The 2024 MLB Draft is upon us, and there are plenty of shining stars for teams to choose from. And while baseball’s version of the selection process may not get as much fame and fanfare as the NFL or NBA, it may be more intriguing than those other leagues. For one, teams are not allowed to trade their picks, and secondly, just about any random name could pop up as the top overall selection.
In baseball, you see a Golden Spikes winner come from NCAA glory to wind up as the first guy taken. Or, it might be some lanky lefthander out of a high school in California that you’ve never heard of. That’s the beauty (and mystery) of the MLB Draft. Fans may get lost in the length and the number of rounds, but there’s something about that number-one pick that has so many stories behind it. Sometimes, the ‘top guy’ may turn out to be an All-Star or a Hall of Famer. Other times? They might disappear from the sporting scope altogether.
For every Alex Rodriguez (the first pick in 1993), Ken Griffey, Jr. (1987), or Chipper Jones (1990) there’s a Brien Taylor (1991) or David Clyde (1973). The climb to the Majors has many rungs on the ladder, and many ‘can’t-miss’ prospects lost their footing on the way to the top.
With that being said, there are a handful of names who could be called first when this year’s draft starts on July 14th. From prep schools to universities, each one of them brings a special set of skills that could warrant a franchise making them their organization’s crown jewel,
There’s Solid Talent from the NCAA to Choose From
Travis Bazzana is MLB's No. 1 overall Draft prospect, but at what pick will he hear his name called on July 14th?@hyphen18 sat down with the Australia native to learn about his career path, @BeaverBaseball and goals in an exclusive interview. pic.twitter.com/IiCUFdXUYr
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 7, 2024
Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana is considered the favorite to be selected first overall. The Cleveland Guardians hold the number one pick and are rumored to be enamored by the Australian native. The lefthanded-hitting infielder batted led Oregon State to a 134-54 record over three seasons. The PAC 12 Player of the Year hit .407 in his final year of college, with 28 home runs and 7 walks in just 296 plate appearances. A student of the game, Bazzana is known to watch hours of video on MLB hitters to improve his offensive output.
“There’s guys that hardly hit the ball over 105 miles an hour that hit 30 home runs,” Bazzan told ESPN recently. “I mean, you see Mookie [Betts] go out and do it all the time and [Jose] Altuve and [Alex] Bregman. Jose Ramirez. Not comparing myself to those guys, but I knew there was more than just being a 6-7 behemoth hitting balls 119 miles an hour to produce slug. And all I wanted to do is figure out how, in my frame, can I get myself the best opportunity to produce slug?”
One other college player who could usurp the top slot from Bazzana is Georgia third baseman Charlie Condon, who broke the modern-day college record with 37 home runs this season. And then there’s West Virginia’s JJ Wetherholt, who would have been much more likely to be selected by Cleveland, except he battled injuries this season.
Could a High Schooler Go First in the MLB Draft?
Shortstop Konnor Griffin, from Jackson (MS) Prep, has all the tools that any MLB team would love to have. However, he’s behind the two aforementioned college middle infielders in terms of development. However, he’s a five-tool player who stole an amazing 87 bases in 88 attempts this spring.
After Griffin, the list of prep stars isn’t expected to be drafted until the mid-first round. Otherwise, unless Cleveland sees something the rest of us don’t, it appears that the top overall pick and most of the MLB’s top ten will be from the college ranks.
ESPN‘s coverage of the 2024 MLB Draft will begin on Sunday, July 14th, beginning at 7 PM Eastern Time.
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Ryan K Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love. His previous work has appeared at The Miami Herald, SB Nation, Bounding into Sports, and Yardbarker. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman.
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