2024 MLB Draft Thread

[Pendleton]

[Daniel Labude]

Cam Caminiti feels like he will be what the Blue Jays will want at 20

[L54]

Guys we might have the first pick in 2025

[Krylian]

Guys we might have the first pick in 2025

 

We'd really need to go head first into the toilet for that to transpire. Top 10 is very possible though.

[Stangstag]

Guys we might have the first pick in 2025

 

At least we’d have something to look forward to?

[Olerud363]

At least weÂ’d have something to look forward to?

 

The first pick is no guarantee of anything...

 

Spencer Torkelson for example - as much as we complain about Vlad this dude is far far worse. Vlad with a .220 average and twice as many Ks

 

Jays blew their last top 5 pick. They'd do it again.

[Krylian]

The first pick is no guarantee of anything...

 

Spencer Torkelson for example - as much as we complain about Vlad this dude is far far worse. Vlad with a .220 average and twice as many Ks

 

Jays blew their last top 5 pick. They'd do it again.

 

Turned it into Berrios though

[Pendleton]

https://www.mlb.com/news/2024-mlb-draft-no-1-overall-pick-odds

 

Mayo and Callis discuss the top draft prospects and their odds of going #1 overall

[Pendleton]

 

[Barrelsandbombs]

Jac Caglianone, a two-way player?

[Spanky99]

Much of what I was hearing two weeks ago remains the same buzz I’m hearing today, so our Mock Draft 5.0 looks fairly similar to our previous version. I want to avoid switching players just for the sake of it, but I also don’t want a repetition of player/team pairings to signal any extra confidence in the pick. This is simply my best guess for how things could play out as it stands today.

 

1. Guardians — JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia

No changes here from last week. Some in the industry continue to think Wetherholt is the pick, though I’m fairly confident Cleveland has a decent-sized pool of players they’re considering as they figure out the best ways to work through their draft board. Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana is possible, as is Georgia’s Charlie Condon, who is younger than both middle infielders and could grade out fairly well in Cleveland’s model. Jac Caglianone and Konnor Griffin both get linked with Cleveland, but both feel less likely to me at the moment.

 

2. Reds — Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia

It sounds like the Reds are considering each of the five college players I mentioned above. Condon, Caglianone and Burns look like the favorites of the group with the smaller middle infielders Wetherholt and Bazzana a bit further back, but certainly still in consideration. I’ve consistently heard the Reds linked with hitters more than pitchers, so I’ll stick with the top player on our draft board in Condon.

 

 

3. Rockies — Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

The read on the Rockies is consistent from last week, with this feeling like the most likely landing spot for a pitcher of any the teams picking inside the top five. It sounds like Colorado is interested in both Condon and Caglianone, too. In this scenario Cags is available, but I’ve heard the Burns/Rockies connection too much to not pull the trigger.

 

4. A’s — Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

There have been a lot of college names linked with the A’s. Whichever bats don’t go before should be in play here, with Bazzana being the best available in this scenario. It sounds like this could be the first realistic landing spot for Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery, though I’m assuming that would be on an underslot deal. There are fewer mentions of either of the high school hitters with Oakland, and while Kurtz was mentioned earlier in the process for them, I haven’t heard that link quite as much recently.

 

5. White Sox — Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

Things could open up with the White Sox, as I’ve heard both hitting and pitching profiles linked to them. It’s mostly college names, though it does sound like the club could be interested in Konnor Griffin. I’m guessing a college player they like will be available here though, whether that’s Wetherholt if he doesn’t go No. 1 or, in this scenario, Caglianone. Caglianone’s floor seems quite a bit higher than fellow first baseman Nick Kurtz at this stage, and a strong finish to his season in front of plenty of decision-makers seems to have paid off for him.

 

6. Royals — Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif.

I’m making my first change from last week’s mock with the Royals going with Rainer instead of Hagen Smith (who I still think the Royals like quite a bit). The trio of Rainer, Smith and Griffin feel like the current favorites at this spot given how the board has panned out. I think the team could be intrigued with Caglianone if he were available, and I’ve heard Montgomery linked to the Royals recently, though he seems a lot less likely to me than all of the other names I’ve mentioned.

 

7. Cardinals — Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

I don’t have Smith falling too far in this mock, with Rainer and Smith basically just flipped from the last version. It sounds like the Cardinals would be interested in either of the top two college arms if they’re available, and it would be hard to rule out Griffin, Montgomery or Nick Kurtz with this pick, as well.

 

 

8. Angels — Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

The Angels are consistently tied to fast-moving college bats (gee, I wonder why), and both Montgomery and Kurtz are available here from the top tier of players. However, no player did better for himself in the college world series than Christian Moore, and he could potentially fit the bill as both a fast-moving player and an underslot option (though, he won’t last too much longer after this if this isn’t the pick). One name that was surprising to hear with the Angels is prep lefthander Cam Caminiti. The Angels had some heavy hitters in to see Caminiti’s last start, and he might be a real consideration for this pick even though his profile would be a real change of pace from what the Angels have done in recent years.

 

9. Pirates — Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

There’s a lot of noise about the Pirates scouting up the top two high schoolers pretty heavily. Griffin is still on the board in this scenario, but so is Montgomery and Kurtz, both of whom they have been linked to. If Montgomery doesn’t get taken by Oakland, Kansas City or St. Louis, this feels like one of his most likely homes inside the top 10.

 

10. Nationals — Konnor Griffin, OF/SS, Jackson Prep, Flowood, Miss.

In this scenario, the Nationals have their pick of two starkly different profiles left from the top tier of 10 players: Huge upside, tools and athleticism with Konnor Griffin or a polished college hitter with a first base profile in Nick Kurtz. The former is definitely more of what the Nationals have done in the past, and it sounds like Washington has scouted the Rainer/Griffin duo as heavily as any team. ECU righthander Trey Yesavage could make some sense here if they want an arm.

 

11. Tigers — Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Tigers continue to be heavily linked to Caminiti, and I see no real reason to move off this pick even with Nick Kurtz sliding out of the top 10 in this scenario. It sounds like Caminiti has really popped on a number of teams’ models, and he remains the favorite to be the first high school pitcher off the board.

 

12. Red Sox — Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

It’s the same group of names for the Red Sox as in the previous mock. That includes Honeycutt, Christian Moore (if he were available), Trey Yesavage (if the team wants to go with a pitcher), or others like James Tibbs III, Cam Smith and Carson Benge. It does seem like Honeycutt’s floor could be lower than all of the other hitters mentioned here, but I think this is a real landing spot. Would Boston pass on Kurtz if he were available here given the presence of Triston Casas? I’m not sure.

