A new board means a new mock draft and here we are. Six weeks are in the books in college baseball and conference play has begun. A few guys are separating from the pack.
This mock does not come with any intel and is almost exclusively conjecture and hypotheticals. It does, however, lend some light into how the draft board may play out as you work later into the first round.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following rankings and evaluations by FSS PLUS are based on subjective analysis and industry sources, and do not influence, are not influenced by, or are affiliated with the opinions and reports of Future Stars Series scouting and development staff.
1. Cleveland Guardians
Charlie Condon, OF — Georgia
HOMETOWN: Marietta, GA
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 218
BAT/THROW: R-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
Charlie Condon has arguably been the best player in the country this spring. Match that with Cleveland resurgent efforts in the 2023 draft to add some more power to their farm and this may end up a match made in heaven. It hardly matters if he’s a third baseman or an outfielder, he fits nicely inside a Guardians farm system looking for more impact at the top of their prospect lists.
2. Cincinnati Reds
Travis Bazzana, 2B — Oregon State
HOMETOWN: Sydney, Australia
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 199
BAT/THROW: L-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
The Reds likely sit in wait to see where Cleveland goes at No. 1 in this scenario and would happily scoop up arguably the second-best player in the country here at No. 2. Bazzana provides elite swing decisions and top shelf contact rates. He has the chance to develop into a middle-of-the-order Jason Kipnis type of second baseman who leads with the bat.
3. Colorado Rockies
Chase Burns, RHP — Wake Forest
HOMETOWN: Gallatin, TN
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 215
BAT/THROW: R-R
As recently as 2021 and 2022, the Rockies placed an extreme emphasis on drafting players with big power at the tops of their drafts. The Rockies went arm-heavy at the top in 2023 selecting Chase Dollander and Sean Sullivan with their first two picks. That followed up a 2022 draft where they made Gabriel Hughes their first selection. We think arms could continue to trend in Colorado.
Burns has no-doubt top-of-the-rotation upside if he can continue to polish up his command out of the stretch and show he can work long innings. A fastball up to 100 mph and a slider that routinely sits 90 mph is top shelf stuff.
4. Oakland Athletics
Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP — Florida
HOMETOWN: Tampa, FL
HEIGHT: 6-5
WEIGHT: 210
BAT/THROW: L-L
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
Jac Caglianone has improved in a number of different offensive categories in 2024 including his swing rate, chase rate, max exit velocity and his opposite-field percentage. It points to a more well-rounded offensive threat. It might be the most impact in the batters box in the class and Oakland would certainly welcome his stardom into their system with the No. 4 overall pick.
5. Chicago White Sox
Bryce Rainer, SS/RHP — Harvard-Westlake
HOMETOWN: Simi Valley, CA
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 199
BAT/THROW: L-R
A lot of talk on high school talents here in the awfully early stages of the spring. A long ways to go, but there seems to be an emphasis in Chicago on ceiling and upside at this spot. Again, it’s March and there’s a lot of noisy conjecture. Rainer has had a resurgent spring with an improved hit tool, more assertiveness and physicality in the box, all whilst maintaining his impressive defensive and athletic chops. He’s got a shot to be the first prep off the board.
6. Kansas City Royals
JJ Wetherholt, 2B/3B — West Virginia
HOMETOWN: Mars, PA
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 190
BAT/THROW: L-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
This has got to feel like a pretty big victory for the Royals with the No. 6 overall pick considering where Wetherholt’s name was just a month ago. A hamstring has slowed his ability to get on the field to this point, but most scouts and front office folks don’t see a scenario where he falls far. Considering his athleticism and impact in the box, he’s a rare breed in what is a down year for up-the-middle talents.
