There was more excitement for the Guardians for this year’s Draft given the team had the first overall pick for the first time in franchise history. But with that excitement also comes great responsibility.

• Guardians make Aussie star Bazzana No. 1 overall pick

The Guardians knew there was extra pressure to take advantage of that pick and to perfectly utilize the biggest bonus pool in Major League history. And now that the Draft is in the rearview mirror, the organization is thrilled with the 16 pitchers and five position players it selected.

“We think we got some really good talent for the organization,” Guardians senior vice president of scouting Paul Gillispie said. “And we’re excited to partner with these young men on their ascent to Progressive Field. Should be fun to watch.”

Here are three takeaways from Cleveland’s 2024 Draft.

The Guardians got the bat they needed
No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana has such a high floor that it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s able to fly through the Minors over the next year or two.

Cleveland loves hitters who can make elite contact. Bazzana certainly does that, as he hit .407 for Oregon State this past season after winning the 2023 Cape Cod League batting title with a .375 average.

The Guardians usually will sacrifice some power in order to get a guy with great bat-to-ball skills. But this organization needs some more thump. Good thing Bazzana can do both. He hit 28 homers in 60 games this season and his 45 homers in three years at Oregon State is the most in school history.

Mix that with outstanding plate discipline and speed on the bases, and Cleveland has a lot to be excited about.

Utilization of the bonus pool
The Guardians have already said that they’ve agreed to terms with Bazzana, whose slot value at No. 1 was $10.57 million, but they still need to make sure he completes his physical before anything is announced. But part of the reason that most believe the Guardians were attracted to Bazzana -- aside from the fact that he was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 1 prospect in the Draft and has a lot of tools Cleveland was looking for -- was the ability to sign him under slot.

Every team has a number called the bonus pool that they are supposed to stay under when they’re signing their Draft picks from Rounds 1-10. Exceeding that bonus pool number would result in a financial penalty. So, when you have to spend more on your top picks, it can make it harder to sign high schoolers in later rounds who may be tempted to pursue their collegiate careers instead.

The Guardians’ bonus pool is a whopping $18,334,000. Not only do they have more room to work than any other team, but if they can also get Bazzana to sign under his slot value, it gives them the freedom to shell out more money to sign high schoolers like Cameron Sullivan and Chase Mobley, whom they selected in Rounds 7 and 10, respectively, and who can each hit at least 97 mph on the radar gun … as 18-year-olds.

This is what they meant by having a complete Draft and not just zeroing in on their No. 1 overall pick. And maybe this approach will pay off in the long run.

Build up the pitching pipeline
The Cleveland Pitching Factory. It’s been known for never-ending high-quality pitchers who pound the strike zone and seamlessly transition to the Majors without missing a step. But recently, the pipeline has started to run dry. Of Cleveland’s Top 30 prospects as ranked by MLB Pipeline, eight are hurlers, including Daniel Espino, who is out for the year. Espino ranks No. 5 in that pecking order and just two others squeeze into the top 10 (Alex Clemmey at No. 8 and Joey Cantillo at No. 10).

• Guardians add to pitching depth on Day 2 of MLB Draft

The Guardians were in need of some pitching prospects and they certainly seemed to target that. Five of the hurlers they took on Day 2 can touch at least 97 mph. Mobley can even hit triple digits. They have guys who don’t have the same velocity but have impeccable command. They even added Cam Schuelke, who throws both from a three-quarters slot and a submarine delivery.

It’s a blend of every type of pitcher. Hopefully a handful can be the success story each one will dream of becoming. But for now, the Guardians can celebrate simply adding more arms into the mix.

“Our pitching group, they’re jumping up and down,” Gillispie said. “They’re super excited about some of the interesting arms we were able to bring in. … Those guys, they’re licking their chops right now.”