2024 MLB Draft: MLB Pipeline projects new No. 2 pick in latest mock

Right now, all eyes are on Omaha and the College World Series. Soon, that attention will shift to the 2024 MLB Draft. In the latest mock draft released by MLB Pipeline, a new face emerged as a potential selection for the No. 2 overall pick.

Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana holds onto the honor of going first overall in the latest mock, but there are quite a few changes behind him. In a class that is dominated by college hitters, some dominant arms continue to creep their way up draft boards.

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Of the 39 picks (first round plus first round supplemental picks) in MLB Pipeline’s latest mock draft, 20 are college hitters. Five are college pitchers, and then you have two-way star Jac Caglianone. 13 come from the high school ranks, with eight being hitters and five being pitchers.

This year’s draft will begin on Sunday, July 14 and run through Tuesday, July 16. The draft continues to be in the 20-round format.

1. Cleveland Guardians: Oregon State 2B Travis Bazzana

While it wouldn’t be surprising at all if Charlie Condon went here, Travis Bazzana seems to have the most momentum as of now to be taken with the first overall pick. It’s easy to see why, as he dominated during his college career at Oregon State.

In his three-year collegiate career, Bazzana hit .360 with 45 home runs. This season was his best, hitting .407 with 28 home runs and 66 RBI. He slugged .911 with a 1.479 OPS.

2. Cincinnati Reds: Wake Forest RHP Chase Burns

In recent mocks, Wake Forest’s Chase Burns seems to be climbing up draft boards. The hard-throwing righthander has electric stuff on the mound, and could move quickly through the minor leagues.

After spending two years at Tennessee, Burns transferred to Wake Forest ahead of this season and it paid off. In 16 starts, he tossed 100 innings with a 10-1 record, pitching to a 2.70 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. He struck out 191 batters compared to just 30 walks.

3. Colorado Rockies: Georgia OF/3B Charlie Condon

Charlie Condon emerged as college baseball’s best power hitter this season, and he is undoubtedly in play for one of the first two picks in the MLB Draft. He likely won’t fall further than three, which is where he goes here.

On the season, Condon mashed with a .433 average, 37 home runs and 78 RBI. He slugged 1.009 with a 1.565 OPS, walking 57 times compared to 41 strikeouts. He hit 62 home runs in his two years at Georgia.

4. Oakland Athletics: Texas A&M OF Braden Montgomery

Texas A&M is currently battling in the College World Series without Braden Montgomery, as he is out due to an injury he suffered during super regionals. Still, Montgomery is a strong candidate to be taken in the top five.

This season was an impressive one, as he hit .322 with 27 home runs and 85 RBI, slugging .733 with a 1.187 OPS. Montgomery also hit 35 home runs across two seasons at Stanford to begin his career.

5. Chicago White Sox: Florida 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone

Jac Caglianone has been a pivotal reason for Florida’s run back to Omaha, and his bat alone is enough to warrant a top five selection in the MLB Draft. When you throw in his ability to pitch, his value jumps even higher.

After a breakout 2023 campaign where he hit .323 with 33 home runs and 90 RBI, Caglianone took another leap in 2024 and is hitting .411 with 33 home runs and 68 RBI. He is currently slugging .860 with a 1.392 OPS on the year. On the mound, he’s 5-2 in 15 starts with a 4.71 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. He has struck out 82, walking 48 in 72.2 innings.

6. Kansas City Royals: Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith

Though Burns is soaring up draft boards, Hagen Smith still is a very strong contender to be the first pitcher selected in July. The Arkansas ace has elite stuff, and could work his way to the majors quickly.

This year, he was 9-2 in 16 starts with a 2.04 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. He struck out 161 batters, walking just 34.

7. St. Louis Cardinals: West Virginia SS/2B J.J. Wetherholt

J.J. Wetherholt missed some time this season due to injury, but he ultimately played a big role in West Virginia making it to super regionals. In 36 games in 2024, Wetherholt hit .331 with eight home runs and 30 RBI.

Last season was his best, hitting .449 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI. Wetherholt’s defensive versatility and ability to play all over the infield only adds to his value as a prospect.

8. Los Angeles Angels: Wake Forest 1B Nick Kurtz

Wake Forest slugger Nick Kurtz has been in top ten territory for much of this MLB Draft prospect, and he slides back up to No. 8 in this mock. His best year came in 2023, where he hit .353 with 24 home runs and 69 RBI, slugging .784 with a 1.311 OPS.

This year, Kurtz still had a productive campaign as he hit .306 with 22 home runs and 57 RBI. He slugged .763 with a 1.294 OPS.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jackson Prep HS SS/OF Konnor Griffin (LSU commit)

There are a couple of high school prospects that have been in the discussion to be selected in the top ten, and Konnor Griffin is definitely one of them. He’ll need some time in the minors, but the upside here is pretty remarkable.

Griffin is a LSU commit, but he’s much more likely to go pro and be selected in the top ten. The Pirates could opt to go with a college bat here, but Griffin is definitely in play.

10. Washington Nationals: Harvard-Westlake HS SS Bryce Rainer (Texas commit)

The Nationals could pretty much go anywhere with the No. 10 pick. College bat, pitcher, or best available. In this mock, they opt to go in the high school hitter route, taking shortstop Bryce Rainer.

Rainer is right there with Griffin in the high school ranks, and he could ultimately be taken before his counterpart on draft night. Ultimately, the Nats opt to go with Rainer, who is a Texas commit.

2024 MLB Mock Draft: 11-30

11. Detroit Tigers: Saguaro HS LHP Cam Caminiti (LSU commit)
12. Boston Red Sox: East Carolina RHP Trey Yesavage
13. San Francisco Giants: Florida State OF James Tibbs III
14. Chicago Cubs: Florida State 3B Cam Smith
15. Seattle Mariners: Wake Forest 3B/OF Seaver King
16. Miami Marlins: Tennessee 2B Christian Moore
17. Milwaukee Brewers: Oklahoma State OF Carson Benge
18. Tampa Bay Rays: York HS RHP Ryan Sloan (Wake Forest commit)
19. New York Mets: North Carolina OF Vance Honeycutt
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Sam Houston C Walker Janek
21. Minnesota Twins: Tennessee 3B Billy Amick
22. Baltimore Orioles: California C Caleb Lomavita
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Iowa RHP Brody Brecht
24. Atlanta Braves: Kentucky OF Ryan Waldschmidt
25. San Diego Padres: Westlake HS SS/2B Theo Gillen (Texas commit)
26. New York Yankees: LSU 3B Tommy White
27. Philadelphia Phillies: Mississippi State RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje
28. Houston Astros: Stanford C Malcom Moore
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kansas State SS Kaelen Culpepper
30. Texas Rangers: Elk City HS LHP Kash Mayfield (Oklahoma State commit)

MLB Draft Supplemental First-Round: 31-39

31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Catholic HS RHP William Schmidt (LSU commit)
32. Baltimore Orioles: Valley View HS OF Slade Caldwell (Ole Miss commit)
33. Minnesota Twins: Independence HS SS Wyatt Sanford (Texas A&M commit)
34. Milwaukee Brewers: Virginia SS Griff O’Ferrall
35. Arizona Diamondbacks: Hardee Senior HS SS Kellon Lindsey (Florida commit)
36. Cleveland Guardians: Chaparral HS RHP Braylon Doughty (Oklahoma State commit)
37. Pittsburgh Pirates: Oxford HS SS Carter Johnson (Alabama commit)
38. Colorado Rockies: Mississippi State OF Dakota Jordan
39. Kansas City Royals: Millard West HS SS Tyson Lewis (Arkansas commit)