7. St. Louis Cardinals
Konnor Griffin, SS/OF — Jackson Prep HS
HOMETOWN: Florence, MS
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 205
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Cardinals will be in excellent shape with this pick if they get to select between Griffin, Braden Montgomery, Nick Kurtz, Hagen Smith, and so on and so forth. It’s a good slot in this draft. Griffin represents the greatest ceiling of any high schooler in this class with a legitimate shot at five tools. Randy Flores and the Cardinals have targeted slugging preps over and over in recent drafts in the first round and Griffin fits the mold.
8. Los Angeles Angels
Hagen Smith, LHP — Arkansas
HOMETOWN: King, NC
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 222
BAT/THROW: L-L
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
Given what we know about the Angels and their propensity to draft players who could move quick, Smith probably fits that bill better than anyone left on the board. The hard-throwing southpaw has a chance to reach the bigs in 2025. If for any reason the Angels want to rush him to the big leagues earlier, he could fill a Josh Hader role out of the bullpen rather quickly.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP — Texas A&M
HOMETOWN: Madison, MS
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 220
BAT/THROW: B-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
The value Montgomery provides in this spot would be tremendous for a Pirates organization looking for a bit more impact on the offensive side in their farm. He’s presently the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2024 Draft at FSS PLUS. He’s got the makings of a potential all-star level right fielder who, unlike many other players projected to go in round one in this class, provides exceptional value on the defensive side of the ball to supplement his bat.
10. Washington Nationals
Nick Kurtz, 1B — Wake Forest
HOMETOWN: Lancaster, PA
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 230
BAT/THROW: L-L
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
The Nationals hired Brad Ciolek away from the Baltimore Orioles to become their Senior Director of Amateur Scouting. It can be assumed Washington will value bats here, as the Orioles have made it a point of emphasis early in every single draft. Kurtz is one of the best blends of polish and impact available in this class. He has a chance to be a 35-homer corner infielder who posts strong walk rates.
It’s unlikely he’d have been available here had he not been off to a slow started and having recently suffered a minor shoulder injury.
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11. Detroit Tigers
Seaver King, SS/OF — Wake Forest
HOMETOWN: Athens, GA
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 190
BAT/THROW: R-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
King would be exceptional value at this spot as a player who presently has an up-arrow next to his name. Considering how dynamic the profile is, should King keep hitting and showcasing his versatility at shortstop, he could climb as high as the top five picks. For now, we’ll continue being a bit more conservative with him and provide a gift to Scott Harris, Mark Conner and Co.
12. Boston Red Sox
Vance Honeycutt, OF — North Carolina
HOMETOWN: Salisbury, NC
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: R-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
It ain’t easy playing centerfield at Fenway Park. The park requires an sublime defender to cover that much ground. Considering the short porch (and high wall) in left field, right-handed hitters with good raw power can thrive. Honeycutt has clear hit-tool concerns, but his athletic tools and fit in Boston can’t be ignored. He’s got a shot to at becoming one of the stronger defensive centerfielders in baseball with 25-homer upside in the AL East.
13. San Francisco Giants
Cam Caminiti, LHP — Saguaro HS
HOMETOWN: Scottsdale, AZ
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 205
BAT/THROW: L-L
There are those in the industry who steadfastly believe Cam Caminiti is not only the best high school pitching prospect in this class, but rather the best pitching prospect at all. His name has been brought up as high as the top five in conversations and there’s fairly strong conviction he’ll be off the board in front-half of the first round. This feels like a good spot.
14. Chicago Cubs
Caleb Lomavita, C — Cal
HOMETOWN: Honolulu, HI
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: R-R
If one were to assume Moises Ballesteros will ultimately settle in at first base instead of catcher, the Cubs don’t really have a future behind the plate. Miguel Amaya is an interesting option, but he’s yet to supplant Yan Gomes as the everyday regular. Lomavita projects to stay behind the plate as an average defender with a big bat that will play in Wrigley. He could arrive as early as 2026.