 

13. Giants — Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

I’m guessing Kurtz doesn’t get much further than this if he is to slide out of the top 10, but at the moment, he is the player that seems most likely to fall out if there’s a surprise name that jumps up. This feels like a great outcome for San Francisco considering Kurtz’ hitting ability, batting eye and power potential. Others that could make sense include Caminiti, Yesavage and college bats like James Tibbs III, Cam Smith, Carson Benge, Seaver King and Vance Honeycutt.

 

14. Cubs — James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State

College performers are tied to the Cubs most commonly, and the best available of that phylum of player is Tibbs III, who has a chance to go as high as No. 8 and probably won’t last too long beyond this pick. This feels like the high-water point for someone like Malcolm Moore, who would be the first catcher off the board if he was the selection here in this scenario (something I wouldn’t have expected and am not sure is too likely).

 

15. Mariners — Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

As mentioned in my previous mock, I believe this is close to the floor for Yesavage. If Yesavage is gone and the Mariners want an arm, I think the No. 4 college arm on the board, Jurrangelo Cijntje, is a real option here. Other names that make sense include Slade Caldwell, Carson Benge, Cam Smith and Seaver King. I’m still not sure if Brody Brecht would be a fit this high or not. He is gaining some steam late in the process, but I’m not sure it’s quite this high.

 

16. Marlins — Carson Benge, OF/RHP, Oklahoma State

Will it be back-to-back years where our mock draft world is fooled by rumors of a college hitter rumors to Miami? It Maybe, but that’s the commonly talked about profile for the Marlins and it’s also the best available profile on the board in this scenario with players like Benge, Cam Smith, Seaver King and Caleb Lomavita also still available. Does Ryan Waldschmidt fit into that tier of hitters? He might, though I haven’t heard him linked to the Marlins specifically.

 

17. Brewers — Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

Smith has action throughout the teens, and it doesn’t seem like he should be on the board too much longer than this given his impressive season and physical tools. If not Smith, other college bats like King, Benge, Lomavita and Honeycutt could make sense. William Schmidt also makes sense for the Brewers (but it sounds like not with this pick), and on the college side, this is starting to become Jurrangelo Cijntje territory. So, there are a lot of options for Milwaukee here.

 

18. Rays — Jurrangelo Cijntje, BHP, Mississippi State

It’s always difficult for me to rule out a single demographic for the Rays. I think they’ll simply take whoever they view is the best player on the board regardless of perceived risk for the demographic. Their somewhat surprising Xavier Isaac first-round pick from 2022 is looking pretty good right about now. Cijntje fits here on talent, as do all of the college hitters on the board in this range. High school hitters like Slade Caldwell and Theo Gillen might start to come in play more around this spot on the board, too.

 

19. Mets — Seaver King, SS/OF, Wake Forest

I’ve mentioned King in a number of spots before this pick, and I think there’s a reasonable chance he doesn’t make it here. I’m not sure I see him lasting too far into the 20s, so it’s as good a time as any to get him off the board. Carson Benge is a name I’ve heard tied to the Mets, and power bats like Tommy White, Billy Amick, Dakota Jordan and Vance Honeycutt might make some sense, as well.

 

20. Blue Jays — Caleb Lomavita, C, California

I’ll stick with Lomavita here, just as in our previous mock. I’m still expecting him to go somewhere in the middle of the first round, most likely starting around 15 and perhaps getting into the early 20s. It sounds like this could be another potential landing spot for Malcolm Moore, and players like Tommy White and Billy Amick could fit, as well. Later names for the Blue Jays could include Cole Mathis, Bryce Meccage and Canadian prep catcher Nathan Flewelling.

 

21. Twins — Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake HS, Austin, Tex.

This is more of a talent fit for the Twins than a specific Theo Gillen link to them. I think Gillen’s likely range of outcomes is anywhere throughout the 20s. Billy Amick could be a fit here, but they might have a shot to get him with their next pick in the supplemental round, too. I wonder if they would take a shot on William Schmidt, though that one also feels more likely with their second pick.

 

22. Orioles — Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

Brecht has been getting some late helium. He’s a player some teams in this range are out on for their first selection, while others are more willing to take on the high-risk nature of his profile. The Orioles have been hitter-heavy in the first round, but that could change with them picking in the 20s now. If they do go pitching with this pick, I think it’ll be a college arm. There’s not another college arm that makes more sense than Brecht here. Malcolm Moore or Kaelen Culpepper could be fits here, too.

 

23. Dodgers — William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, La.

While there are some teams in front of the Dodgers who seem intrigued with Schmidt, this seems to be the earliest he’s likely to come off the board. There’s a decent chance he gets paid overslot in the supplemental round if he isn’t the pick here. I think Honeycutt would be a great fit here if he’s still somehow on the board given the Dodgers hitting development (this would also be true of the Orioles one spot ahead). But the Dodgers are also linked to tons of preps including Kash Mayfield, Luke Dickerson, Kellon Lindsey and Slade Caldwell. With no second round pick and the second smallest bonus pool of any team, don’t rule the Dodgers out for a curveball here.

 

24. Braves — Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

Carson Benge, Jurrangelo Cijntje and Ryan Waldschmidt are players commonly linked with the Braves. In this scenario, only one of that trio is still available, so Waldschmidt remains the pick with Atlanta. This is a specific situation where it’s worth pointing out that, despite Waldschmidt being the pick with the Braves for three straight mock drafts, my confidence in him being the name isn’t any higher. It’s simply a pick that makes sense in a range where teams expect Waldschmit to come off the board.

 

25. Padres — Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (Okla.) HS

Just like the previous mock, it’s been all high school profiles linked to San Diego. Any of the prep pitchers slated to go in the 20s make sense (Schmidt, Mayfield, Ryan Sloan), as do most of the high school hitters in this range (Gillen, Slade Caldwell, Kellon Lindsey, Luke Dickerson, Wyatt Sanford).

 

26. Yankees — Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls HS, Rockaway, N.J.

The Yankees are one of a handful of teams who seem to have a lot of interest in Dickerson, who is this year’s Jackson Merrill/Sammy Stafura, Northeast/mid-Atlantic prep profile who gained tons of steam later in the process. Based on the number of teams linked heavily to Dickerson, it sounds like he might not get back to the Yankees’ next pick at 53 if they pass on him here. Big power profiles like Tommy White, Billy Amick and Dakota Jordan could make sense, as well.

