The first day of the 2024 MLB Draft is in the books. It was a wild one right off the bat, as Cleveland opted not to go with Charlie Condon or JJ Wetherholt, the latter of whom was rumored to be in the running on July 14. Now that the day is complete, here’s a look at what each of the 30 MLB teams got on Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Diamondbacks
Arizona had multiple Day 1 picks, their first one coming at #29. The D-Backs took Slade Caldwell, a 5’9” infielder who was Gatorade’s high school player of the year in Arkansas. While undersized, MLB.com wrote this of Caldwell, “he won’t be a slugger, he has impressive bat speed and enough strength to provide 15 or more homers per season… Caldwell has well-above-average speed and makes things happen on the bases.”
The D-Backs, two picks later, took Ryan Waldschmidt. Waldschmidt, a junior out of Kentucky who spent 2022 at the College of Charleston, hit .333 with 31 extra-base hits over 59 games with the Wildcats. He’s got power and a strong hit tool.
Braves
Atlanta loves pitchers early in the MLB Draft; think Hurston Waldrep, Jared Shuster, and Ryan Cusick, just to name a few former first-round picks in recent memory. The Braves got lucky again, taking Arizona prep lefty Cam Caminiti with the 24th overall pick. Caminiti was a likely top-20 pick and has almost everything teams would want: a good breaking ball and hard fastball and MLB bloodlines.
The Braves added another arm, in Carter Holton, with pick #62. He was inconsistent at times. Yet, Holton was a very good strikeout pitcher in college. He sat down 98 via the strikeout with Vanderbilt in 2024.
Orioles
With their rebuild over, the Orioles have opted to go the college route at the top of their draft in the past two years. Last year was Enrique Bradfield Jr., and this year, the O’s went with Vance Honeycutt and Griff O’Ferrall at #22 and #32, respectively. Both are near opposites; Honeycutt is a monstrous outfielder with plus power and speed but swing-and-miss concerns. O’Ferrall, on the other hand, is an above-average hitter who batted .396 in 2023 and played well in the ACC. However, O’Ferrall doesn’t have much pop.
O’Ferrall’s teammate at UVA, Ethan Anderson, also joined him.
Red Sox
Boston took Braden Montgomery with the 12th pick. Montgomery could have gone in the top 10; the former Texas A&M star belted 27 home runs, good for a tie for 11th in the NCAA. He’s a good athlete and has great arm strength. Montgomery did appear as a reliever in each of his three college seasons.
With the 50th overall pick, the Sox went with TCU lefty Payton Tolle. Tolle was a two-way player at Wichita State before transferring to TCU but focused on pitching as a junior. He struck out 125 over 81.1 IP but did walk 37 with the Horned Frogs. Tolle doesn’t have great command. But, he netted plenty of whiffs thanks to his fastball/slider combo.
Cubs
The Cubs landed Florida State third baseman Cam Smith at #14. Smith had a very long swing in his freshman season before shortening it in 2024. What that led to was raising his average from .258 to .387 from 2023 to 2024. Smith has natural raw power and could be a 25-30 home run hitter at the MLB level if he continues to progress.
White Sox
The White Sox went with Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith at #5. Chicago’s loved college players over the last 10 years; think Andrew Vaughn, Nick Madrigal, and Garrett Crochet. Smith is somewhat of a similar pitcher to Crochet, albeit one with a better track record at the collegiate level. The Razorbacks ace struck out 161 batters last season, second-best behind the pitcher we’ll talk about in the next section. He can move fast but we’ll see if walks become a problem. That was the case during Smith’s first two seasons at Arkansas.
Chicago went with Caleb Bonemer, a Michigan high school shortstop, at #43 and pitcher Blake Larson at #68. The two were rated the 71st and 104th-best players per MLB.com.
Reds
Cincinnati has plenty of position player talent at the MLB level now. The Reds added Chase Burns, the ace of Wake Forest’s staff, with the second overall pick. Burns was an elite pitcher in college thanks to an arsenal that included a plus slider and plus-plus fastball that can sit in the triple digits. He’s a high-effort guy and command concerns are there. But, Burns is one of two pitchers in this draft who has elite ace stuff.
The Reds nabbed Nebraska prep shortstop Tyson Lewis and LSU hurler Luke Holman at #71. Holman was a nice find, as he netted plenty of whiffs at Baton Rouge and could have been a first-round pick had walks been less of an issue.
Guardians
Rather than go with the slugger, the Guardians opted with Travis Bazzana with the first overall pick. Bazzana did very well over his first two collegiate seasons and his 2023 run in the Cape was fantastic. In 2024, Bazzana belted a career-high 28 home runs, batted .407, and posted a 1.479 OPS with the Oregon State Beavers. A five-tool player, Bazzana could turn into a cornerstone with Cleveland.
Rockies
The Rockies may have lucked out. Even though pitching is hard to come by in Colorado, the Rockies landed arguably the best bat in the 2024 MLB Draft. Charlie Condon is a plus-plus power hitter who can drive the ball to all fields with authority and his 37 home runs were no fluke. With his power in Coors Field, Condon could be among the league’s best home run hitters for years to come.
