nation on the plate and putting out 10.5 per 9 on the mound. There’s motive to consider there’s higher command (6.6 BB/9) to come back as he will get additional faraway from the surgical procedure, with a fastball that touches 99 mph and doubtlessly stable secondary choices in his changeup and slider.

9. Mets: PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS (Summerville, S.C.)The winner of the High School Home Run Derby that happened in Seattle throughout All-Star festivities, Morlando has a easy setup on the plate and makes loud contact, with among the greatest uncooked energy on the plate and the self-discipline to faucet into it. He’s dedicated to South Carolina.

10. Cubs: Noah Franco, OF/LHP, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)Another excessive schooler who reclassified from 2025, Franco hasn’t dedicated to a school but, however has two-way potential. At the plate, he doesn’t have the prettiest swing, however makes good contact with good loft. On the mound, he’s as much as 94 mph along with his fastball to go together with a slider and changeup.

11. Padres: Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, GeorgiaCondon by some means couldn’t get on the sector for the Bulldogs in 2022, so he redshirted. Then he emerged as among the best energy bats within the nation, hitting 25 homers and ending with a .386/.484/.800 line, main the SEC in slugging and setting the convention document for a freshman with these 25 lengthy balls.

12. Angels: Derek Curiel, OF, Orange Lutheran HS (West Covina, Calif.)The prime performer in PDP League play earlier this summer time, Curiel has no less than plus velocity and is aware of how you can use it. The LSU recruit has glorious zone protection from the left aspect of the plate and might make a variety of laborious contact. His velocity actually performs within the outfield as effectively.

13. Twins: Michael Mullinax, OF, North Cobb Christian School (Canton, Ga.)The toolsy outfielder is dedicated to Georgia, a switch-hitter who has a greater swing from the correct aspect. But he sees the ball effectively, stays again and explodes by the zone to generate laborious contact whereas his velocity places strain on defenses as effectively.

14. Mariners: Bryce Rainer, 3B/RHP, Harvard Westlake HS (Simi Valley, Calif.)In a category with loads of two-way gamers, some really feel Rainer is the most effective. The Texas recruit is thought a bit extra proper now as a place participant, one who has a simple swing and big-time energy together with an arm that works on the left aspect of the infield. But some suppose he may very well be even higher on the mound as a right-hander who actually is aware of how you can form the ball.

15. Red Sox: Thatcher Hurd, RHP, Louisiana StateHurd transferred from UCLA to affix LSU for 2023 and whereas  his total numbers don’t leap off the web page, he did strike out 11.9 per 9 and the 6-foot-4 right-hander tossed six robust innings within the deciding recreation of the College World Series. He has a fastball as much as 98 mph, a slider and curve that each miss bats and really feel for a changeup.

16. Brewers: Hagen Smith, LHP, ArkansasSmith might become the most effective faculty lefty within the class, one who struck out 13.7 in his sophomore season at Arkansas. He can run his fastball as much as the upper-90s, although it averages round 93, lacking a good quantity of bats. But his low-80s slider is even tougher to hit, eliciting a 48 % miss fee in 2023.

17. Yankees: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North CarolinaHoneycutt would possibly find yourself being a polarizing prospect subsequent 12 months. On the one hand, the power-speed mixture is actual, with 25 homers and 29 steals in 2022 and double-digits in each classes this previous 12 months. But there is perhaps questions on his hit device, with a 25.5 % strikeout fee in his two years with the Tar Heels.

18. Phillies: Braden Montgomery, OF, StanfordMontgomery has toyed with hitting and pitching at Stanford, however appears destined to deal with his outfield play. After a .336/.461/.611 12 months and 35 homers over two faculty seasons, that is perhaps a great transfer, and he is perhaps doing it at a distinct faculty after coming into the switch portal.

19. Giants: Owen Paino, SS, Roy C. Ketcham HS (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)Big for shortstop at 6-foot-3, Paino has glorious defensive instincts. He’s a left-handed hitting infielder with a easy swing geared for contact to all fielids, with the Ole Miss recruit reminding a few of Mariners 2022 first-round choose Cole Young.

20. Blue Jays: Cade Arrambide, C, Tomball HS (Tomball, Texas)Yet one other LSU recruit, Arrambide is the most effective backstop within the class, particularly defensively, with a cannon for an arm. He’s extra energy over hit, however there’s a ton of pop generated from his 6-foot-3 body.

Content Source: www.mlb.com