MLB 2024 Draft

[DCTribefan]

Nailed it.

One can dream.

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Bump

 

[AZ_]

One can dream.

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Son of a bitch you did it…

 

[MirORich]

I’m not a massive draft guy, but JJ Wetherford puts in another year like last year and he seems like their ideal org fit. Nick Kurtz, too, if he keeps showing good plate discipline.

I keep forgetting that all of these guys will be putting down essentially another full years worth of resume before the draft takes place. You have to imagine the 1st pick Guardians board is pretty informed much earlier but those final stretches between March and June could very easily be the final puzzle piece between 2-3 top candidates.

 

[Gson]

Right now.. I have 31 guys on my list of possible Guardian first picks.. they include 11 Outfielders, 8 Pitchers, 6 Shortstops, 3 Catchers 2 Third Basemen and 1 second basemen; The age/class make up is.. 15 prepsters, 16 college kids. The top five or six guys in this draft will probably be dominated by two way players who will have to choose which path they're going on (position player or pitcher).. there is no franchise changing/must have talent in this draft.. but, it's still pretty deep.. We'll see..

the above was the posting from Sunday (3:22 pm).. before the start of the continuation of the Browns slow death spiral....

There are 32 names including:

*indicates a two way player.. pitching/position player

OF'ers(12): PJ Morlando*, Konnor Griffin*, Cam Caminiti*, Noah Franco*, Vance Honeycutt, Mike Mullinax*, Charlie Condon, Levi Sterling*, Braden Montgomery, Mike Sirota, Derek Curiel and Slade Caldwell.

Pitchers(9): Jac Caglione*, Chase Burns, Bryce Ranier*, Joey Oakie, Ryan Sloan, Brody Brecht, Owen Hall, Hagen Smith, and Josh Hartle

Infielders(8): Caleb Boneman, Nick Kurz, JJ Wetherholt, Owen Paino, Tommy White, Carter Johnson, Seaver King and Travis Bazzano

Catchers(3): Cade Arrambide, Jacob Cozart and Malcom Moore

Now, with the first overall.. all these names are possible.. including Griffin, Honeycutt, Kurz and others..

 

[macbdog]

Nick Kurtz, too, if he keeps showing good plate discipline.

I'll take the Mannheim Steamroller if he keeps it

Edit: I've come across some information that now places Kurtz on my No Draft List. Initially, I discovered that, according to the Internet, Kurtz played his freshman year of high school at Manheim Township HS before transferring to a boarding school in Tennessee. However, upon researching deeper into Manheim Township HS's baseball history, I was stopped dead in my tracks. Their only bigleaguer?

Cam Gallagher

Any excitement for Kurtz has been eliminated sadly.

 

[Tondo]

@Gson @Tondo @petes999

Time to legitimately talk about who your target is?

If I had to chose now, it's Wetherholt, even though he's on the "old" side.

Can't draft a 1B, plus Kurtz has K% and WF inflated stats going against him, that's too much risk at 1.

Cant draft a P 1st overall.

Bazzana turns 22 right after the draft. That's not great, but he has a better chance of playing OF, maybe even CF.

Michigan SS/3B Caleb Bonemer is the only HS bat as of now, but best case he turns into Wetherholt/Bazzana in college?

I vote JJ Wetherholt, plus hit/power/speed....that's good enough for me. If he has any shot at playing CF, he's the pick.

But a lot changes between now and draft day, that's why I usually don't start to pay attention before college season is underway

 

[Gson]

@Gson @Tondo @petes999

Time to legitimately talk about who your target is?

I've posted a list of 32 names.. The usual path is the list shrinks.. but that's usually because as many as a dozen names are without a doubt going to be drafted in front of the Guardians selection.. That is clearly not the case.. The list will be "skinnied up" with likely / expected later first rounders being removed.. That happens over the winter and into spring baseball/showcase circuits...

We'll see...

 

[petes999]

@Gson @Tondo @petes999

Time to legitimately talk about who your target is?

SC as I said in the other main thread, if there is truly not a standout guy by next Spring, I assume Cleveland will do what Cleveland does -- negotiate and take the guy that leaves the most room to buy some other picks from Comp A and rounds 2-5.

You can't go wrong with a college arm (try to time out window here with

Bibee
Williams
Espino
Cantillo
Allen

But, I would drool over some power. But, as the top power guys are 1st base, it will depend on what we do with the Manzardo, Naylor and Ramirez trio in 2 years (Naylor resigns and does Ramirez start DHing)??? And the other top guy is 2nd baseman Bazzana where we have GImenez locked up and Brito/Martinez coming up. Wetherholt is another 2nd baseman (top pick for now per Mayo) and will be tried at SS this year (but do they have arm for 3rd?). Can either of these guys be Ramirez heir replacement? Yet, if either can play CF, that is a plus and Tondo may be right.