Colorado got their pitcher at #37 with Brody Brecht. Brecht, the ace out of Iowa University, has elite stuff, including a hard fastball and slider. He is a power pitcher, though, who struggled with command at Iowa. This past season, Brecht walked 49 over 78.1 IP. That could be a recipe for trouble, particularly in a hitter-friendly environment.
Tigers
Detroit went with Bryce Rainer at #10. MLB.com‘s description of Rainer includes this, “[he’s] shown the ability to make consistently hard contact from the left side of the plate. He had the top four exit velocities at the NHSI in April and has shown he can drive the ball to all fields. He sticks to a game plan and doesn’t chase or strike out, allowing him to tap into what could be plus power in the future.”
Rainer showed a good back on video, with room to add strength. He’ll join a loaded Tigers system, one that includes Max Clark, as well as 2024 second-round high school pitchers Owen Hall and Ethan Schiefelbein.
Astros
The Astros stayed at home for their first pick, opting for Sam Houston State catcher Walker Janek at #28. Janek was expected to be a highly sought-after catcher thanks to his bat but reports also like his arm behind the plate. If Janek develops as expected, he could be the all-around catcher the ‘Stros have been looking for.
Royals
The Royals got Jac Caglianone to fall to them at #6. Caglianone was one of the best two-way players in college baseball history, as he anchored the Florida staff this season and belted 35 home runs in 2024. Caglianone was announced as a first baseman, so don’t expect him to pitch; even though, Caglianone has a plus fastball and good slider. He’s got plus power but chases a lot, something to watch at the pro level.
Angels
The 2024 collegiate season went very well for Christian Moore, who belted 34 home runs and 55 extra-base hits for the Volunteers this season. The Volunteers play in a hitter-friendly environment but that’s not why Moore did so well. He’s got premium bat speed and could be a 20-25 home run hitter at the MLB level.
Los Angeles followed up the Moore pick with Chris Cortez and Ryan Johnson. Both are intriguing arms. Cortez hit triple digits at Texas A&M, while Ryan Johnson — who pitches out of the slide step — has a delivery you need to see to believe. Both, though, have middle-of-the-rotation potential.
Dodgers
Los Angeles (NL) has just one pick on Day 1, going with Florida high school shortstop Kellon Lindsey. A premier athlete who played football, reports laud his plus-plus speed. MLB.com‘s description of Lindsey includes this on him: “he does need to add strength, but as he’s started to catch the ball out front, he’s impacting the ball more, with some pop to come.”
Marlins
Miami opted to take PJ Morlando, a Florida prep outfielder rated #43 by MLB.com. Reports indicate he’s a pure hitter with bat speed. However, taking Morlando at #16 gives Miami a chance at grabbing talent that falls later in the MLB Draft. The Marlins don’t have a deep farm system, particularly when it comes to position players.
Miami added to that farm with Carter Johnson (#56) and Aiden May (#70).
Brewers
Milwaukee went off the board somewhat with Braylon Payne at #17. The Brewers have done this before, as recently as 2023 when Milwaukee took Long Island prep product Josh Knoth in the first round. Payne, a Texas prep star, receives rave reviews for his bat speed, although he has a flat swing with little loft that may not lead to many home runs. One player, though, who has plenty of power is Blake Burke, taken at #34. Burke cranked 20 home runs and 51 extra-base hits over 72 games.
The Brewers had four picks on Day 1, and two of those picks included two high schoolers from New Jersey. Bryce Meccage and Chris Levonas, ranked #51 and #59, respectively by MLB.com, were taken in the second round.
Twins
The Twins were busy on Day 1, as Minnesota had four picks. Their first one was Kaelan Culpepper, a plus defender at shortstop who batted .328 with a career-high 11 home runs at Kansas State. Culpepper has quick hands and is likely a hit-over-power hitter. But, a 15-20 home run hitter isn’t out of the question.
Aside from Culpepper, the Twins took college starts Kyle DeBarge (#33), Billy Amick (#60), and Dasan Hill (#69). Amick is a first-round talent, one who could be a solid third baseman with above-average power. He hit 23 home runs at Tennessee in 2024.
Mets
New York focused on college players during Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft. The Mets’ first-round pick, at #19 thanks to a CBT tax penalty, went with two-way player Carson Benge out of OK State. It’s the second time in as many years the Mets took a two-way player from Oklahoma State, as New York went with Nolan McLean in the third round last July. Don’t expect Benge to be a two-way player, even though McLean is one in the Mets system. Benge, though, is a plus hitter with power, one who could be a 25-30 home run hitter.
The Mets took Duke ace Jonathan Santucci at #46. Santucci was a potential first-round pick heading into the spring. He’s got a very good fastball and a plus breaking ball. But, a 5.6 BB/9 rate during his junior season is a reason why he fell.
Yankees
To me, the 26th overall pick was one of the more intriguing picks on Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft. Alabama hurler Ben Hess was a strikeout machine at Alabama; 106 strikeouts over 68.1 IP, and four good pitches, including a good fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider. He walked a lot of batters, 35 during the 2024 campaign. But, the pitch arsenal does give Hess starter upside.
