Cleveland Guardians select Iowa pitcher commit Joey Oakie in 2024 MLB Draft

One of the top high school arms eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft heard his name called. And Ankeny, Iowa, native Joey Oakie can now say he’s been drafted, selected by the Cleveland Guardians with the No. 84 overall pick.

Oakie, an Iowa commit, will have to weigh out his options between turning pro or deferring that dream to spend some time with the Hawkeyes before starting his professional journey. Oakie is the highest-rated player committed to the Hawkeyes in the 2024 class.

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The 2024 signing class is also the highest-ranked in Iowa’s history, with Oakie included as one of four pitchers that the Hawkeyes signed. Oakie was also the Iowa Gatorade High School Player of the Year this past season.

“Joey is without question one of the most decorated players from our state in the last 30 years,” Hawkeyes head coach Rick Heller said in the signing day release. “He brings electricity across the board with his [fastball-slider] combo. As good as the physical traits are, we’ve always been more impressed with his work ethic and how humble he is. Through all the accolades — including Team USA this fall — Joey has stayed humble and continues to put his head down and work. It meant something to Joey and his family to stay home and Iowa Baseball is elated he will be a Hawkeye.”

A 6-foot-3, 200-pound righty, Oakie isn’t necessarily a fireballer. He works out of a slightly lowered arm slot, sitting in the mid-90s with his two-seam fastball that can run up into the upper 90s. He currently plays off the two-seamer with a slider.

Oakie’s MLB.com scouting reporting delves into his pitching upside further.

“Given the flat vertical approach of his pitches, he might thrive with a harder four-seamer that could have terrific carry up in the zone,” the scouting report said. “His mid-80s slider is already a plus offering with two-plane depth as well as horizontal movement and it could be a legitimate plus-plus weapon with further refinement. Oakie attacks hitters with two pitches, and while he’s working on a sinking changeup, it’s too firm and he rarely uses it in games. The Iowa recruit doesn’t have an ideal starter’s size or delivery and needs to improve the consistency of his strike-throwing, but he also has a quick arm and works with little effort. He earns praise for his makeup, which contributes to his mid-rotation starter upside.”

One of the big questions about Oakie as a prospect that he went a decent way to answer of late in some showcase outings is his abilities against competition outside of Iowa. Along with strong showings for scouts in various events, Oakie looked strong pitching for the Team USA U18 team in 2023. Making a pair relief appearances against Japan and Venezuela, respectively, Oakie didn’t allow a run or hit, walked a batter and struck out two more.