 

 

27. Phillies — Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.

The Phillies are another team linked with Kash Mayfield, but he’s not on the board in this scenario. Ryan Sloan is, and a few weeks ago there was some chatter that he could go off the board as high as 15-20, so it’s hard to imagine him staying on the board much longer. Philadelphia is one of the teams who will take a shot on a high school arm in the first round. Brody Brecht could make sense if he’s still on the board.

 

28. Astros — Tommy White, 3B, LSU

Tommy White should have realistic options starting in the back of the teens into the 20s. Falling to 28 feels like reasonable value for one of college baseball’s premier sluggers, even if he does have some defensive profile questions. Perhaps Houston would prefer going with a college catcher in Malcolm Moore or Walker Janek, and there are a few high school shortstops who are starting to seem more likely to come off the board around this range, too, like Kellon Lindsey, Wyatt Sanford, Carter Johnson and Tyson Lewis. I started hearing more buzz about high school first baseman/outfielder PJ Morlando in recent days (maybe his draft combine BP was just that loud), and Houston is one of the teams linked to him (though I am not sure if it’s for this pick).

 

29. D-backs — Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State

Janek could come off the board as many as 10 spots in front of this pick, but there’s been some chatter about him maybe slipping down the board a bit. This would be as good a landing spot for him as any in the back third of the first round considering Arizona’s huge bonus pool. Janek is probably the best defensive catcher in the draft. If Kash Mayfield is availabl, he could be a fit here, and I think Arizona could also be a team that makes sense for Luke Dickerson if he’s still available.

 

30. Rangers — Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

Moore has a few potential landing spots in front of this pick, but the 28-38 range feels like a more realistic expectation for where he is going to go based on his season and some questions about how likely he is to stick at catcher. The Rangers are one of the teams linked with him. There are a lot of players linked to the Rangers that I expect to be off the board at this pick, including Jurrangelo Cijntje, Caleb Lomavita and Theo Gillen.

 

31. D-backs — Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS, Wauchula, Fla.

Lindsey could go as high as the late teens, but the late 20s or supplemental first round feels more realistic at this point given some of the names that have more steam ahead of him.

 

32. Orioles — Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

I’ve continued to hear the Orioles like Culpepper, so he remains the pick in this latest mock.

 

33. Twins — Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

As mentioned with the Twins first pick, I think there’s some interest with Amick, and he could fit in this range of the board. It’ll be interesting to see how closely Amick and fellow college third baseman Tommy White wind up being selected.

 

34. Brewers — Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

The Brewers could value Jordan’s extreme exit velocity data as much as any team, and taking him with their second pick might feel a bit more comfortable than doing it at 17.

 

35. D-backs — Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine (Texas) HS

Hill is one of a number of high school pitchers who I could see in this range of the board. That includes Dax Whitney, Braylon Doughty and the two prep pitchers I have coming off the board just behind the D-backs.

 

36. Guardians — Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS, Jonesboro, Ark.

Sorry Guardians fans: It’s the same two players in this mock as the last time. I just think both players make sense for a lot of reasons with these picks. There’s a real chance Caldwell’s not available, but given the nature of this class, I’m confident there will be someone Cleveland likes to push an overslot deal to.

 

37. Pirates — Bryce Meccage, RHP, The Pennington (N.J.) HS

Like the pick before, this one is status quo from last week.

 

38. Rockies — Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke

Make it three in a row for similar names with similar picks.

 

39. Royals — David Shields, LHP, Mt. Lebanon HS, Pittsburgh

There are a number of high school pitching profiles I think make sense for Kansas City at this spot. In the last mock, the player was Dax Whitney, but I think the lefthander Shields could be more likely for the Royals.

[Spanky99]

I’d love to report that we’ve got it all figured out, but we’re not quite there yet. There is definitely more intel on which players each team likes (though the Guardians still remain very, very tight-lipped). But as Jim noted in his mock last week, it’s the money that’s largely being figured out now. That and the medical reports being digested will really help determine who goes where. This week’s projection is a snapshot of how it could go down, with hopes that we’ll have even more concrete information for that final mock right before the Draft.

 

The Day 1 preview show will begin at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT) followed by the Draft on MLB Network and ESPN, and can also be viewed on MLB.TV, MLB.com and in the MLB App.

 

1. Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State (No. 1)

The Guardians are rightfully doing due diligence on a pretty wide range of players still, so they can adjust as they continue to get information about what players will sign for. As we discussed on this week’s MLB Pipeline Podcast, I conducted a survey of scouting directors included in this week’s newsletter on who they thought Cleveland will take. Bazzana received 15 of the 20 votes, one of the reasons why he remains in this spot this week. But West Virginia’s JJ Wetherholt did get four votes, with many teams following the logic that Wetherholt will cost less, and if you’re confident his hamstrings won’t be an issue, there isn’t that much separation between the two infielders. Georgia’s Charlie Condon got the other vote as the perception that he won’t take any kind of discount continues to lessen buzz around him going at the top.

 

2. Reds: Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Georgia (No. 2)

It sounds like the debate is continuing in Cincinnati about which college player to take here. I’m going with Condon, but Florida’s Jac Caglianone is very much in the mix. Wake Forest’s Chase Burns is in the conversation if they’re looking at pitching, with Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith not completely out of that picture either.

 

3. Rockies: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida (No. 3)

I’m going according to chalk here, the top three players going in the top three spots. It does seem like the hitters are in the lead, though Burns and Smith (in that order) are still being discussed. The Rockies might also kick the tires on cutting a deal with one of the college hitters projected to go more in the middle of the first round, someone like Oklahoma State’s Carson Benge.

 

4. A’s: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M (No. 8)

While this is likely Bazzana’s floor (and landing spot if he doesn’t go 1-1), he’s off the board in this scenario. That leaves the A’s to look at other college options with Montgomery, Wetherholt and Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz the bats and Burns and Smith the arms under consideration.

 

5. White Sox: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia (No. 4)

If he doesn’t go No. 1, this could be a very good landing spot for the middle infielder, though the White Sox are also digging into Kurtz, Smith and Burns on the college side along with the top two high school hitters -- Konnor Griffin and Bryce Rainer.

 

6. Royals: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest (No. 7)

While there’s still the possibility the Royals go for one of the college arms here, with Smith having the edge over Burns, Kurtz’s legit big league power might be too much for them to pass up and would get to Kansas City faster than one of the prep bats available they might also be considering.

 

7. Cardinals: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas (No. 5)

This seems to be a spot where college arms land, though they might still be interested in one of the college bats taken above, with Smith getting the edge over Burns this week.

