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2024 MLB mock draft: Predictions for every first-round pick

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2024 MLB mock draft: Predictions for every first-round pick

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The 2024 Men’s College World Series is in the books after Tennessee’s run to its first title in program history. But many of the stars in that tournament won’t have to wait long for the next step in their baseball careers.

The 2024 MLB Draft kicks off on Sunday, July 14. More than 600 total selections will be made spanning 20 rounds from Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. For the first time in franchise history, the Cleveland Guardians hold the No. 1 overall selection. Rounding out the top five are the Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox.

Last year, LSU standouts Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews were expected to go at the top of the draft. They did with Skenes going No. 1 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Crews going No. 2 to the Washington Nationals. This year there’s less of an outright consensus. Here’s what experts at USA Today, Bleacher Report, MLB.com, and CBS Sports predict will happen in the first round:

2024 MLB Draft mock draft roundup

1. Cleveland Guardians

USA Today: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Bleacher Report: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

MLB.com: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

CBS Sports: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

Bazzana, a native of Sydney, Australia, would be the second Oregon State player taken No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft following Baltimore Orioles’ Adley Rutschman in 2019. Bazzana was the top hitter on the Beavers’ Pac-12 winning squad this season, leading the team in batting average (0.407), on-base percentage (0.568), and slugging (0.911).

Wetherholt is arguably the best hitter in the class but missed significant time with a hamstring strain. Last season, he posted just a 10% miss rate in a full season of action.

USA Today: “There’s nearly a whole month to adjust your dart tosses as teams juggle slot money and bonus pools. But Bazzana, a 21-year-old Aussie who batted .407 with 28 home runs last year, can move quickly to Cleveland and bring a near plug-and-play dynamic to their current group.”

CBS Sports: “We’re going to say Wetherholt sneaks in as the No. 1 pick. He was viewed as a No. 1 pick candidate entering the spring, before a hamstring strain sidelined him about six weeks. The money matters as much as the talent. The Guards have a competitive-balance pick (No. 36) and any bonus pool money they save here can be spent on a high-end talent later.”

2. Cincinnati Reds

USA Today: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

Bleacher Report: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

MLB.com: Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

CBS Sports: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

Nearly consensus across the board for Cincinnati here. Condon won the 2024 Golden Spikes Award given to the best amateur baseball player in the country. He was one of the top hitters in the country at Georgia this past year and led the NCAA in batting average (0.433) and home runs (37).

Caglianone was electric in the College World Series and racked up 68 home runs in the last two seasons and was second to Condon in the NCAA this season with 35. He won the John Olerud Award as the best hitter/pitcher in college baseball but might not pitch in the majors.

USA Today: “Sometimes a player fits snugly in a spot and that seems like Condon’s deal here, regardless of the chaos before and after this pick. Eight years after using the second overall pick on Nick Senzel, another versatile player with power from an SEC school, the Reds opt for Condon’s record-setting 37-home run pop.”

MLB.com: “The Reds likely are focusing on [Bazzana, Wetherholt, Condon, Caglianone, Wake Forest right-hander Chase Burns, and Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith]. Caglianone appears to be ahead of Condon, with Burns the choice if they want a pitcher.”

3. Colorado Rockies

USA Today: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Bleacher Report: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

MLB.com: Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Georgia

CBS Sports: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Another near-consensus at No. 3 overall here. Burns pitched the fifth-most innings in the country (100) this season and posted a 2.70 ERA, 14th in the country. He relied heavily on his fastball and slider to rack up 191 strikeouts. Condon drops no lower than third in this roundup.

USA Today: “Perhaps spending top 10 draft capital on right-handed college pitchers named Chase is the cure for Coors Field pitching woes.”

MLB.com: “Though there has been talk of the Rockies targeting a pitcher (likely Burns over Smith), they wouldn’t pass on Condon and probably not on Caglianone.”

