2024 MLB Draft: Top 300 Prospects

1. Travis Bazzana, 2B — Oregon State
HOMETOWN: Sydney, Australia
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 199
BAT/THROW: L-R
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This was close. Really close. But ultimately, Bazzana’s long track record, handedness and more obvious floor give him the edge as the top player in the class, among other reasons listed below.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a prospect with a better combination of pure hit tool, approach, and peak exit velocities than Travis Bazzana. An import out of Australia, Bazzana possesses plus bat-to-ball skills to go alongside his elite eye. He refuses to expand the zone and has shown a willingness to all fields. He’s also about as good as they come in terms of pummeling balls left in the strike zone. He’s one of the more decorated hitters in college baseball in terms of fighting off pitches just off the black.

A brutally difficult at-bat for opposing pitchers. Bazzana has flashed plus raw power, and he’s getting to a lot of it in games. If there’s one nitpick scouts would like to see improve as the draft approaches, it’s his polish against left-handed pitching. Bazzana annhilites righties, but his swing rates and chase rates both jump a bit against southpaws, and his exit velocities take a dip as well.

An import out of Sydney, Bazzana was a star in the Pac-12 immediately as a true freshman. The Aussie has twitch and bounce on the dirt with an average arm and enough athleticism to make the plays to his right and left. Some scouts want to see what it looks like over an extended period at shortstop, but that opportunity has yet to truly present itself. He projects a potential plus hitter with above-average power at the next level, all while playing a steady, if not exceptional second base.

He also figures to steal upwards of 20-or-more bags per season at the next level as his high IQ and above average speed should both impact the game immediately on the base paths.

Perhaps Bazzana’s greatest strength however is tireless pursuit of perfection and improvement in his game. He’s an analytic mind who welcomes developing his game through tangible numbers and data evaluation. The kid grinds. His approach toward the game is already well-suited for the next level, and many believe his game should translate quickly to professional ball. He’s got a shot at developing into someone like Jason Kipnis at the next level.

2. Charlie Condon, 3B/OF — Georgia
HOMETOWN: Marietta, GA
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 216
BAT/THROW: R-R
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In another six weeks, Condon may hold the top spot. He’s been the hottest player on the planet and if he continues to prove his torrid offensive capabilities at the plate in SEC play against more premium competition, it may tip the scales.

Condon’s emergence for the Bulldogs in 2023 came as a bit of a surprise to the college baseball world after the long, lanky outfielder redshirted in 2022 to add weight and work on his swing. It’s a similar player arch to former Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford, and Condon could be following in his footsteps. Condon broke through as the regular left fielder for the Bulldogs last year and immediately provided impact with the bat. He’s moving around the field at different positions this spring, but the bat is what ultimately catches the headlines. He’s got double-plus raw power and a hit tool that has continued to improve at the University of Georgia.

The swing can get a little long at times, and there’s some questions on his ability to make enough contact on pitches outside of the strike zone to be a truly consistent pure hitter at the next level. That’s to be expected of a 6-foot-6-inch frame. The levers are long and the path to the baseball will always be more complicated than his peers. Few doubt the impact in the overall offensive profile, even if he may have some small holes in his offensive game at the next level.

He may only possess an average hit tool when all said and done, but there’s 40-homer upside.

Condon has received mixed reviews on his defensive ability, though just about everyone who’s laid eyes on him this spring agrees the glove has taken a step in the right direction. He’s received a ton of time at third base this year and has showcased at least average athleticism with strong situational awareness and some flair for the highlight reel play. His arm strength is stronger on the dirt than in the outfield, receiving above-average grades from scouts featuring carry across the diamond. He’s moving better than he once did, and the arm strength is plenty strong enough to warrant consideration in right field as a pro.

Condon has the makings of a right-right power-hitting outfielder or third baseman. If the swing-and-miss can shrink just a bit from where it was a year ago as July approaches, Condon has Top-5 pick upside and looks the part of a bat who could move quickly at the next level. There have been Kris Bryant and Nick Castellanos comps thrown on Condon this year.

3. JJ Wetherholt, 2B/3B — West Virginia
HOMETOWN: Gibsonia, PA
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 190
BAT/THROW: L-R
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Wetherholt, a thick, strong-bodied infielder, has positional versatility, though most consider him a second- or third baseman in the long-term. He’ll get plenty of run at shortstop for the Mountaineers in 2024, though most scouts don’t project it his future home. It’s average arm strength and he’s sure-handed. Wetherholt can handle the routine expectations anywhere on the dirt, albeit lacking the athletic tools to make the sensational play.

