Get to know 20 top MLB Draft prospects
Jason Foster
@ByJasonFoster
Manny Randhawa
@MannyOnMLBIn a few days, dozens of potential Major League careers will begin to unfold when teams make their selections in the 2024 MLB Draft, which begins Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and MLB Network.
This year's Draft class is one of the more talented in recent memory, with a slew of pitchers and hitters who seem gifted beyond their years and boast skills that hold promise for productive careers in the big leagues.
Here's a look at 20 top Draft prospects and where you can learn more about them.
No. 1: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
The Australia native is a five-tool player and arguably the most talented prospect in this year's Draft. The lefty hits for average and power (.404, 28 homers and a 1.462 OPS this past season), has excellent speed and projects to be a strong defender, whether at second base or elsewhere, given his athleticism. Just how good is the bat? His OPS last season ranked second nationally behind uber-slugger Charlie Condon, the next name on this list. More >
No. 2: Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Georgia
Condon is one of the more unbelievable stories to emerge in college sports in a long time. He was considered undersized and underdeveloped as a high school player, and didn't attract much attention from colleges. But Georgia gave him a shot as a preferred walk-on and the results were astonishing from the beginning. A consensus National Freshman of the Year Award in 2023 paved the way for this past season, when he hit more home runs (37) than any college player this century. More >
No. 3: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
A two-way player, Caglianone has already drawn comparisons to Shohei Ohtani – and it may not be all that outlandish. He was recruited as a pitcher, but it's his bat that's gotten the most attention. His 35 homers in 2024 were second-most in the nation behind only Condon, and his 1.419 OPS was fourth-best. On the mound, he struck out 170 batters in 148 1/3 innings over two seasons with the Gators (he had Tommy John surgery before his freshman season). He pitched to a 4.55 ERA in college, but the raw skills are there if an MLB team wants him to go the two-way route. More >
No. 4: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia
Wetherholt might be the best pure hitter in the Draft. The lefty drives the ball to all fields, has an excellent eye and strong bat-to-ball skills, along with the ability to pop homers. In three seasons at West Virginia, he hit .370 with a 1.092 OPS. Wetherholt also has good speed on the bases when healthy and can play multiple positions, though there are questions about whether he can find a defensive home on the infield. Still, the hitting skills are plenty good enough for him to find to find success at the next level. More >
No. 5: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Smith has a triple-digits fastball that can blow batters away, but MLB Pipeline says it's not even his best pitch. His mid-80s slider is his money pitch, one that has the kind of sweep and depth to make hitters look silly. Not to mention the lefty's funky delivery (and occasional wildness) that just adds to the discomfort batters feel in the box against him. At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Smith profiles as a front-line starter with an overpowering arsenal – assuming he continues to develop and can maintain command. More >
No. 6: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Burns is known as much for his fiery on-field persona as his dominating repertoire of pitches. The Wake Forest righty and ACC Pitcher of the Year can top 100 mph or higher on his fastball, while an elite slider and strong curve give batters much to think about in the box. Burns led all college pitchers in 2024 with 191 strikeouts in 100 innings. He fanned 10 or more hitters in 12 of his 16 starts, including six games of 14 or more strikeouts. His punchouts are often accompanied by an explosion of swagger and emotion on the mound, especially in big spots. He says it's just another way to help fire up his teammates. More >
No. 7: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Kurtz is a hitting machine with an excellent eye at the plate. The slugging lefty has been compared to Hall of Famer Jim Thome because of his ability to hit for power to all fields and take walks. To wit: Kurtz had a 1.294 OPS in 2024 (22 homers) and led all college hitters with 78 walks. In fact, he had nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts (42). During one hot stretch this past season, Kurtz hit 14 homers over a span of nine games, which included at least one dinger in seven straight games. Off the field, Kurtz has been described as a pro-level clubhouse leader. More >
No. 8: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Montgomery is a switch-hitter with a quick bat who can drive the ball to all fields, though his best stroke is as a lefty. There was some uncertainty about whether he should be developed as hitter or pitcher, but, despite a strong arm, his bat has won that debate in the past couple of years. After transferring from Stanford to Texas A&M for his junior year, Montgomery clubbed a career-high 27 homers and carried a career-best 1.187 OPS for the Aggies in 2024. Though he has struggled with plate discipline, he has improved his ability to hit breaking balls and has improved his walk rate. But he'll still chase and sometimes has trouble making contact in the zone. More >
No. 9: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep (MS)
Griffin's strong tools make him the top prep talent in the Draft. He's already 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds – bigger than many MLB players – and has great bat speed, giving the righty the type of frame ripe for Major League pop. But despite his size, he's got well-above-average speed and profiles as a player who find himself in the 30-30 Club one day. Scouts believe he could play a strong shortstop in the bigs, but could also find success in the outfield. He has all the makings of a future MLB star. More >
No. 10: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (CA)
Once considered a potential two-way player, Rainer had so much physical growth between his junior and senior seasons that it pretty much put the idea to rest. Though he still pitches some, the talent he displayed with the bat during his senior year is why he's become a top Draft prospect. The lefty has shown the ability to make consistent contact and drive the ball with authority to all fields. He also doesn't chase or strike out much, meaning he has the potential to become a big leaguer who's an on-base and power threat. His strong arm and good range at short only add to his tool box. More >