4. Oakland Athletics

USA Today: Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

Bleacher Report: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

MLB.com: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M

CBS Sports: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

A mix of prospects at No. 4 for Oakland. Caglianone and Bazzana are reliable bats, as is Montgomery. The Aggie hitter ended prior to the College World Series because of a broken ankle. Concerns about the injury and his recovery could drop him out of the top five picks.

USA Today: “If A’s owner John Fisher is excited about famous opposing players like Aaron Judge coming to play in their temporary Sacramento digs, Caglianone, a two-way player, might give Sacto-A’s fans a hometown guy to rally around. While Caglianone may very well be strictly a hitter in the pros, that’s more than enough.”

Bleacher Report: “A year after taking Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson with the No. 6 overall pick, the Athletics find the other piece of their future double play combination in this hypothetical and add another elite pure hitter to the system.”

5. Chicago White Sox

USA Today: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

Bleacher Report: Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

MLB.com: Konnor Griffin, OF/INF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

CBS Sports: Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

For Chicago, Smith was one of the top pitchers in the NCAA last season. His 161 strikeouts were second only to Burns but he led the country with 17.25 strikeouts per nine innings. Griffin is one of the top prep players in the class and won Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. He boasts a 6-foot-4 frame and a rounded set of skills.

USA Today: “What to get the franchise that needs everything? The entire prep draft class and a handful of very enticing college position players are available here, but Chicago opts for the sure thing in Smith.”

CBS Sports: “Will the team that drafts Calgianone let him continue as a two-way player? There’s some thought he’ll really blossom as a hitter once he gives up pitching, and we are talking about the guy with the most power in the draft class. Caglianone has legitimate pro potential on the mound, but he might just be a reliever in the long run. Is the juice worth the squeeze?”

USA Today: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Bleacher Report: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

MLB.com: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

CBS Sports: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

A mix of prospects for Kansas City at No. 6 overall. Smith is one of the top pitchers on the board. Kurtz dealt with a rotator cuff injury to start the season but still finished the year eighth in the NCAA in on-base percentage (0.531) with 78 walks, the most in the country.

USA Today: “While an early-season rotator cuff injury slowed some of his momentum, Kurtz still slugged 22 home runs and got on base at a .531 clip, drawing 78 walks to 42 strikeouts in 260 plate appearances. Probably the safest but not sexiest pick at this juncture.”

Bleacher Report: “With the exception of Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals have done a much better job developing pitching talent in recent years. And if Chase Burns is the No. 1 pitcher in this draft class, then Hagen Smith is “1A” and not far behind.”

USA Today: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M

Bleacher Report: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

MLB.com: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

CBS Sports: Bryce Rainer, SS, Westlake HS (California)

St. Louis is the first pick to see four different prospects in this mock draft. The only new name is Rainer who is close with Griffin as one of the top high school talents in the draft. The 6-foot-3 shortstop was one of the top players at the National High School Invitational this spring.

USA Today: “Another two-way player who leans strongly toward hitting, Montgomery is a dynamic defensive right fielder who hit 26 home runs but needs to improve on strike-zone recognition.”

CBS Sports: “It has been almost 30 years since the Cardinals drafted this high — their last top-seven pick was in 1998 (J.D. Drew at No. 5) — and this pick is when we could see the first high schooler taken. Rainer is loaded with tools and upside, and he gives off some Gunnar Henderson and Corey Seager vibes back when they were draft prospects.”

USA Today: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

Bleacher Report: Bryce Rainer, SS, Westlake HS (California)

MLB.com: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

CBS Sports: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Wetherholt falls no farther than No. 8 across these mock drafts. Rainer is the top high schooler in another mock drafts as well. Yesavage suffered a punctured lung this season that kept him out of the ACC tournament but he ranked third in ERA (2.02) and fifth in strikeouts (145) in the country this season.

USA Today: “Perhaps the most fluid prospect in the first 10 picks, Wetherholt could land anywhere in the top or bottom of that range; ultimately, he lands with a franchise that adds another quick-to-the-majors talent in the footsteps of Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto.”