15. Seattle Mariners
Brody Brecht, RHP — Iowa
HOMETOWN: Ankeny, IA
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 205
BAT/THROW: R-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
The Mariners are in a spot in their competitive window where they can take a little more risks in drafts. Those risks have come by way of high school hitters the last few years, but considering their success developing pitching since the Jerry Dipoto regime arrived, there may not be an organization better suited to get the most out of a “stuffy” arm like Brecht.
The floor is likely another 8th or 9th inning reliever, though a mid-rotation future isn’t out of the question. Given their absence of starting pitching prospects in the high minors, a college arm at 15 might make the most sense, especially considering how the top of this class appears to be carving out. Duke southpaw Jonathan Santucci and Dallas Baptist RHP Ryan Johnson might make sense here too.
16. Miami Marlins
Slade Caldwell, OF — Valley View HS
HOMETOWN: Jonesboro, AR
HEIGHT: 5-6
WEIGHT: 183
BAT/THROW: L-L
New scouting director Frankie Piliere is likely to change the philosophy for how the farm is built in Miami. Looking back at his time with the Seattle Mariners, so long as his philosophy doesn’t veer too far from that philosophy, it’s unlikely high school pitching will be on the table. Caldwell has a shot to really shoot up boards as July approaches thanks to his twitchy athleticism, bat speed and athleticism. Other prep bats like Theodore Gillen and Caleb Bonemer would also make sense here.
17. Milwaukee Brewers
Kaelen Culpepper, SS — Kansas State
HOMETOWN: Memphis, TN
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Brewers have been all about college bats in recent years and Culpepper represents one of the sneakier sticks in the 2024 class. It’s twitchy athleticism and up-the-middle tools, traits that have been tough to come by in this class. Culpepper would join Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Tyler Black, Eric Brown and Brock Wilken as players in the college bat bucket to get selected in round one and enroll with the BrewCrew™.
18. Tampa Bay Rays
Cam Smith, 3B — Florida State
HOMETOWN: Lake Worth, FL
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 222
BAT/THROW: R-R
Another year and another new general manager in Tampa. It’s tough to say what direction the Rays could go in any given draft, but Smith fits the toolsy bat they’ve seemed to target in recent drafts. Bonemer and Stanford C Malcolm Moore also make sense in this sort of range.
19. New York Mets
Jonathan Santucci, LHP — Duke
HOMETOWN: Leominster, MA
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 199
BAT/THROW: L-L
The Mets more than most teams have targeted pitching in their Top 100 picks of late, sprinkling in high school shortstops when one of their liking is available. At this stage, it’s a little early for some of the high school shortstops still on the board. Santucci, currently ranked No. 23 overall in the 2024 class on our board, is one of the highest-rated pitcher available at this spot.
20. Toronto Blue Jays
Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B — Okemos
HS HOMETOWN: Okemos, MI
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: R-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
The Blue Jays are likely in a wait-and-see mode at pick No. 20. Bonemer is as good a guess as we’ve got at this stage. The team hasn’t been afraid to target high school infield bats in recent years and he’s the best on the board here. Others such as Moore and Gillen wouldn’t surprise either.
21. Minnesota Twins
Malcolm Moore, C — Stanford
HOMETOWN: Sacramento, CA
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 205
BAT/THROW: L-R
Minnesota currently doesn’t have a player lined up to take over the catching position when Ryan Jeffers undoubtedly prices himself off the roster after the 2026 (or even 2025) season. Moore is a really solid ballplayer and one of the top catching prospects in this draft. He can hit and features a pro-ready approach at the plate. His defensive chops have really come along this season.
22. Baltimore Orioles
Carson Benge, OF — Oklahoma State
HOMETOWN: Yukon, OK
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: L-R
You can be sure the Orioles will select a bat in this spot. It’s quite literally the only thing GM Mike Elias has selected inside the Top-50 picks in any Orioles draft. Benge is going to grade out extremely well in the Orioles model as they prefer big exit velocity guys with low chase rates.