 

8. Angels: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest (No. 6)

The Angels have gone with the “quick to the big leagues” college hitter the past two Drafts in the first round, and they could still do that and save money with some of the hitters you’ll see below. But it might be very hard to look past Burns’ frontline starter potential, and he also might not take long before being ready to get big league hitters out.

 

9. Pirates: James Tibbs, OF, Florida State (No. 12)

If they want to go the high school hitter route, the Pirates will definitely consider Griffin or Rainer here. They’ll also consider Tennessee's Christian Moore as an alternative college bat and East Carolina right-hander Trey Yesavage should they shift focus to a college pitcher.

 

10. Nationals: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake, Calif. (No. 10)

While Rainer certainly could go higher than this, it seems like he wouldn’t go much beyond here as the high school scouts seem to feel has the best pure hit tool. It’s certainly not out of the question that the Nats go with the toolsy Griffin, allowing Rainer to go next.

 

11. Tigers: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep, Miss. (No. 9)

This is a spot that keeps getting high school buzz, with a strong chance they’ll take whichever of the top prep bats is still available. It’s also the first spot high school lefty Cam Caminiti has been mentioned.

 

12. Red Sox: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee (No. 13)

The Red Sox would love it for one of the dozen players selected above to reach them, and let’s face it, that usually happens. But in this scenario, Moore appears to be the best of the next group that is very college-hitter heavy. Boston might also look at Florida State’s Cam Smith from that demographic or Yesavage from the college arm bucket.

 

13. Giants: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS, Ariz. (No. 15)

This connection is made so often it’s almost impossible to believe it, but there is interest for sure. They could also look at Yesavage or one of the remaining college bats like Smith, Benge, North Carolina’s Vance Honeycutt or LSU’s Tommy White.

 

14. Cubs: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina (No. 11)

The Cubs appear to be leaning college here, with the arm getting the nod for right now over hitters like Smith, Honeycutt and Wake Forest’s Seaver King.

 

15. Mariners: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest (No. 17)

This could be the end of the three-year run of high school hitters taken by the Mariners in the first round, but King could be the choice if they still want a bat. It could be a good debate in the Draft room between him and Mississippi State switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, while Illinois prep right-hander Ryan Sloan is still in the mix.

 

16. Marlins: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State (No. 14)

The Marlins are still sending out college hitter vibes with Smith being considered along with Benge and Kentucky’s Ryan Waldschmidt. If they shift to arms, it sounds like it could be Cijntje from the college set or Sloan if they go with a high schooler as they did last year.

 

17. Brewers: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina (No. 22)

More college bats here, with Honeycutt and Benge having an edge right now over White.

 

18. Rays: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State (No. 18)

Sticking with the theme here, with Benge the choice over Waldschmidt. Cijntje and Sloan are also in the mix.

 

19. Mets: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS, Ark. (No. 27)

This has long been another college hitter landing spot, and they still could consider hitters like Mississippi State’s Dakota Jordan or Kansas State’s Kaelen Culpepper, but there’s more buzz that things might be leaning toward high school hitting, with Caldwell joining prep shortstops like Theo Gillen or Kellon Lindsey atop their board. Caldwell might only be 5-foot-9, but the Mets haven’t shied away from undersized prep bats in the past (see Williams, Jett).

 

20. Blue Jays: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky (No. 23)

The Blue Jays prefer a hitter in this spot and wouldn’t be upset if one of the ones just taken slips down to them. Waldschmidt could lead a pack that includes White and Sam Houston catcher Walker Janek.

 

21. Twins: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State (No. 31)

So many college hitters, with the Twins potentially favoring Culpepper or Tennessee third baseman Billy Amick over someone like White in this spot.

 

22. Orioles: Caleb Lomavita, C, California (No. 33)

It’s possible the O’s would love for Lomavita to be available with their next pick at 32, but he might not be there, so we’ll give him the edge over the other college hitters still available or pitchers like Cijntje or Iowa’s Brody Brecht.

 

23. Dodgers: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS, La. (No. 16)

The Dodgers appear to want an arm here, and there’s some internal support for Schmidt, the top-ranked high school right-hander in our Top 250. Brecht could be the choice if they opt for a college pitcher.

 

24. Braves: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa (No. 21)

The hard-throwing Brecht gets the nod over Cijntje from the college pitching sector. If they want a high school pitcher, California prepster Braylon Doughty’s name comes up quite a bit here.

 

25. Padres: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS, Ill. (No. 19)

Maybe it’s too easy to slot in a high schooler here since the Padres (as both Jim and I have said numerous times) have gone that route with their last eight first-rounders. But I’m doing it anyway, with the Padres able to choose from a group that includes Sloan, Doughty and lefty Kash Mayfield on the pitching side and Lindsey or Gillen among the hitters.

 

26. Yankees: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State (No. 25)

This could be a terrific scenario for the Yankees, who sound like they do prefer an arm and like Cijntje. They could also consider Doughty on the prep side, stick at Mississippi State with Jordan or go to LSU and White if they opt for a college hitter.

 

27. Phillies: Tommy White, 3B, Louisiana State (No. 20)

The Phillies have taken high schoolers in the first round four years in a row, but could this year break the streak? A spirited conversation over a college bat like White vs. high school hitters like Gillen and Lindsey or a prep arm like Mayfield or Doughty will likely take place.

 

28. Astros: Theo Gillen, SS/2B, Westlake HS, Texas (No. 28)

Right now, a prep infielder like Gillen might have the edge over the college catchers (Janek and Stanford’s Malcolm Moore) or an infielder like Amick.

 

29. D-backs: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford (No. 26)

The D-backs have a lot of picks coming up here and can mix and match how they please. Left-handed-hitting catchers are often a hot commodity and Moore’s name does pop up all over the end of the first round and sandwich round.

 

30. Rangers: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston (No. 24)

The three college catchers could go in any order in the back half of the first round, and both Lomavita and Janek’s names pop up in conversations even higher than that.

 

31. D-backs: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee Senior HS, Fla. (No. 29)

32. Orioles: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee (No. 32)

33. Twins: Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence HS, Texas (No. 35)

34. Brewers: Griff O'Ferrall, SS, Virginia (No. 38)

35. D-backs: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS, Okla. (No. 30)

36. Guardians: Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS, Calif. (No. 36)

37. Pirates: Bryce Meccage, RHP, The Pennington School, N.J. (No. 51)

38. Rockies: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State (No. 34)

39. Royals: PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS, S.C. (No. 43)

[Spanky99]

BA's 6.0 Mock...