The bat is exceedingly impressive here. Wetherholt can really hit with double-plus bat-to-ball skills and a willingness to go gap-to-gap and stay away from the pull-heavy approach that gets so many lefty bats in trouble. The hand speed is exceptional with a barrel that stays through the zone a long time. There’s some steepness to Wetherholt’s swing that provides natural game power. The power and bat speed here are real, comfortably plus with barrel awareness few of his peers can match.

Wetherholt consistently hits the ball hard more than just about anyone in the country. On top of his tools in the batters box, Wetherholt is also an above average runner who gets strong jumps on the base paths. He’s an aggressive, high-IQ player who figures to steal plenty of bags at the next level. While Wetherholt lacks much physical projection, his current level of play is representative of a player who could go No. 1 overall in any given draft regardless of physical upside.

Hamstring injuries have limited his ability to stay on the field at times, including through the first several weeks of the 2024 season. Considering his athleticism and track record, his resume with the bat should provide a floor inside the top ten picks of the draft even if he returns this spring and is limited to the DH role the rest of the way.

4. Braden Montgomery, OF — Texas A&M
HOMETOWN: Madison, MS
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 220
BAT/THROW: B-R
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5. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP — Florida
HOMETOWN: Tampa, FL
HEIGHT: 6-5
WEIGHT: 210
BAT/THROW: L-L
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Caglianone is possibly the most decorated and talented two-way player college baseball has seen in a very long time. Offensively he possesses immense hand and bat speed allowing the 6-foot-5-inch lefty to get into double-plus raw power. Most scouts see above average bat-to-ball skills here, but Caglianone can get anxious at the plate and expand the zone at an unhealthy clip at times. It’s remarkable barrel awareness considering the long levers.

He’s shown the ability to battle off pitches outside of the strike zone. Still, that’ll need to iron itself out if he hopes to reach his middle-of-the-order upside offensively.

Caglianone is an average runner and is likely destined for first base as a pro, but he’s flashed solid defense at the pillow and evaluators believe he’ll be plenty comfortable at that spot full-time. This is an impact bat with 40-home run upside if it matures.

On the mound, he’s been up to 101 in side sessions and 99 in games and will flash an above average slider that’s really come on of late. There’s also a changeup, though it lags a bit behind his primary two-pitch mix. Caglianone is a legitimate pitching prospect with no. 4 upside, though there is considerable reliever risk due to command concerns and his ability to repeat his operation deep into starts. He worked hard over the past 12 months to shorten his arm action and tighten up his elbow spiral, and that seems to have paid dividends in his ability to control the ball. He’s still very young and has plenty of time to shore up the polish and consistency of those mechanical necessities.

There are a multitude of avenues Caglianone can take to become a valuable and productive big leaguer. Which route he’ll choose, and which route scouts prefer for that matter, is yet to be determined, though most point toward the offensive upside.

6. Konnor Griffin, OF/SS/RHP — Jackson Prep
HOMETOWN: Florence, MS
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: R-R
COMMITMENT: LSU
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Considering the size and physicality of Konnor Griffin, it’s incredible to think he’ll barely be 18 years old on draft day. Griffin reclassified out of the 2025 draft class after overmatching his peers. He has the frame scouts dream on, a long, levered body with projectable strength and present athleticism. The upside here is tremendous.

Griffin plays shortstop and centerfield now, but most think he projects best in the grass where his plus speed and rangy routes will play best. He’s got a strong throwing arm and the twitch necessary to make a good first step. He has every chance to stick on the dirt, but the hands are probably solid average and there’s a high likelihood he’ll grow off the position. He could probably be an above average defender at either spot.

Grffin is also comfortably a plus runner with a long stride and speed that should hold well as his body further matures.

Already an accomplished slugger, Griffin has considerable bat speed with over-the-fence juice and should grow into 60-grade game power. Scouts would like to see the hit tool show more consistency in-game, but he’s shown flashes of polish and strong swing decisions.

The bat got better as the summer went on last year, and there’s a large swatch of the industry who believes he has the chops to hit as a full-time player at the next level. Griffin is a swing-tinkerer. As he settles into a pro routine, the results should follow. Getting the barrel to the ball and avoiding weak contact will be the next checkpoint in Griffin’s offensive development. If it all clicks, Griffin has 5-tool upside.

It’s not totally a foregone conclusion that he’s a position player either. Griffin has been up to 97 on the mound with a put-away slider. He’s a tremendous mover and some liken his profile on the bump to what Jack Flaherty was at this same stage. Because of that ceiling, some scouts actually prefer him on the mound. There’s two-way upside here and whoever drafts Griffin may elect to let him do both while they figure out his most productive avenue going forward.

In a draft lacking athleticism and impact ceiling at the top, Griffin stands out for his tools, potential and projection to contribute in a number of ways up the middle of the field at the next level. It’s unlikely he falls far.