Benge’s 90th percentile exit velocity figures can stand up to anyone in this class, and his sub-20 percent chase rate will draw scouts’ attention too. It’s a strong correlation between player and organization here.
23. Los Angeles Dodgers
Theodore Gillen, INF — Westlake HS
HOMETOWN: Austin, TX
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: L-R
While Gillen had an inconsistent summer, he still managed to put up some of the gaudiest data you can find on the high school side of anyone in the class. His 90.1 overall contact rate, 86.8 percent contact rate against fastballs north of 92 mph, and 83.8% contact rate against spin all ranked at or near the top of the class.
Couple those figures with a chase rate under 18 percent and a strikeout rate under 15 percent and it’s easy to understand why his stock has surged this spring.
This is also about the area of the draft where teams may target upside over safety in the college ranks. Gillen is a plus runner with a potential plus hit tool and budding power. He may end up in left field, but he’s the quintessential Dodgers project.
24. Atlanta Braves
Trey Yesavage, RHP — East Carolina
HOMETOWN: Boyertown, PA
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 230
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Braves love a pitcher in the first round. Yesavage features a dynamic fastball-slider-splitter mix that should lend well to Atlanta’s pitching development. They’ve had success with Hurston Waldrep as a splitter-first type of starting pitcher prospect over the last nine months and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Yesavage was the next in line.
25. San Diego Padres
Wyatt Sanford, SS — Independence
HOMETOWN: Frisco, TX
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 18-
BAT/THROW: L-R
You’d be pretty silly to attach anything but a high school player to the Padres at this point. Guys like RHP William Schmidt and SS Kellon Lindsey both scream AJ Preller and the Padres tact at this spot as well.
26. New York Yankees
PJ Morlando, OF/1B — Summerville HS
HOMETOWN: Summerville, SC
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 204
BAT/THROW: L-R
This would be a pretty solid value for the Yankees at 26. A left-handed bat with legitimate 60/60 upside. Morlando also has a chance to play left field in New York with range isn’t as tested as other parks. Morlando might be the best pure high school bat in the draft and landing him this late should be viewed as quite a win.
27. Philadelphia Phillies
Jacob Cozart, C — NC State
HOMETOWN: High Point, NC
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 218
BAT/THROW: L-R
The Phillies don’t currently have a successor to JT Realmuto and Cozart would be fairly exceptional value here. The bat is legit, but the tools behind the plate have some seasoning ahead. The team could take their time with him and look to add him to their dynamic lineup 2026 or 2027.
28. Houston Astros
Carter Johnson, SS — Oxford HS
HOMETOWN: Oxford, AL
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: L-R
The Astros will need to continue building out their future infield as guys like Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman age out of the organization. Johnson may be a project as a high school bat, but it’s a sweet left-handed swing with a chance to play an average shortstop.
Sanford and Lindsey also check boxes at this spot. If the team wanted a faster mover who has versatility, Tennessee IF Christian Moore makes a lot of sense as well.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
Tommy White, 1B/3B — LSU
HOMETOWN: St. Pete Beach, FL
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 235
BAT/THROW: R-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
Arizona has gone all over the map with their early picks in recent years with college guys like Tommy Troy, Gino Groover, Jack Hurley and Ivan Melendez. All of those players share enormous exit velocity readings. White’s gaudy batted-ball data pushed his name to the top of Arizona’s model in this outcome with Mississippi State OF Dakota Jordan coming in right behind him.
Interestingly, LSU righty Luke Holman was the third model-friendly selection here, likely due to the enormous carry on his fastball and how it shares traits with 2022 early-pick Landon Sims.
30. Texas Rangers
Billy Amick, 3B — Tennessee
HOMETOWN: Batesburg, SC
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 220
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Rangers have had so much success in recent years in developing bats, staying the course would behoove them. Amick has a shot at becoming an average defensive third baseman or solid average corner outfielder. The bat is the calling card featuring plus raw power and a hit tool that has made strides over the last twelve months.