 

Most of the buzz throughout the first round this week has been about college hitters. As teams picking in the middle and back of the first round finalize their draft boards, many have begun to wonder if their top college hitting targets will make it to their picks. There’s plenty of concern about all the other demographics if not.

 

My assumption for a long time has been that the first round will be extremely college hitter-heavy. As such, this latest mock draft has 17 college hitters among the first 30 picks. I’m also anticipating plenty of underslot deals in the first round, but as one scout pointed out to me: “Who are we going to use the savings on?”

 

Let’s get into it:

 

1. Guardians — JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia

The top three players on our final BA 500 board—Charlie Condon, Travis Bazzana and JJ Wetherholt—feel like the most likely options for Cleveland at this point. As I have mentioned previously, I think the final group of players Cleveland is considering for this pick is larger than people might think, with players like Jac Caglianone and Konnor Griffin possibly still in consideration even if I think they are less likely options.

 

My gut feel is that both Wetherholt and Bazzana are more likely for Cleveland than Condon. Wetherholt’s realistic floor in the draft is perhaps a bit lower than Bazzana’s because he might be willing to take more of a discount, but if Cleveland views the two as equivalent on talent, it’s a pick that makes sense strategically as they attempt to maximize their huge bonus pool throughout the entirety of the draft.

 

JJ Wetherholt should become the highest-drafted player in @WVUBaseball history this weekend.

 

He ranks No. 3 on our final draft board.

 

Full scouting report ⬇️https://t.co/Za5YF0TfcN pic.twitter.com/SlLOcM9O3m

 

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 11, 2024

2. Reds — Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia

The favorites for the Reds seem to be Condon, Jac Caglianone and Chase Burns. There are few teams who have scouted and signed as many players from Florida at the top of the draft as the Reds, and Caglianone’s strong finish to the season impressed plenty of high-level decision makers. That has possibly narrowed the gap between Condon and Caglianone, though I am still leaning toward the player ranked at the top of the board who has more defensive value and a more advanced hit tool.

 

While Burns seems to be in consideration here, I’ve consistently heard the Reds are more likely to take a bat with this pick. It’s hard to fully discount Bazzana and Wetherholt, though both players feel less likely than the big sluggers.

 

3. Rockies — Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

I’ve heard the same three players linked most heavily to the Reds also linked to the Rockies, though with Colorado I believe Condon and Burns would be the priorities over Caglianone. If Condon happens to be available, I think he might be the pick. But if they are deciding between Burns, Caglianone and Bazzana, I’m leaning with Burns, who has now been the pick for the Rockies for five straight consecutive mocks. Surely I can will this one into existence… right?

 

4. A’s — Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

If the Guardians pass on Bazzana, it seems like there’s a real path to him falling here to the A’s, and I’m not sure an underslot deal would make more sense for the club than taking arguably the best player in the class with the fourth overall pick. Oakland has been tied to college bats at this spot all spring. It makes some sense that they jump on a premium hitter this year since they won’t pick any higher than 10th overall for next year’s draft.

 

Caglianone and Wetherholt could make sense here, as well, if Bazzana is gone. Oakland is frequently tied to underslot options, with the two primary names being Braden Montgomery and Nick Kurtz. In my previous mock, I mentioned that Kurtz to the A’s was not being talked about as much as earlier in the spring. That seems to have picked up again in the last few days, and if Kurtz has a real chance to slide into the teens that could make sense for his camp.

 

5. White Sox — Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

The White Sox get linked to more players than any other team inside the top five (except perhaps Cleveland, interestingly). This could be a bit of a pivot point in the draft. The best available player on the board in this scenario is Caglianone, who has been tied to the White Sox in recent days. Any of the players in front of this pick could make sense for the White Sox if they are available, though Wetherholt seems like the most likely option to get here if he doesn’t go first with Cleveland. I think they’d happily scoop him up, if so.

 

It sounds like the White Sox are considering both the top high school hitters in the class, and my guess is that Konnor Griffin would be the preference over Rainer at this spot, though I am not confident in that guess. It’s difficult to rule out Hagen Smith here, as well.

 

6. Royals — Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

I’ve oscillated between Hagen Smith and Bryce Rainer for the Royals in my last few mocks, but I’m going back to the college lefthander. Scouting director Brian Bridges aggressively targeted pitchers in his previous tenure with the Braves, and there’s a thought that the Royals as an organization value lefthanded pitching as much as anyone.

 

If Caglianone is available here, it’s difficult to see him getting beyond this pick. If both Caglianone and Smith are off the board—a scenario that seems unlikely to me—I would lean toward Rainer. This also could be another landing spot for Wetherholt if he is available, though I’m guessing all the other players I’ve mentioned would be ahead of him.

 

7. Cardinals — Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif.

Flipping Hagen Smith and Bryce Rainer at picks six and seven has as much to do with the Cardinals as it does the Royals. There’s been a bit more buzz about Rainer being the pick at this spot in recent days. If the first six picks go like this, I’m guessing he’s the pick. It feels like Rainer should come off the board somewhere in the 6-12 range.

 

Like I mentioned previously, I believe the Cardinals would think hard about both Smith and Burns if they were available. They’re also a team I have linked to Braden Montgomery, Nick Kurtz and Konnor Griffin. If Kurtz doesn’t go No. 4 to the A’s, this might be his second-earliest landing spot. I’m guessing Trey Yesavage starts becoming an option for teams as soon as the top two college arms are off the board.

 

8. Angels — Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

The Angels feel like one of the trickiest teams to handle in the mock draft, given the huge number of players linked to them and the perception in the industry that they are going to continue targeting fast-moving college players who can get to the majors quickly (with rumors of underslot options that fit that category, as well).

 

Montgomery is tied to the Angels as much as the A’s inside the top 10 picks. This feels like a legitimate potential landing spot for him. If that’s not the pick, I could see the Angels going for college hitters like Christian Moore or James Tibbs III. Trey Yesavage also fits the bill as a quick-to-the-majors option if the team wants to take a pitcher. There’s less talk about either of the top two high school hitters at this spot, though Cam Caminiti sounds like a legitimate option despite the fact that he doesn’t fit the “fast-moving” designation. Nick Kurtz would, but his name doesn’t come up much here and perhaps that’s because the team just took Nolan Schanuel a year ago.

 

There's a LOT to like with Braden Montgomery.