CBS Sports: “History says the first player to reach the big leagues from this draft class will be an Angel. That was the case in 2021 (Chase Silseth), 2022 (Zach Neto), and 2023 (Nolan Schanuel). Yesavage missed the ACC tournament with a punctured lung a few weeks ago, but he returned looking like himself, and that’s a quick-moving starter with stuff and pedigree.”

USA Today: Konnor Griffin, OF/INF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

Bleacher Report: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State

MLB.com: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State

CBS Sports: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State

A new prospect enters the roundup at No. 9 for Pittsburgh. Tibbs III is right behind Caglianone and Condon as far as power hitters in the class. He finished the season with 28 home runs, tied for seventh-most in the country.

USA Today: “Finally, the run of college players ends with a talent who will play somewhere up the middle as a pro, with speed his most devastating tool. LSU commit and the Gatorade National Player of the Year.”

MLB.com: “If one of the eight players projected above gets to No. 9, the Pirates could pounce. They’re probably the second team, after the White Sox, that would pop Griffin. Barring one of those guys remaining on the board, Pittsburgh could pivot to a below-slot deal with someone like Tibbs or [Christian] Moore. Don’t rule out Kurtz.”

10. Washington Nationals

USA Today: Bryce Rainer, SS, Westlake HS (California)

Bleacher Report: Konnor Griffin, OF/INF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

MLB.com: Bryce Rainer, SS, Westlake HS (California)

CBS Sports: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M

It’s all about hitting for the Nationals. Prep standouts Rainer and Griffin have the tools to develop while Montgomery brings a lot of upside if healthy at this point.

USA Today: “We try not to force comps too much, but Rainer profiles similarly to Padres rookie Jackson Merrill with his 6-3, 195-pound frame, power and arm. The former pitcher is likely to stick at shortstop, though.”

Bleacher Report: “The 2024 Gatorade National High School Player of the year, Griffin already looks the part of a big leaguer with a 6’4″, 215-pound frame and a well-rounded skill set that includes 50-hit, 60-power and 65-speed tools… The Nationals generally prioritize upside over polish at the top of their draft classes, and they are in a good spot at No. 10 to scoop up whoever slides from the top tier of players.”

USA Today: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

Bleacher Report: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M

MLB.com: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

CBS Sports: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

Montgomery makes it no farther than No. 11 across these mock drafts. Caminiti was projected to be one of the top players in the 2025 class but re-classified to 2024 and is arguably the top prep pitching prospect. He already has high-90 speed with his fastball and could develop his curve, slider, and changeup to pro levels.

USA Today: “The cousin of former NL MVP Ken Caminiti, Cam is a powerful lefty with a fastball that’s touched 96 mph. Struck out 119 in 52 2/3 innings and batted .493. Has committed to LSU.”

MLB.com: “Kurtz has no obvious home in the top 10 selections and could be a steal here, the scary recent track record of college first baseman in the upper half of the first round nothwithstanding. The Tigers could take anyone else from the consensus top 10 who slips.”

USA Today: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Bleacher Report: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

MLB.com: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

CBS Sports: Konnor Griffin, OF/INF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

Moore was one of the top hitters for the Volunteers this season and led the country in hits (111) and finished third in home runs (34) behind Condon and Caglianone. He played well on the big stage, too, with a home run in game three of the College World Series. Griffin falls no farther than No. 12 across this roundup and Yesavage offers another arm to the Red Sox.

USA Today: “Broke the Vols’ career home run record by slugging 60 longballs, including 33 this season for the national champions, and became just the third player in SEC history to win the Triple Crown.”

Bleacher Report: “The Red Sox have not always had the best luck developing pitching prospects, so that makes a polished, high-floor arm like Yesavage an attractive target. The 20-year-old is essentially a plug-and-play future rotation piece, even if his ceiling is more middle-of-the-rotation than future ace.”