31. Arizona Diamondbacks
William Schmidt, RHP — Catholic HS
HOMETOWN: Baton Rouge, LA
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: R-R
High school pitching is always a crapshoot in any class. Schmidt has rumblings in the teens, but in this scenario the DBacks are able to buy him down to their PPI spot with a bigger bonus. Landing White and Schmidt at the top of the draft would be a pretty impactful haul on both sides of the ball. Schmidt is arguably the top high school arm in the class.
32. Baltimore Orioles
James Tibbs III, OF — Florida State
HOMETOWN: Marietta, GA
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 195
BAT/THROW: L-R
As much as we’d like to project a pitcher into this spot, the Orioles rich history of selecting bats is too much to tip the scales. Tibbs III is a pretty good value in this spot considering some believe he’s a top-three college bat in the class. He’s been a metric darling to this point in the season and has plenty of folks believing he could end up a first round pick.
33. Minnesota Twins
Mike Sirota, OF — Northeastern
HOMETOWN: Queens, NY
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: R-R
DRAFT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Watch Video
It’s been a slow start to the season for Sirota but few doubt the athleticism and up-the-middle future of the Northeastern outfielder. Considering some believed Sirota to have top-five pick tools to begin the season, landing him at 33 is obviously quite a boon if the Twins can get his production back on par with what his athleticism says of him.
34. Milwaukee Brewers
Levi Sterling, RHP — Notre Dame HS
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 195
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Brewers selected a ‘stuffy’ high school arm in Comp A last year in Josh Knoth. Sterling’s pure stuff isn’t quite as loud as Knoth’s was at this stage, but he’s a metric darling and super-young for the class. A day one featuring Culpepper, Tibbs III and Sterling would be a lot of fun.
35. Arizona Diamondbacks
Kellon Lindsey, SS — Hardee HS
HOMETOWN: Wauchula, FL
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: R-R
It’s hard to imagine Arizona not taking some risks with three picks inside the Top-35. Lindsey has star-upside if the bat comes along at the next level. He’s a reasonably raw prospect with extremely loud athletic tools. He’s an elite runner who will undoubtedly find a way to carve out a big league role in one form or another.
36. Cleveland Guardians
Ryan Johnson, RHP — Dallas Baptist
HOMETOWN: Red Oak, TX
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 215
BAT/THROW: R-R
Johnson is a serious riser this spring with an immaculate strikeout-to-walk ratio. His atom-ball sinker is an absolute torpedo. Combined with one of the better sliders in college baseball and the full package is here for a starter at the next level. Cleveland would be a tremendous organization for Johnson to take his game to another level.
37. Pittsburgh Pirates
Luke Holman, RHP — LSU
HOMETOWN: Sinking Spring, PA
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 190
BAT/THROW: R-R
Holman has been impressive in the early goings of 2024 punching tickets and limiting his walks. It’s a promising fastball-curveball mix with a budding changeup. He’ll need to miss more bats inside the strike zone, but he clearly hides the ball well and represents one of the better “floor” plays at this stage in the draft. Holman looks like a back-end rotation piece at a minimum.
38. Colorado Rockies
Ben Hess, RHP — Alabama
HOMETOWN: Charleston, IL
HEIGHT: 6-5
WEIGHT: 225
BAT/THROW: R-R
It’s been college pitchers aplenty for the Rockies in recent drafts and we think that could continue in 2024 with Burns at No. 3 overall and a guy like Hess here at 38. It’s a pretty electric fastball and the breaking ball flashes plus. If Hess can fend off the reliever risk, there’s mid-rotation upside with further seasoning and work on a tertiary offering.
39. Kansas City Royals
Dakota Jordan, OF — Mississippi State
HOMETOWN: Boyertown, PA
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 230
BAT/THROW: R-R
If it all clicks, Jordan could be something of a Jorge Soler 2.0 in Kansas City, though he comes with significant hit tool concerns.
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