 

✅ Pro body

✅ Plus power

✅ 70-grade arm

 

The @AggieBaseball star is squarely in the top 10 of our final big board. https://t.co/Za5YF0TfcN pic.twitter.com/z0aRI1oDhl

 

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 12, 2024

9. Pirates — Konnor Griffin, OF/SS, Jackson Prep, Flowood, Miss.

Konnor Griffin and Nick Kurtz are the last two players available of the group of 10 that most teams have at the top of their boards. I’ve heard Pittsburgh linked with both players, though the high school hitters in particular get a lot of buzz. For many, that’s the expected demographic for the Pirates if they are available.

 

Second-tier college bats like James Tibbs and Christian Moore get some mentions at this spot just like the Angels at No. 8, and Trey Yesavage could be a fit if they want an arm. I haven’t heard Cam Caminiti’s name mentioned here a ton, but I wouldn’t rule him out either.

 

10. Nationals — Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Washington spent a lot of time on both the top high school hitters in the class, but if the mock pans out this way, neither of those players will reach them. Kurtz would be the best player available on talent. If they want a pitcher Yesavage both makes sense and has been linked to the Nationals, as he has been for many teams in the 8-15 range.

 

This is around the range where the board is going to open up in a hurry, though there are a handful of consistent names that get linked sooner than others, which you’ll see in the next few picks.

 

11. Tigers — Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Caminiti has been so aggressively linked to the Tigers in the public space that some in the industry are wondering if it’s purely smoke. At the same time, most people I’ve spoken with saw Detroit aggressively scouting Caminiti throughout the spring, and it doesn’t make much sense to me to fake it that hard just to create some misdirection at pick 11.

 

So I’ll stick with Caminiti here as the first prep pitcher off the board though others like Tibbs, Moore and Yesavage all make some sense, as well. There aren’t many obvious high school hitters who could make sense for Detroit if they want to make similar picks to their 2023 class. I suppose Slade Caldwell could make some sense, though I haven’t heard his name linked here or this high on the board in general.

 

12. Red Sox — Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

I’ve had North Carolina outfielder Vance Honeycutt tied to this spot frequently throughout the spring. I think the Red Sox still like him, but most feedback I get has the tooled-up center fielder going further down the board. Yesavage is another name I think the Red Sox would like. This might be a perfect pairing of talent and organizational need. He’s the best available player on the draft board and the gap between him and whoever the next college arm is feels significant.

 

It sounds like Boston would love for one of the top 10 to fall down to this pick. If that happens, they could scoop them up, though I still am not sure if they would grab Kurtz. That’s not an option in this scenario, but it could easily happen on draft day. It’s just hard to predict that happening. Names like James Tibbs III, Christian Moore, Carson Benge and Cam Smith start to pick up tons of steam at this pick and right after.

 

The top college draft arms have some VERY interesting pitch data.

 

Chase Burns ➡️ Corbin Burnes

Hagen Smith ➡️ Carlos Rodon

Trey Yesavage ➡️ Justin Verlander

 

We explain more here: https://t.co/H63LWw8suK pic.twitter.com/lB4lNnPu7G

 

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 11, 2024

13. Giants — Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Moore has legitimate landing spots inside the first 10 picks, so it’s no guarantee he makes it this far. If he does, the Giants sound like a team who could be all over him, as he was one of the most productive hitters in the SEC for three years. Other options include Cam Caminiti if he’s on the board, potentially Vance Honeycutt because the organization liked him out of high school, Trey Yesavage or Carson Benge.

 

Something to consider for the Giants is that they don’t pick again until the fourth round. Their $7.5 million bonus pool is lower than every team picking around them, so they could be less well-positioned to scoop up someone sliding out of the top 10. If they like someone a bit further down the board—say, New Jersey high school shortstop Luke Dickerson, for example—they’ll need to take him here if they want him.

 

The next 10 picks or so could easily be a run on the best available college hitters.

 

14. Cubs — James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State

The Cubs are linked with college performers at this spot, and there’s no shortage of options including Tibbs, Carson Benge, Cam Smith and Ryan Waldschmidt.

 

Increasingly, they’ve been tied to Stanford catcher Malcolm Moore, and it feels like this spot could be his high-water mark in the draft, though I’m guessing that would be on a deal. Another option I’ve heard for the Cubs here is Florida high school shortstop Kellon Lindsey, who they apparently also like quite a bit and might not make it to their second pick at 54.

 

15. Mariners — Carson Benge, OF/RHP, Oklahoma State

Trey Yesavage is not on the board in this scenario, but if he were, I think he’d be the likely pick, as I think this is about the floor for the ECU righthander. Mississippi State switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje could be an option if the team is adamant about going for an arm and doesn’t view any of the high school pitchers at the same sort of tier. In that same line of thinking, Brecht could be a fit if Seattle can stomach his control issues this high.

 

Outside of those arms, I’ve heard Benge’s name linked with Seattle. He is getting more and more play in the top 15 range, and I expect him to go in a decent spot. Others like Cam Smith, Seaver King and Ryan Waldschmidt could make sense, too. Slade Caldwell is intriguing but hasn’t gotten a ton of buzz. The Mariners don’t strike me as a high school pitching team in the first round, though Ryan Sloan’s name has been mentioned.

 

16. Marlins — Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

Essentially all of the college hitters who are tied to Seattle are also tied to the Marlins, and I’m mostly hearing about college bats this year for Miami. Smith, Seaver King, Caleb Lomavita and Ryan Waldschmidt all seem to make a lot of sense.

 

They could be a team interested in Alabama high school shortstop Carter Johnson, though I’m not sure if that is specifically for this pick or in the second round.

 

17. Brewers — Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

In recent years, the Brewers have targeted college hitters who make strong swing decisions in the first round, and Waldschmidt certainly checks that box. He’s a polarizing player in the industry, though many analytically-inclined teams who are picking in the 15-25 range seem quite high on him, and he keeps getting more and more buzz higher up the board.

 

I wonder if Honeycutt would be an option here because the Brewers have also taken some shots on riskier profiles with tools (Garrett Mitchell in 2020)). That said, none of their recent first-round hitters had the same contact questions that Honeycutt does. This could be one of the higher landing spots for Caleb Lomavita, as well, and potentially a fit for Malcolm Moore.

 

18. Rays — Jurrangelo Cijntje, BHP, Mississippi State

For most teams, Cijntje is the consensus No. 4 college arm on the board, and I expect him to go somewhere in the 15-25 range with a number of teams excited about him. I’d expect the Rays to be in on all sorts of profiles, including the top college hitters available (Seaver King, Vance Honeycutt, Caleb Lomavita), the top high school hitters (Slade Caldwell, Theo Gillen) and the high school pitchers who start to gain traction in the 20s (Ryan Sloan, Kash Mayfield, Braylon Doughty).