USA Today: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

Bleacher Report: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

MLB.com: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

CBS Sports: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Four different options for San Francisco here. There’s the prep pitcher with tools (Caminiti), the safe hitter (Kurtz), and the College World Series standout (Moore). Honeycutt is arguably the best defensive player in the draft with Golden Glove potential. He posted career-highs in batting average (0.318), slugging (0.714), and home runs (28) in 2024.

USA Today: “A Giants draftee (20th round, 2021), Honeycutt instead became a Tar Heel walk-off king, lifting them to the College World Series while slugging 28 home runs and 65 in three years. The Giants will spend a much higher pick on him this time.”

CBS Sports: “The Giants lean heavily on analytical models to make decisions, including on draft day, and Moore has put up premium exit velocities throughout his time with the Volunteers. He may not be a second baseman long-term, but just about everyone believe he’s going to hit and hit a lot.”

USA Today: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Bleacher Report: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

MLB.com: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

CBS Sports: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Another mix of Kurtz and Moore here as well as the productive Yesavage for Chicago.

USA Today: “He’s the third-best pitching prospect behind Burns and Smith, but Yesavage is hardly a consolation prize, especially for a pitching-needy organization like the Cubs. A 6-4 lefty with a fastball that touches 98 mph and offers the promise of a quick move through the organization.”

CBS Sports: “The track record of college first basemen taken in the first round is awful (C.J. Cron is the last to have a decent career), plus Kurtz missed time with a shoulder injury this year. Those factors conspire to push him down into the middle of the first round. The Cubs seem like a fine landing spot.”

USA Today: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State

Bleacher Report: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake High School (TX)

MLB.com: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

CBS Sports: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

Four different options for Seattle at No. 15. Tibbs III offers the best power outside of Condon and Caglianone. Seattle’s picked prep players in the first round in recent years and Gillen fits the bill. He rebounded from two injury-riddled seasons with a standout senior year that showed off his impressive athleticism and power from the plate.

Cijntje is the best pitcher on the board at this point with Caminiti and Yesavage off the board. Waldschmidt’s exit velocity is outstanding and if he continues to improve off of ACL surgery he could have a future as a centerfielder.

USA Today: “The ACC player of the year, Tibbs slugged 28 homers in 66 games for the Seminoles. A solid bat but some defensive limitations that might confine him to left field or first base.”

CBS Sports: “The Mariners traded their competitive-balance pick (No. 68) to the White Sox for Gregory Santos (competitive-balance picks are the only picks that can be traded), so they get fewer bites at the apple this year. That could lean them to a ‘safer’ pick and college hitters with premium data are as safe as it gets.”

USA Today: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

Bleacher Report: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

MLB.com: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

CBS Sports: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

Cam Smith was another Men’s College World Series star with two-run homers to sweep the Seminoles through regional play. He improved at the plate and at third base as a sophomore this season. Waldschmidt could improve with more time from the ACL surgery while Honeycutt is already a standout centerfielder on defense.

USA Today: “It’s back-to-back Seminoles as the Marlins snag Smith, who posted a .488 OBP and 16 homers and moves well with a 225-pound frame that suggests more power is in the offing.”

Bleacher Report: “The Marlins are desperate for impact offensive talent, and Waldschmidt has the tools to be just that with elite exit velocity numbers and a polished, all-fields approach at the plate.”

USA Today: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

Bleacher Report: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

MLB.com: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest

CBS Sports: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest

Benge is versatile at the plate and on defense; he was a semifinalst for the John Olerud Award this year (won by Caglianone). He boasts a combination of top exit velocities and bat-to-ball skills. King may end up at shortstop initially but he could develop at multiple spots on defense. At the plate, he needs to improve his discipline but racked up 78 hits this season.

USA Today: “Another two-way talent who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and now profiles as a outfielder with elite exit velocity. Brewers have had success with collegiate outfielders Garrett Mitchell (UCLA) and Sal Frelick (Boston College), and Benge gives them another solid and projectable option with loud skills.”

