2024 MLB Draft: MLB Pipeline releases updated mock with arm soaring into top three

The Men’s College World Series is almost here, and in the past the MLB Draft would already be taking place. Now, it’s set to begin later in the summer, and it’s time to take a look at the latest 2024 MLB Mock Draft from MLB Pipeline.

The top two remain the same in the latest edition, with Travis Bazzana and Charlie Condon being selected with the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks. Behind them, though, is a college pitcher that is soaring up draft boards. That would be Chase Burns, the Wake Forest ace who previously pitched at Tennessee.

Again, the 2024 draft class continues to be dominated by college players, specifically college hitters. Nine of the top ten picks are from the college ranks, with seven of them being hitters.

Here’s a full look at the latest 2024 mock draft from MLB Pipeline. This edition, which was released before super regionals, includes the supplemental picks in the first round, taking us through the first 39 picks.

1. Cleveland Guardians: Oregon State 2B Travis Bazzana

Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana continues to be a legitimate contender for the No. 1 overall pick. He is a slam dunk prospect, as a consistent hitter who brings plenty of power to the table.

On the season, he hit .407 with 28 home runs and 66 RBI. He slugged .911 with an OPS of 1.479.

2. Cincinnati Reds: Georgia OF/3B Charlie Condon

Charlie Condon isn’t going to fall much farther than No. 2, and that’s if he even makes it there. He’s the best power bat in college baseball, as he hit .436 with 36 home runs and 77 RBI for Georgia this season.

He is slugging 1.009 with an OPS of 1.567 on the season. Truly remarkable numbers from the slugger.

3. Colorado Rockies: Wake Forest RHP Chase Burns

Though Chase Burns was outdueled by Trey Yesavage in the Greenville Regional, he is still a candidate to be selected in the top five. In the latest mock draft from MLB Pipeline, he rises all the way up to No. 3 overall to Colorado.

Burns had a career year at Wake Forest in his lone season there. He was 10-1 on the season with a 2.70 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 100 innings pitched. He struck out 191 compared to 30 walks in 16 starts.

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

As Texas A&M fights on for the College World Series, they will be without Braden Montgomery. Unfortunately for the star outfielder, he will miss the rest of the season after sustaining an injury during the Super Regional round.

Still, Montgomery is unlikely to be impacted much in the draft. He hit .322 this season with the Aggies with 27 home runs and 85 RBI. He slugged .733 with an OPS of 1.187.

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

Florida two-way star Jac Caglianone was at the center of controversy on Sunday, as tempers flared between the Gators and Clemson. That doesn’t take away from his status as a true contender for a top pick.

On the season, Caglianone is hitting .411 with 33 home runs and 68 RBI, slugging .860 with an OPS of 1.392. Ont he mound, he is 5-2 in 15 appearances, pitching to a 4.71 ERA in 72.2 innings. He has struck out 82 compared to 48 walks.

6. Kansas City Royals: Harvard-Westlake HS SS Bryce Rainer (Texas commit)

Bryce Rainer from Harvard-Westlake High School remains a safe bet to be one of the first prep players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, and he earns that honor in this mock. His swing projects well at the next level with some power in the mix, and he could be an intriguing addition to the Royals system.

Rainer is unlikely to make it to college baseball. He is committed to the Texas Longhorns.

7. St. Louis Cardinals: Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith

While Hagen Smith struggled a bit in the postseason as Arkansas fell in the Fayetteville Regional, he could still end up being the first pitcher taken in July. He finished the season 9-2 in 16 starts with a 2.04 ERA and a 0.893 WHIP. He struck out 161 batters compared to 34 walks.

Between Smith, Burns and Trey Yesavage, there are three pitchers in contention for the top ten right now. Smith is the second taken of that bunch in this mock.

8. Los Angeles Angels: Florida State OF James Tibbs III

Florida State’s James Tibbs has played himself into being a top pick in the MLB Draft, and he cracks the top ten in this mock. As part of a loaded Seminoles offense, he is hitting .375 with 28 home runs and 94 RBI on the year.

Tibbs is slugging .813 with an OPS of 1.310 on the season. He continues to rise up draft boards, and for good reason.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates: West Virginia SS/2B J.J. Wetherholt

J.J. Wetherholt was a big reason for West Virginia making a run to Super Regionals. Though he missed some time due to injury this season, he still hit .331 with eight home runs and 30 RBI in 164 plate appearances. He slugged .589 with an OPS of 1.061.

Wetherholt is surely in the mix for the top ten as the next middle infielder being Bazzana in this class. It wouldn’t be surprising if he went even higher than No. 9.

10. Washington Nationals: Wake Forest 1B Nick Kurtz

While Nick Kurtz didn’t have quite as good of a season as he did in 2023, he was still very productive. In 2023, he hit .353 with 24 home runs and 69 RBI.

This season, Kurtz took a step down average-wise by hitting .306. He still clubbed 22 home runs with 57 RBI, sluggling .763 with an OPS of 1.294.

2024 MLB Mock Draft: 11-39

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

2024 MLB Mock Draft: Supplemental first-round picks

31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Valley View HS OF Slade Caldwell (Ole Miss commit)
32. Baltimore Orioles: Mississippi State OF Dakota Jordan
33. Minnesota Twins: Oxford HS SS Carter Johnson (Alabama commit)
34. Milwaukee Brewers: Stanford C Malcolm Moore
35. Arizona Diamondbacks: York HS RHP Ryan Sloan (Wake Forest commit)
36. Cleveland Guardians: Chaparral HS RHP Braylon Doughty (Oklahoma State commit)
37. Pittsburgh Pirates: California C Caleb Lomavita
38. Colorado Rockies: Independence HS SS Wyatt Sanford (Texas A&M commit)
39. Kansas City Royals: Duke LHP Jonathan Santucci