 

19. Mets — Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

I’ve previously had Culpepper going in the supplemental round, but increasingly it seems like teams expect him to go in the first thanks to everyone scooping up college hitters. He has the advantage of profiling at shortstop—something none of the other college hitters in this range can claim except Seaver King—and has solid offensive tools, athleticism and big arm strength.

 

Carson Benge would make sense if he’s still on the board, and other hitters like Seaver King, Tommy White or Vance Honeycutt could bet a fit, as well. The Mets have targeted up-the-middle profiles in recent years, but under David Stearns perhaps their player preferences will now be more similar to what the Brewers have done.

 

20. Blue Jays — Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

Aside from the Cubs, Moore is most frequently tabbed with the Blue Jays. Despite a season that was worse than either of the other two college catchers (Lomavita and Janek) and more defensive questions, he might have a real shot to be the first catcher selected.

 

The Blue Jays also could be around the high-water mark for right-right corner sluggers who might be sliding a bit, including Tommy White and Billy Amick. Or they could go in an entirely different direction with the speedy, contact-oriented prep hitter Slade Caldwell.

 

21. Twins — Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest

King has been connected to plenty of teams throughout the teens, so there’s a decent chance he’s gone before this pick. If not, he could have the sort of athleticism, bat-to-ball skills and power that Minnesota might like at an up-the-middle position. He’ll need to tame his aggressive approach, but every college hitter in this range comes with flaws.

 

The Twins are picking in a range where righthander Brody Brecht might make sense on talent, though I don’t expect the Twins to be one of the teams taking a shot on him in the first round.

 

22. Orioles — Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

Brody Brecht does get linked with the Orioles. Some teams think they would be willing to take a chance on his upside, though with a player like Vance Honeycutt falling to them, perhaps his collection of tools, athleticism and defensive profile is too good to pass up. Baltimore’s hitting development might be a dream scenario for Honeycutt, as well.

 

Kaelen Culpepper is frequently tied to the Orioles. If he’s available, he might make more sense with their first pick than their second (as I previously projected), but he’s not in this version. Catchers Caleb Lomavita and Malcolm Moore have also been tied to the Orioles.

 

23. Dodgers — Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (Okla.) HS

The Dodgers would be another good player development fit for a high-upside hitter like Vance Honeycutt, but he’s off the board right in front of them. Los Angeles has fewer picks and pool money to play with than most teams in this range, and they are frequently tied to high school profiles and athletes. Kash Mayfield fits in the 20s with the best delivery in the draft. This feels like the starting point for William Schmidt, as well (though there have been more questions about just how signable he might be recently).

 

I would be surprised if the Dodgers took a corner profile like Tommy White or Billy Amick with this pick. High school shortstops like Theo Gillen or Kellon Lindsey could make sense, and they are also one of the teams linked to Luke Dickerson. If Cinjtje is available, he could be a fit, too. If the Dodgers do want a college hitter to fall, they might be right on the outside looking in.

 

24. Braves — Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

Many of the players I’ve heard tied to the Braves (Carson Benge, Ryan Waldschmidt, Jurrangelo Cijntje) simply aren’t available and unless they want to take one of the two available college catchers (Lomavita or Janek), there aren’t many appealing college hitter profiles to choose from after a huge run on that demographic from 13-22.

 

That could lead to a college arm like Brecht, or perhaps another college (or high school) arm from further down the board on an underslot deal. They’ve used that strategy in the past, and names like Braylon Doughty, Luke Holman, Bryce Cunningham, Ben Hess and Levi Sterling could all be interesting fits.

 

25. Padres — Caleb Lomavita, C, California

Each and every top high school player available should be in consideration here considering San Diego’s draft history, though it does seem like they (along with the teams in front of them) could be hoping a college bat falls to them. Even though it feels wrong to mock a college player to the Padres, it sounds like they could be considering him. He’s more athletic than your typical catcher, which might help his cause. Walker Janek could also fit, and f Kaelen Culpepper makes it to this point on the board, he could make sense for San Diego, as well.

 

If it’s a status quo San Diego draft, I would think about Theo Gillen, Ryan Sloan, Kash Mayfield if available, William Schmidt, Kellon Lindsy and perhaps Luke Dickerson.

 

26. Yankees — Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls HS, Rockaway, N.J.

I’ll stick with Luke Dickerson here for the Yankees. I previously mentioned that they are one of the hotter teams on the New Jersey prep shortstop, but there are plenty of others noted in this mock draft, and he just might not make it back to their second round pick at 53.

 

Big power-hitting profiles are also tied to New York, including Tommy White, Billy Amick, Dakota Jordan and Tennessee first baseman Blake Burke.

 

 

27. Phillies — Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake HS, Austin, Tex.

A few weeks ago, I would have expected Gillen to be off the board before this pick, but the latest intel on college hitters being prioritized in front of Philadelphia could mean the club winds up with another offensive-oriented prep hitter falling into their lap at the back of the first round. Gillen’s hit/power combination is one of the best in the high school ranks, and he’s athletic enough to handle second or center field if/when he needs to move off shortstop.

 

The Phillies are tied to prep arms Kash Mayfield (who’s not on the board) and Ryan Sloan (who could have a big price tag), and if Brody Brecht is available here, I think he makes some sense.

 

28. Astros — Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS, Omaha, Neb.

Any of the college hitters still around could be interesting fits for the Astros, though most of them now are power-oriented college profiles, including Tommy White and Billy Amick, who have a chance to slide out of the first round. White would be the pick for me here since he’s available. Houston is one of the teams most commonly tied to him, but I have heard recently that Nebraska prep shortstop Tyson Lewis could be a real option for them at this spot.

 

29. D-backs — Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS, Wauchula, Fla.

Arizona is one of the teams tied to both Kash Mayfield and Luke Dickerson, but both are off the board in this scenario. It’s worth noting that Arizona has tons of pool money compared to every team picking from 18-on and could maybe drive a player down past the teams in front of them with a bigger bonus, especially if their target was a high school player. High schoolers are just easier to slide down the board for bonuses than their college peers.

 

In the past, Arizona has taken a hitters with bat-to-ball skills; players with that profile get linked to them consistently. Lindsey does have strong contact ability, as well as 80-grade speed and a shortstop profile.