CBS Sports: “King fits Milwaukee’s M.O. as a player with power who might be a swing tweak or two away from fully unlocking it. He played at least 10 games at three different positions this spring (shortstop, third base, center field) and has a chance to play third or center at the next level. Pop and defensive versatility is up the Brewers’ alley.”

USA Today: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

Bleacher Report: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

MLB.com: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

CBS Sports: Kellen Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (Florida)

White’s been a powerful hitter from the plate since his prep days. He was tied for 16th in home runs (24) and tied for 22nd in hits (92) in the country this season. Neither Waldschmidt nor Benge can match his power. Lindsey is a top-tier athlete who lacks hit power at this point but makes up for it with strike zone awareness and decision making.

USA Today: “A star at both N.C. State and LSU, his elite power should transfer well to the bigs. Can play either corner spot and it’s easy to envision the Rays deploying him at both.”

Bleacher Report: “[Benge] is a legitimate five-tool talent as a position player with a 55-hit, 55-power offensive profile and a strong arm that plays well in right field, though he is also quick enough to potentially get some run in center field. The Rays tend to target standout tools and figure out how they fit when the time comes, and Benge could prove to be a great value at this spot.”

USA Today: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

Bleacher Report: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

MLB.com: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

CBS Sports: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

Three familiar prospects are all options at No. 19 for the Mets: the ambidextrous Cijntje, defensive standout Honeycutt, and Benge’s two-way potential.

USA Today: “Will Steve Cohen pay the ambidextrous pitcher two paychecks if he makes the majors as a right-handed starter and lefty reliever? The possibilities are intriguing, but it’s from the right side where Cijintje touches 97 and sits 95 with the fastball, complemented by solid secondary offerings.”

Bleacher Report: “Honeycutt would be a Top-10 pick if not for some swing-and-miss concerns, as he struck out 83 times in 62 games this spring… [he] profiles as a potential Gold Glove center fielder. So, even if he never hits for a high average, he provides enough secondary value to make a huge impact at the next level.”

USA Today: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest

Bleacher Report: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

MLB.com: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

CBS Sports: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

King brings consistent hitting and White offers power for the Blue Jays. Janek is the second non-Power 5 college prospect in this roundup. The Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year runs better than your typical catcher and is a threat to steal bases. Brecht pitched just 78.1 innings for Iowa this year but racked up 128 strikeouts, putting him fifth in the country in strikeouts per nine innings (14.71).

USA Today: “Quite a ride from Wingate College to Winston-Salem to Ontario. King can play all over the infield and while he lacks Bazzana and Wetherholt’s elite speed-power combo, he offers plug-and-play lineup reliability for a franchise that may be taking some hits on the dirt.”

MLB.com: “With impressive bat speed and good strength, Janek creates plus raw power that translates into average game pop with most of his home runs driven to his pull side. While he’s an aggressive right-handed hitter who looks to launch balls and frequently chases pitches out of the strike zone, he’s showing more patience and doing a better job of using the entire field in 2024.”

USA Today: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

Bleacher Report: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest

MLB.com: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

CBS Sports: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

King and Honeycutt fall no further than Minnesota at No. 21 overall in this roundup. Amick was part of the NCAA’s best offense last season and finished tied for second on the Volunteers with 23 home runs. That raw power will likely translate to the majors but he’ll need to develop more consistency.

USA Today: “Not a ton of upside but also just tapping into it after transferring from Clemson to Knoxville, where he hit 23 homers for the national champs. Twins can work to reverse his plate discipline – he had 53 strikeouts to 29 walks this season.”

CBS Sports: “This draft class has four college catchers who could hear their names called within the first 40 picks. Depending who you ask, Janek is the best of the bunch thanks to his power, his strong arm, and his good receiving chops. The Twins are not the easiest team to pin down leading up to the draft because the current front office regime has shown a willingness to do anything.”