Caglianone being a mini-Ohtani is enticing but has command issues and holes in his swing. Needs to really step up to be our pick but that would be an interesting (media) piece if he does both (that is so rare).

 

[Criznit]

He's a little lower on the lists, but I am liking this guy so far.. 6'3'' 185lb. If he's a legit centerfielder... Strikeouts might be a concern.

Mike Sirota​

 

[Criznit]

Love Kiley.

But when there is a full winter season, showcase circuit, and amateur season still to be played before the draft that is a ridiculous thing to say.

The #1 pick from this previous draft, whom 100% of baseball people would consider an "exceptional talent", wasn't in most people's 1st round this time last year.

Seems like an apt time to bump this Bimbo post

 

[AZ_]

Short list, for me:

Travis Bazzana
Vance Honeycutt
Braden Montgomery


I reserve the right to add to this list, but these guys stick out.

 

[Deezus]

How valuable is the #1 pick in MLB vs NFL/NBA? I know it is worse, but, as a casual fan (as opposed to the other 2 sports) I honestly don't know.

I came here for the @AZ_ take, as I knew he'd have a few in mind... Didn't disappoint! Excited to check these dudes out.

 

[DCTribefan]

If I had to chose now, it's Wetherholt, even though he's on the "old" side.

Can't draft a 1B, plus Kurtz has K% and WF inflated stats going against him, that's too much risk at 1.

Cant draft a P 1st overall.

Bazzana turns 22 right after the draft. That's not great, but he has a better chance of playing OF, maybe even CF.

Michigan SS/3B Caleb Bonemer is the only HS bat as of now, but best case he turns into Wetherholt/Bazzana in college?

I vote JJ Wetherholt, plus hit/power/speed....that's good enough for me. If he has any shot at playing CF, he's the pick.

But a lot changes between now and draft day, that's why I usually don't start to pay attention before college season is underway

What happened to drafting BPA instead positions of need?

 

[AZ_]

Freakish talent.

Hasn’t quite put it all together yet.

Speaks to the obvious, every player at the top of the board has their limitations and none of them should be viewed as “generational” talents as a prospect.

What they develop into can certainly be HOF quality.


Thanks to the transfer portal, will get to see him play against the SEC this year at A&M

 

[BimboColesHair]

Something to keep you all grounded.

Here was an early mock draft by MLB.com for 2023:

1. A’s: Dylan Crews, OF, Louisiana State
Crews was a solid high school prospect heading into the 2020 Draft but removed his name from consideration and headed to LSU. All he’s done is hit, with an OPS of 1.135 in two years with the Tigers. He’s going to mash, for average and plenty of power (22 homers in 2022), fitting the right-field offensive profile well.
2. Reds: Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
A left-handed-hitting shortstop, Gonzalez had an OPS over 1.000 as a freshman at Ole Miss, and while he slumped down the stretch in 2022, he finished well in postseason play and still hit 18 homers. He also continued to show a very advanced approach at the plate, with many more walks than strikeouts, all coming while playing a premium position.
3. Tigers: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
Dollander moved from Georgia Southern to Tennessee in 2022 and had an absolutely ridiculous season, going 10-0 for the Volunteers with a 2.39 ERA and a 108/13 K/BB ratio over 79 innings. He touches the upper-90s with his explosive fastball, and Dollander also features a solid slider, a slower curve and a decent changeup.

4. Nationals: Max Clark, OF, Franklin Community HS (Franklin, Ind.)
The Vanderbilt recruit has the best all-around toolset in the class and can do everything well on the diamond. He didn’t put up huge numbers in PDP League play, but he showed tremendous bat speed, solid exit velos, good raw power, a plus arm and speed.

​

5. Pirates: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick High School (Oak Island, N.C.)
Like Clark, Jenkins didn’t set the PDP League on fire, but he showed an ability to barrel up the baseball and registered some high exit velos as well. He has the chance to hit, and with a ton of power. Look for him and Clark to get locked in as the summer continues.
6. Red Sox: Will Sanders, RHP, South Carolina
The 6-foot-6 right-hander already has really good stuff with the chance for more in the tank as he continues to fill out that frame. He’s already up to 96 mph with his fastball, misses a ton of bats with an 82-84 mph slider and has solid feel for his mid-80s changeup.

7. Cubs: Enrique Bradfield, OF, Vanderbilt
Bradfield’s 80-grade speed has been well-known by scouts since his high school days, though there were questions about his lack of strength and ability to impact the ball. He’s never going to be known for power, though he did homer eight times in 2022. That might not matter given that he went 46-for-46 in stolen base attempts in 2022 and has 93 steals in two seasons at Vandy.

