The MLB Draft provides an immensely valuable way for teams to improve. Even if the full effects won’t be apparent for a couple if years at least. With the 2024 Draft drawing to a close Tuesday, here are my five favorite classes.
We’re running on the assumption clubs sign their selections. Failure to do so with a high pick could change the analyses below.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians were the owners of the First Overall selection, and had four picks in the top 100, while also picking up multiple top-1o0 caliber talents in later rounds. Outside the top 100, prepsters Cameron Sullivan and Chase Mobley both figure to get over-slot deals. There were plenty of fantastic picks for the Guardians.
Best Player: Travis Bazzana, 2B — Oregon State
Bazzana provides a combination of character, polish, and talent clubs look for as the face of the franchise. The Aussie has star upside while providing a reasonable floor of an above-average regular.
Best Pick: Joey Oakie, RHP — Ankeny HS (IO)
Oakie is a fascinating high school arm with a hopping fastball up to 97 mph, and a banger sweeper into the mid-80s that’ll get up to 3000 RPMs. The slider immediately belongs in a big-league bullpen, but there’s plenty of rotation upside to unlock if Oakie can throw more consistent strikes and figure out a third pitch.
DOYLE: 2025 Mock Draft
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee’s first pick wasn’t until No. 17 overall, though they had four selections in the top 100 through prior trades. Milwaukee opted for more of a bucket approach, supposedly getting a discount with their first pick, and spreading the wealth down their board. Joey Broughton and James Nunnallee likely get over-slot bonuses.
Best Player: Braylon Payne, CF — Elkins High School (TX)
Payne was a surprising pick, but understandable why the Brewers were drawn to his abilities. He’s a 70 runner and a surefire center fielder, a trait there wasn’t much of in this class. Payne is only 17 years old, and scouts project him to grow into more muscle and impact at the plate as he matures.
Best Pick: Jaron DeBerry, RHP — Dallas Baptist
DeBerry’s a projectable strike thrower with a metrically appealing arsenal. DeBerry’s a pronator who tends to cut his up-to-90 mph fastball. There are the makings of a plus slider and curveball with massive spin rates, as well as a cutter and changeup thrown in there as well. DeBerry throws plenty of strikes, and Milwaukee’s done well with developing arms like this.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds were another winner of the Draft lottery alongside the Guardians and had the No. 2 pick. They had four Top 100 selections, but only one in the Top 50.
Best Player: Chase Burns, RHP — Wake Forest
The best pitcher in this Draft, Burns has a terrifying presence on the mound. A fireballer up to 101 mph to set up a filthy slider and a personality as electric as his stuff, Burns has every bit of the potential to become a big-league ace.
Best Pick: Tyson Lewis, SS — Millward West High School (NE)
Lewis’ name was thrown around as a potential first-rounder, so the fact he got to the No. 51 pick was surprising. A good athlete with feel to hit and some raw, untapped power, Lewis’ skillset suggests above-average regular at shortstop if all the tools come together. He’s a cold-weather bat … seeing how he adjusts to better competition will be key.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies have one of the more questionable futures of any big-league club, meaning it’s vital they do well in the Draft. This year, they did fantastic, starting with the No. 3 overall pick, and three Top-50 selections. And they capitalized.
Best Player: Charlie Condon, OF — Georgia
Condon’s power in Coors Field in a couple of years is nothing short of a dream come true for the Rockies. He had one of the best offensive seasons in collegiate history in 2024, and there’s the potential for a game-wrecker at the plate.
Best Pick: Brody Brecht, RHP — Iowa
Brecht making it to the Rockies at 38 was baffling. The right-hander has elite arm talent, with a fastball up to 101 mph and a 70-grade power slider, plus the frame and athleticism suggesting every bit the potential to throw strikes and stay in the rotation. He does have work to do in that department, but this kind of arm doesn’t come along often.
The Rockies need a constant flow of arms coming through their system, and Brecht brings the bat-missing upside Colorado requires. Add him to last year’s first-round pick Chase Dollander and Colorado has the start of some better days on the mound.
DOYLE: Day 1 Winners
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh has something developing at the big-league level, in large part because of how they’ve handled recent drafts. This year, they had the No. 9 overall pick and three Top-50 selections.
Best Player: Konnor Griffin, SS/CF — Jackson Prep (MI)
Griffin’s an athletic specimen with tools to dream on at the plate, in the field, and on the bases. It’s a 6-foot-4, big-league frame with plus speed and a cannon of an arm up to 97 mph on the mound. He likely fits somewhere up the middle of the field long-term, with the potential for 30-plus homers and overall a superstar-caliber ceiling.
Best Pick: Wyatt Sanford, SS — Independence HS (TX)
Sanford is a surefire shortstop defender with a sweet left-handed swing and blooming potential at the plate. This spring, Sanford grew into more muscle and polish at the plate, and he’s a potential regular who could reach 20 homers, a la Dansby Swanson.
- 2025 Top 200 College Prospects
- 2025 Top 100 High School Prospects
- 2026 Top 100 College Prospects
- 2026 Top 100 High School Prospects
- MLB DRAFT: Bazzana, Smith lead debuts for top picks - September 4, 2024
- Prospect notes on Rockies, D-Backs, Mariners, led by Troy, Arroyo, Karros - August 2, 2024
- MLB DRAFT: Boctor’s 5 best classes - July 17, 2024