USA Today: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

Bleacher Report: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

MLB.com: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

CBS Sports: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

A mix of production from the plate and the mound here for Baltimore. Smith and Waldschmidt both fall no further than No. 22 overall in this roundup.

USA Today: “Can Mike Elias shake his obsession with college outfielders? We say not yet. Waldschmidt is rising quickly after a prep and collegiate career marred by injury, but his elite exit velocity, chase rate and potential to play center field will be too tough to pass up.”

MLB.com: “When he’s on, Brecht’s fastball and slider are comparable to those of Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. He can sit at 96-99 mph and touch 101 with his heater, which has explosive running action and superior shape to Skenes’ fastball, though Brecht doesn’t locate his nearly as well. All that said, his best pitch is a slider that parks at 87-89 mph and peaks at 91 with plenty of horizontal and vertical action.”

USA Today: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)

Bleacher Report: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)

MLB.com: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (Baton Rouge, La.)

CBS Sports: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

A consensus on the position but not the player here. Mayfield is one of the top lefties in the draft with a fastball in the high 90s and arguably the best changeup in the class. Schmidt’s curveball is the best and his fastball is top tier among the prep pitchers in the class.

USA Today: “The 6-4 19-year-old has touched 97 mph with his fastball. The Dodgers and other late-round clubs may need to get creative with their bonus pool to lure the top prep lefty away from Oklahoma State.”

MLB.com: “Not only does Schmidt have some of the best stuff in the Draft, but he also generates it with ease and fills the strike zone. He still has room to add more strength to his wiry 6-foot-4 frame, so he could get better. He used to elicit comparisons to three-time All-Star Adam Wainwright, but now he’s better at the same stage of his career.”

USA Today: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

Bleacher Report: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

MLB.com: Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS (Temecula, Calif.)

CBS Sports: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (Baton Rouge, La.)

Another spot with a consensus on pitching. Brecht brings efficiency, Cijntje brings switch-pitching possibilities, and Schmidt’s a high-ceiling prospect. Doughty makes up for his lack of size (6-foot-1) with a strong, athletic frame that translates to a commanding fastball, strong curveball, and solid slider.

USA Today: “Let’s make it five years in a row the Braves take a pitcher in the first round, four of them collegians. Atlanta will need to improve Brecht’s command but they have a 6-4, 235-pound frame to work with.”

MLB.com: “Doughty’s athleticism helps him find the strike zone very consistently, especially given his power repertoire. Those who were around him at the Area Code Games also saw plus makeup, a kid who was a sponge for pitching knowledge, something he would take to Oklahoma State should the Draft not go his way.”

USA Today: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

Bleacher Report: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (Baton Rouge, La.)

MLB.com: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)

CBS Sports: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)

Mayfield doesn’t make it out of the top 25 in this roundup and Schmidt brings a pair of strong pitches already. Jordan’s the lone outfielder here with arguably the top bat speed in the class. His strength with that swing bodes well for the majors but will need to improve his plate discipline.

USA Today: “It’s been eight years since the Padres have taken a collegiate player with their first pick – but they also don’t typically draft 25th, this position partly a punishment for grossly exceeding the luxury tax. But Jordan is no low-upside safety pick. He has power to all fields, elite exit velocity and arm strength from right field.”

Bleacher Report: “The Padres are one of the few teams that have not shied away from high school pitching in the first round, and that could be to their benefit this year as there’s a good chance one of the consensus top three—Cam Caminiti, Kash Mayfield and William Schmidt—will still be on the board at No. 25 overall.”

USA Today: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

Bleacher Report: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

MLB.com: Tommy White, 3B, Louisiana State

CBS Sports: Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS (Temecula, Calif.)

A mix of prospects for the Yankees here. Culpepper is good but not great for now at the plate and may need to transition to third base in the majors.