No. 11: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
Yesavage started as a reliever with a 15.6 K/9 ratio but also an unfortunate knack for walks and giving up runs during his freshman season. But a move to the Pirates' rotation as a sophomore proved a boon for his Draft stock. He went 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 76 innings as a starter in 2023, then went 11-1 with a 2.03 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings in 2024, capturing the AAC Pitcher of the Year Award. His mid-90s fastball, mid-80s slider and low-80s curve combine for lots of whiffs, and lead him to profile as a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues. More >
No. 12: James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
Tibbs' bat and hitting smarts are what have him on this list. He's improved as a hitter each season at Florida State, culminating in a 2024 campaign that included a .363 average, 28 homers and a 1.264 OPS for the Seminoles. The lefty has cut down on strikeouts and raised his walk rate significantly, and has shown an ability to drive the ball anywhere on the field. He'll crush fastballs, but is still working toward better success against breaking balls. He has below-average speed, meaning he likely fits best in left field. More >
No. 13: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Three things to know about Moore: 1) He just led Tennessee to its first College World Series title; 2) He led college baseball with 111 hits; and 3) He raised his OPS by more than 200 points from his junior to senior year. Related: His junior year OPS was an already-good 1.046. So, yeah, Moore can mash. His strong bat speed and pop to all fields give him 25- to 30-homer potential in the Majors (he hit 34 in 2024), as well as the potential to hit for a solid average. Though he will swing and miss and chase out of the zone quite a bit, Moore cut down significantly on strikeouts during his senior year. More >
No. 14: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith has improved dramatically since a freshman season in which he seemed at times to be overmatched, honing his abilities to produce quality at-bats and stick with a game plan at the plate in his sophomore campaign. After hitting .258 as a freshman for the Seminoles, he hit .387 as a sophomore with a 1.142 OPS, and his 104 hits were tied for third-most in college baseball in 2024. He looks to be a strong third baseman with a good arm. More >
No. 15: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro (AZ)
Another player with two-way potential, Caminiti has stood out on the mound with dominating performances. His fastball already touches 98 mph and he has three other pitches – a slider, curve and changeup – with which he could potentially find success at higher levels. His fastball command is strong and its ride causes it to generate plenty of whiffs, though he's shown less command of his other pitches. Still, scouts believe he has the skills to throw consistent strikes as he develops. Caminiti, a cousin of late big leaguer Ken Caminiti, has committed to LSU should he choose to go the college route. More >
No. 17: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest
King received just one offer to play college ball, and that was from Division II Wingate University in North Carolina. But he put on 20 pounds and began raking against DII pitching, posting a 1.089 OPS with four homers in 39 games as a freshman. He was even better as a sophomore, with an OPS of 1.155 and 11 homers in 50 games. He put together a 47-game hitting streak between his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He then transferred to Wake Forest and had a strong 2024 season, finishing with a .954 OPS and 16 home runs. He has a compact swing that produces line drives to all fields, along with well-above-average speed and defensive versatility. More >
No. 20: Tommy White, 3B, Louisiana State
White's calling card is his power at the plate. And there's a lot of it. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound third baseman -- who profiles more as a first baseman at the pro level -- smashed three homers in his first collegiate game for North Carolina State, nine homers over his first eight games and 27 for the season. He transferred to LSU and launched 24 homers as a sophomore and 24 more as a junior, helping the Tigers win the College World Series in 2023. He isn't a particularly good defensive player and has well-below-average speed, but his ability to consistently barrel the ball at the plate and low whiff rate make him an intriguing prospect. More >
No. 21: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Brecht is a 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-hander who had the sheer stuff to potentially receive first-round money out of high school but opted instead to go to Iowa, where he wanted to play wide receiver for the Hawkeyes. After getting little playing time, he decided to focus on baseball. Brecht's fastball and slider have drawn comparisons to Paul Skenes' -- his fastball sits between 96-99 mph and can reach 101. He's had some struggles with location, however, which he'll need to iron out. Still, his raw stuff and potential for improved command with pro instruction make him a potential first-round pick. More >
No. 25: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State
One of the rarest phenomena in baseball is the switch-pitcher, and that's exactly what Cijntje brings to the table. The 21-year-old is a natural left-hander, but he learned to throw righty at a young age because he wanted to emulate his father, who was a pro baseball player in the Netherlands. He's considered a better right-handed pitcher and has drawn comparisons to Marcus Stroman. His fastball sits 94-96 mph as a right-hander, topping out around 98 mph, and he also has a slider and changeup. From the left side, his fastball clocks in the low-90s, making it likely he'll be a full-time right-hander at the next level. More >
No. 31: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Kansas State has never produced a first-round position player, but Culpepper could become the first. He wasn't a notable high school prospect coming out of Tennessee, but he's proven his mettle at the college level. That's perhaps best demonstrated by his .471/.526/.853 slash line for Team USA last summer, the best of an uber-talented group. In the 2024 NCAA tournament, he batted .474 and hit for the cycle against Louisiana Tech. He's a contact hitter who has good bat speed that produces line drives all over the field. While he has average speed, he is opportunistic on the base paths and picks his spots to steal bases. More >