The Yankees stuck with the SEC theme, taking Bryce Cunningham. Like Holton, Cunningham was inconsistent but can punch out hitters.
Athletics
The Athletics opted to pass on Caglianone and instead went with Nick Kurtz. From his swing and tool profile, Kurtz is somewhat comparable to Jim Thome. Kurtz hit 46 home runs over his last two seasons at Wake Forest and overcame a slow start to post a 1.294 OPS this spring. A plus power hitter who should have a good hit tool, Kurtz wasn’t the only big bat the A’s took.
At #40, the Athletics grabbed Tommy White. White looked to be a top-10 pick heading into 2024, thanks to an elite bat and plus-plus power. But in 2024, his average and OBP dropped, and White, a third baseman at LSU, profiles as an average defender at best at third; more likely below average. Still, 48 home runs over two seasons and good performances against elite SEC pitching is tough to scoff at.
Phillies
The Phillies love their prep talent; Philadelphia has taken Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller in the first round in each of the last two years. This year, the Phillies grabbed Dante Nori. Nori is an interesting name, given he’ll turn 20 in October, a rarity for a high school talent. But as MLB.com noted, teams like his advanced approach at the plate and clean swing.
Pirates
Pittsburgh landed arguably the best high school prospect in Konnor Griffin. Griffin could have been a top-five pick had this year’s draft not been loaded at the top. Much like Bazzana, scouting reports peg Griffin to become a five-tool player. MLB.com wrote regarding Griffin, “his combination of electric bat speed, strength, and leverage could translate into 30-homer power… [he] also has well-above-average speed, giving him 30-30 upside.”
Padres
San Diego went with prep talent at #25 and #52. At #25, the Padres took Kash Mayfield, the 2023 Oklahoma high school player of the year in Oklahoma. He reportedly can hit the mid-90s with his fastball, along with a changeup and curveball.
The Padres opted for another high-upside arm, Boston Bateman, at #52. It continues a familiar theme for the Padres, who haven’t taken a college player in the first round since 2016 (Cal Quantrill & Eric Lauer).
Giants
San Francisco has had success with Florida State players; remember Buster Posey? James Tibbs isn’t Posey. But, Tibbs did nothing but hit at FSU, including in 2024 when he hit a career-high 28 home runs and batted .363 (1.264 OPS). Tibbs has good power and should be a corner outfielder at the Major League level.
Mariners
Seattle opted for switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje at #15. It’s a gamble that Cijntje, an undersized pitcher at 5’11, albeit one with a big arm, will turn into an elite arm. He struggled badly with command (6.1 BB/9) last season with Mississippi State, although his 3.0 BB/9 was a clear indication he threw more strikes in 2024.
The M’s continued the pitching theme, taking Ryan Sloan, a first-round talent, at #55.
Cardinals
The Cardinals can dream of a middle infield combo of Masyn Winn and JJ Wetherholt. Wetherholt, a potential #1 pick heading into the spring, fell to #7 amidst a good junior season but one that saw him miss time. He couldn’t replicate his .449 season from 2023. But, Wetherholt batted .331 with power at WVU.
Rays
The Rays grabbed Theo Gillen at #18. There were reports the Tigers were interested in cutting a deal with Gillen but he instead goes to Tampa. Tampa has liked to go with high-upside high schoolers for years and that remained the case with Gillen. He’s a 6’2” infielder with power and speed.
Tampa opted with Emilien Pitre with the 58th pick. Pitre jumped up boards this spring with the Wildcats after a .301 campaign with 10 home runs. He’s a great defender, although he likely is an average hitter with below-average pop.
Rangers
The Rangers were linked to catchers at #30. Texas opted for Malcolm Moore, who batted just .255 in his sophomore season but did hit 16 home runs. Reports indicated his chase rates were fine, a positive as enters pro ball. However, those same reports peg Moore as an average defender.
With pick #65, the Rangers took Dylan Dreiling. Dreiling belted 23 home runs with the Volunteers last season and played a key role in the Vols’ run to the College World Series title.
Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have sparse high-end pitching talent aside from Ricky Tiedemann. While teams don’t necessarily draft for organization need, the move to get Trey Yesavage makes sense, assuming Toronto doesn’t jump into a full-blown rebuild. Yesavage struck out 145 this past season with East Carolina, thanks to an arsenal that includes a plus-plus slider, hard fastball, and split-change.
Toronto added another college arm in Khal Stephen at #59. Stephen struck out 107 over 96 innings for Mississippi State.
Nationals
We end our Day 1 review with the Nationals, who continued Wake Forest’s big day. The Nats went with infielder Seaver King, announced as a shortstop. King saw time at third and the outfield, as well, but he’s a premium athlete and added weight in college to get stronger. He didn’t slug .699 like at Wingate. But, a .577 SLG with an ACC school isn’t bad.
Washington took Caleb Lomavita with the 39th pick and New Jersey high school infielder Luke Dickerson in the second round. Lomavita belted 31 home runs over his last two seasons at California and hit well (.329, eight extra-base hits over 22 games) in the Cape last summer.