 

30. Rangers — Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State

There’s some thought that Janek could be sliding a bit. I think that would be a mistake considering just how impressive he is as a defender and thrower behind the plate. He’s the best defensive catcher in the class, with solid bat speed and offensive tools to go with it and is likely to be a more high-probability big leaguer than many of the players in front of him on this mock draft.

 

I have the Rangers benefiting from the slide here in this mock. The Rangers are also linked to the other two college catchers (Caleb Lomavita and Malcolm Moore). Those two could be in play if they’re here, as could Theo Gillen and Jurrangelo Cijntje. Texas is also linked to prep pitchers Kash Mayfield and William Schmidt.

 

31. D-backs — Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS, Temecula, Calif.

 

32. Orioles — Tommy White, 3B, LSU

 

33. Twins — Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

 

34. Brewers — Ben Hess, RHP, Alabama

 

35. D-backs — Luke Holman, RHP, LSU

 

36. Guardians — Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.

 

37. Pirates — Bryce Meccage, RHP, The Pennington (N.J.) HS

 

38. Rockies — Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke

 

39. Royals — David Shields, LHP, Mt. Lebanon HS, Pittsburgh

 

[Brownie19]

Aside from the Cubs, Moore is most frequently tabbed with the Blue Jays. Despite a season that was worse than either of the other two college catchers (Lomavita and Janek) and more defensive questions, he might have a real shot to be the first catcher selected.

 

That report is as depressing as the Jays season and organization right now. "This guy wasn't as good as his peers and is shittier defensively, but the Jays still take him as the first catcher off the board"

[Spanky99]

Aside from the Cubs, Moore is most frequently tabbed with the Blue Jays. Despite a season that was worse than either of the other two college catchers (Lomavita and Janek) and more defensive questions, he might have a real shot to be the first catcher selected.

 

That report is as depressing as the Jays season and organization right now. "This guy wasn't as good as his peers and is shittier defensively, but the Jays still take him as the first catcher off the board"

 

lol... yeah that wasn't glowing. Most mocks I see have us taking a college catcher or a prep OF'er, who knows.

[Laika]

#25

 

Moore, a draft-eligible sophomore, is going to end up with a team that values batted-ball data over performance — he had terrible luck at the plate this spring but he was not punching out and his contact quality points to a higher average than he had on balls in play. Moore hit .255/.414/.553 for the Cardinal with just a .229 BABIP, a full hundred points down from his BABIP as a freshman, even though he makes plenty of hard contact.

 

There was a little more than bad luck at work here, to be fair; he put a lot of non-strikes in play and had worse results on those pitches than he did on pitches in the zone, so there’s a pitch selection aspect to his performance as well. He has great bat speed and had no trouble with elite velocity the few times he saw this spring. Moore is a below-average defender right now and scouts are mixed on whether he can stay at catcher; the arm is the worst tool here and his other deficiencies could improve with different coaching. He’s going to be a bat-first catcher if he stays there.

 

^ Keith Law 3 days ago

 

I'd rather see them swing for the fences with a prep SS or very toolsy college player

[Laika]

I'd love to see Toronto pick this 5'6" guy Slade Caldwell

[glory]

That blurb from Law about Moore has Blue Jays written all over it.

 

I liked the Nimmala pick last season, but I'm a little nervous about what the Jays will do here.

[Pendleton]

I'd love to see Toronto pick this 5'6" guy Slade Caldwell

 

He's my favourite prospect in this draft outside of the obvious top guys

[Laika]

That blurb from Law about Moore has Blue Jays written all over it.

 

I liked the Nimmala pick last season, but I'm a little nervous about what the Jays will do here.

 

I really don't like taking catchers with bad defense.

 

Moore just doesn't seem like a 1st rounder to me. His OPS is substantially lower than other Pac12 draft guys like Nick McLain who are ranked like 200th.

[L54]

I will f***ing howl if they take a catcher

[Brownie19]

I will f***ing howl if they take a catcher

 

Curious why you say that. Because we have Kirk? Because 1st round catchers typically bust?

 

We need to go BPA, regardless of position IMO.

[Laika]

Curious why you say that. Because we have Kirk? Because 1st round catchers typically bust?

 

We need to go BPA, regardless of position IMO.

 

I don't know the stats but it just seems like they bust a lot

[Spanky99]

I'd love to see Toronto pick this 5'6" guy Slade Caldwell

 

Or Konnor Griffin. For some reason he isn't on that listing and the Jays have been linked to both these guys in previous mocks.

[Laika]

Damn the Jays' comp pick for Chapman is way down at 136

 

Disgusting!

 

I guess it gives them more flexibility with money though, if they want to take a tougher sign / dropper at 20th or 59th.

[Spanky99]

I want this guy but doubt he gets to us... BA made a mistake leaving him off that last listing...

 

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 65 | Arm: 70 | Field: 60 | Overall: 60

 

For the second time in the last six Drafts, Jackson Prep (Flowood, Miss.) features one of the most tooled-up prospects in the high school class. While Jerrion Ealy opted to pursue a football career, Griffin is a full-time baseball player and could be the first prepster drafted in July. He reclassified from the 2025 Draft to 2024 after leading Jackson Prep to a Midsouth Association of Independent Schools 6-A state championship as a freshman, then helped the Patriots win titles in each of the last two seasons and topped national high schoolers with 87 stolen bases in 88 attempts this spring.

 

Gatorade's National High School Player of the Year, Griffin has a big league frame at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds and he possesses five-tool potential. His size does add some length to his right-handed stroke and he has some timing issues he's ironing out at the plate, but he controls the strike zone well and makes regular contact. His combination of electric bat speed, strength and leverage could translate into 30-homer power as he learns to drive the ball in the air more consistently.

 

Griffin also has well-above-average speed, giving him 30-30 upside. Scouts project him as a plus defender at shortstop and a possible Gold Glover in center field. The Louisiana State commit covers plenty of ground with long strides at both positions and also offers a strong arm that has been clocked up to 96 mph off the mound. His makeup is as impressive as his physical ability.

 

Ahh, nevermind I see him now at 9, lol.

[glory]

[Spanky99]

Callis take today for Toronto...

 

20. Blue Jays: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest (No. 17)

Yet more college bats: the four guys projected to go 16-19, plus King, Sam Houston catcher Walker Janek, Louisiana State third baseman Tommy White and California catcher Caleb Lomavita.

[connorp]

f*** a 1st round catcher. How often do they work out. Find some international guy or later pick

[Spanky99]

 

I'm hoping that's at 136, lol.