8. Royals: Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock HS (Round Rock, Texas)
The top high school arm in the class as of right now, Sykora is big (6-foot-5) and strong with plenty of arm strength to go along with some feel for pitching. He was throwing 94-98 mph in the PDP League, missed bats with an upper-80s slider and mixed in some good splitters as well.
9. Angels: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Southern Miss
Waldrep made a very strong transition to the Southern Miss rotation in 2022, striking out 14 batters per nine innings while walking 3.3. He’s bringing his mid-90s fastball (up to 98), a hard slider up to 90 mph, an occasional slower curve and a mid-80s changeup. He misses a ton of bats with all of his secondary stuff.
10. D-backs: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner HS (Aldan, Pa.)
McGonigle is already building a reputation as one of the best pure hitters among the high school crop, going 7-for-15 in PDP League action. He’s a left-handed-hitting middle infielder who just has an innate feel for the barrel.
11. Rangers: Aidan Miller, 3B, JW Mitchell HS (Trinity, Fla.)
The younger brother of Reds prospect, Jackson, Aidan Miller certainly made a name for himself during All-Star week in Los Angeles. He went 4-for-5 to earn MVP honors in the High School All-American Game, then came out on top in the high school home run derby. He’s an excellent right-handed hitter with plenty of power now and to come, with third base his most likely defensive destination.
12. Rockies: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
Teams looking for college power bats will certainly be watching Wilken closely. The third baseman hit 17 homers as a freshman, then six more in the Cape Cod League that summer. He followed that up with 23 more this past spring.
13. Marlins: Dylan Cupp, Cedartown HS (Cedartown Ga.)
Cupp has all the tools necessary to stick at shortstop for a long time, with excellent range, good hands and plenty of arm. The right-handed hitter runs well and has shown excellent bat-to-ball skills.
14. Orioles: Gavin Grahovac, Villa Park HS (Orange, Calif.)
Grahovac hits the ball, and hard, on a consistent basis, recording high exit velos in PDP League play and picking up two hits, including a 98-mph double, at the All-American Game.
15. White Sox: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
After hitting 18 homers for Miami this past spring, Morales led Team USA by hitting .400 and slugging .600 in competition. The power from the right side for this 6-foot-4 infielder is very real.
16. Guardians: Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (Rowley, Mass.)
White hadn’t pitched much in showcases, only giving small glimpses of his stuff before heading to the PDP League, where he promptly struck out seven in his three-inning start. The command wavered a bit, but the stuff was legit: a fastball up to 96 with good carry, an upper-70s slider with good spin rates and an effective changeup.
17. Giants: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
The corner outfielder certainly looks like he has the bat to profile at his position. He’s coming off a huge year for the Gators, hitting .356/.447/.719 with 26 homers, and Langford then went 7-for-21 for Team USA. The right-handed hitter has plenty of power but doesn’t sell out for it (14.5 percent K rate in 2022).
18. Twins: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
Wilson’s father, Jack, played 12 years in the big leagues and will now be an assistant coach at Grand Canyon. Not that the younger Wilson needs help after hitting .358/.418/.585 as a sophomore, then performing on the Cape and going 4-for-11 with USA Baseball.
19. Cardinals: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
Lowder gave up just one run in 6 1/3 IP for Team USA after a sophomore season at Wake Forest that saw him finish 11-3 with a 3.08 ERA and 105/26 K/BB ratio. He struck out 9.5 batters per nine innings using a fastball up to 97, sitting just over 93 mph, a low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup.
20. Phillies: Patrick Reilly, RHP, Vanderbilt
A bit of an upside play here, as Reilly worked mostly as a reliever at Vandy in 2022, albeit one who threw more than 50 innings. The stuff can be pretty electric but the command is spotty, with a fastball that touches 98 mph and sits around 94-95, a low-80s slider that misses a lot of bats, plus a changeup and cutter.

And here were the betting odds for #1 pick from 12/15/22 for the 2023 draft:

1. Dylan Crews, OF, LSU​

2. Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee​

3. Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Ole Miss​

4. Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida​

5. Max Clark, OF, Franklin Community HS (Franklin, IN.)​

6. Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest​

7. Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon​

8: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS (Oak Island, NC)​

9. Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida​

10. Brayden Taylor, SS, TCU​

11. Enrique Bradfield, OF, Vanderbilt​

12. Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner HS (Aldan, PA)​

13. Aidan Miller, 3B, JW Mitchell HS (FL)​

14. Travis Honeyman, OF, Boston College​

15. Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS (Portland, OR)​

Notice anyone missing from these lists?

Still a ways away with a lot of baseball to be played in a lot of different venues and a lot of development taking place. I get the excitement, I don't get some statements just yet though. The cream will rise in time.