USA Today: “A consummate glue guy on the left side of the infield, Culpepper has both pop and speed, neither elite but also an excellent package for this end of the first round. With Anthony Volpe entrenched, the hot corner would be calling Culpepper.”

CBS Sports: “New York hasn’t taken a pitcher in the first round since Clarke Schmidt in 2017, but this would be a good year to break the trend given who’s available in our mock draft. The toolsy exit velocity guys they typically target are mostly off the board and Doughty offers some of the best data in the draft class (spin rates, etc.).”

USA Today: Caleb Lomavita, C, Cal

Bleacher Report: Kellen Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (Florida)

MLB.com: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (Elmhurst, Ill.)

CBS Sports: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (Arizona)

Four different prospects at four different positions for Philadelphia. Lomavita’s one of the top catchers whose swing is unusual but effective. He’s improved his bat potential in his collegiate career. Sloan has a very good fastball and a surprisingly advanced changeup for a prep pitcher. Caldwell lacks size (5 feet, 9 inches tall) but makes up for it with bat speed, aggression, and athleticism to hang in at centerfield.

USA Today: “One of two Bay Area backstops who could go in the first round – along with Stanford’s Malcolm Moore – Lomavita brings a polished offensive profile but also questions about his receiving ability that may suggest a move to the infield.”

CBS Sports: “A year ago, the Phillies landed the steal of the draft in Aidan Miller at No. 27. Miller and Caldwell are not all that similar — Miller is a power threat likely to settle in at third base, Caldwell is a slash-and-dash burner — but the Phillies have really leaned into the high school ranks the last few years, and Caldwell is the highest-upside high school position player still available in our mock draft.”

USA Today: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

Bleacher Report: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

MLB.com: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake High School (TX)

CBS Sports: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

A bunch of familiar prospects here as Brecht makes it into the first round of all four mocks.

USA Today: “They head north just a bit to pluck a collegian who could go higher in the first round thanks to solid receiving skills and 17-homer, 1.185 OPS production in the AAC.”

MLB.com: “Gillen may have the best bat of any high schooler in this Draft. He has a disciplined approach, quick hands and a sweet left-handed swing that combine to produce line drives to all fields. His hitting ability will allow him to get to most of his plus raw power, giving him a 20-homer floor, and he should develop more pop as he adds more strength to his physical 6-foot-2 frame..”

USA Today: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (Arizona)

Bleacher Report: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (Arizona)

MLB.com: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

CBS Sports: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake High School (TX)

Moore makes his first appearance in this mock draft roundup. Compared to Janek, his bat is more productive but his glove isn’t, giving a consideration to a potential position change.

USA Today: “Caldwell stands just 5-9, and though the Diamondbacks wouldn’t be be getting a power hitter, his high-energy approach, speed and hit tool would play well in both their lineup and ballpark.”

MLB.com: “[Moore]’s shown he can have an advanced approach at the plate, including doing damage with two strikes, though he wore out catching every day in his first year of college. While his surface numbers were down for much of his sophomore season, he still had elite chase rates and swing-and-miss rates in the zone. If teams think he can be an average catcher, he could easily be considered a top 10 pick.”

USA Today: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake High School (TX)

Bleacher Report: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

MLB.com: Kellen Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (Florida)

CBS Sports: Caleb Lomavita, C, Cal

Gillen and Janek both just make it as consensus first-round picks. Lindsey falls a bit farther down the order for MLB.com and Lomavita round out a pair of productive catchers for the Rangers.

USA Today: “Injuries dimmed his star a bit, but Gillen may prove to have tools comparable to the prep bats taken in the top 10.”

CBS Sports: “It was difficult to find a home in this mock for Lomavita, who is likely to come off the board earlier than this pick. The Rangers may prefer Stanford’s Malcolm Moore, another catcher with a chance to be selected earlier than No. 30. Any mock drafter will tell you it is more satisfying to nail a late first-round pick than a top-five pick. With the draft still two weeks out, the back of the first round remains wide open.”

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