7. Nick Kurtz, 1B — Wake Forest
HOMETOWN: Lancaster, PA
HEIGHT: 6-5
WEIGHT: 235
BAT/THROW: L-L
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Kurtz burst onto the scene as a true freshman posting some of the most impressive batted-ball and swing-decision metrics of anyone during the 2022 college baseball season. Those metrics carried over to the 2023 season as Kurtz proved himself one of the most feared hitters in the sport. It’s been a slow start to the 2024 season compounded by bumps and bruises. He’s hardly lost his shine, but as a bat-first first base prospect, there was always going to be pressure on the offensive production in 2024.

Some evaluators believe Kurtz may be the best power hitter in the 2024 class, and that’s saying a lot considering some of the names he’s mentioned alongside. It’s absolutely mammoth bat speed and buggy hips from the left side. It’s every bit that of double-plus juice. Kurtz possesses above average bat-to-ball skills with an elite eye at the plate, hardly ever expanding the zone. He’s the prototype middle-of-the-order slugger.

Kurtz is an average runner underway with solid baseball instincts and the ability to impact the game on the base paths if you don’t pay attention to him. He’s a solid average glove at first base and can get by as something close to a fringy left fielder, though scouts prefer he stay on the dirt for durability’s sake. Kurtz has a chance to anchor a big league lineup for a long, long time. He reminds some of Jim Thome.

8. Chase Burns, RHP — Wake Forest
HOMETOWN: Gallatin, TN
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 215
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Burns has long been on the radar of scouts going back to his days as a bluechip prep in 2021. Primarily a two-pitch guy entering 2024, Burns added a devastating changeup and curveball to his arsenal when he can find feel for them in games. His one-two combo is almost always enough to put away the opposition, however.

Burns offers an upper 90s fastball that’s touched 101 and figures to continue tickling triple digits as he matures. It features plus carry and Wake Forest helped develop natural cut to the pitch eliminating what arm-side tail he used to feature. It’s a unicorn fastball with outlier shape and traits.

When Burns is on, and he’s had contests where his pitch charts are awfully tight, it grades out as a double-plus heater and will likely have nights where it performs like an elite pitch. Burns’ slider is thrown hard and firm, up to 92, sitting 89-90 with extreme two-plane tilt. Burns’ spin rates are high, and he’s got a track record of controlling the strike zone and overpowering the opposition. It’s every bit that of a 70-grade breaking ball. There’s a seldom-used upper-80s changeup in his arsenal as well. Its shape compliments the fastball nicely and can be a real weapon against left-handed hitters. There is a bigger curveball in there as well, a mid-80s firm hammer with more depth than sweep. The perfect tunnel off his fastball. It’s got teeth, but is often uncompetitive.

As he starts working in feel for his tertiary weapons the arsenal should continue to overwhelm hitters in ways college baseball seldom sees. The key word seems to be ‘overwhelm”. Scouts are still split on whether the strike-quality at the next level will allow Burns to overpower hitters or whether his walk rates may rise as more advanced bats step into the box and see his stuff. Despite the low walk rates throughout his collegiate career, there remains a narrative in the industry of relief risk.

Burns spent the first two years in college at Tennessee before transferring to Wake Forest for 2024. He rotated between a rotation role and a high leverage bullpen role.

The Wake Forest pitching lab should give him a leg up in understanding pitch design and how the art of the sport translates to the next level. This includes improving his overall pitchability and strategy toward going deeper into ballgames with his elite stuff. An emphasis on being more efficient out of the stretch is one area he could improve.

Burns simply looks like a front-line big league arm and could be the first arm off the board to a team that believes and trusts he’s a surefire starter going forward.

10. Seaver King, OF/2B — Wake Forest
HOMETOWN: Athens, GA
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 190
BAT/THROW: R-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch video

King was a metric monster in 2023 posting gaudy exit velocity numbers on his way to a .411/.457/.699 slash with eleven homers. While there is slight concern inside the scouting community on high chase rates King posted during the wood-bat summer with Team USA and on the Cape, he did make up for his eager approach by making a ton of contact, and it was to all fields and extremely loud. He can get away with swinging at pitches outside the zone at times, and fights to get back to a point where he can kill a cookie mistake.

King has posted ground ball rates a little higher than the industry generally likes to see over the past two seasons as well. Even still, it’s plus raw power and he’s tapping into a lot of it in games right now.

King has enough twitch and athleticism to handle shortstop, though most believe his throwing arm will push him to second base or centerfield at the next level. He’s played a ton of centerfield for the Demon Deacons and scouts think he’s capable at the next level, especially considering how green he is presently at the position. He’s a plus runner who should be an asset on the base paths.

So long as King’s approach doesn’t derail what he’s physically capable of doing on the field, his assortment of above-average to plus tools should show out in a big way at the next level.