NEWSLETTER
The Los Angeles Angels are set to make their first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft with the 8th overall pick.
Exploring Potential Fits for the Los Angeles Angels in the 1st Round of the 2024 MLB Draft
The Angels own the eighth overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft next month, and MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo has Los Angeles taking Wake Forest’s first baseball Nick Kurtz in his latest mock draft, which was released last week.
“Given their track record of late, talk persists of the Angels looking to potentially save money on a college hitter who will move quickly, so guys like James Tibbs from Florida State also get mentioned. But Kurtz’s power — which should also get to Los Angeles in a hurry — might be too good to pass up.”
His partner at MLB.com, Jim Callis, has the Angels taking a different name in a similar vein, with Florida State’s James Tibbs III heading to the Angels at No. 8. Callis cites the Angels desire to find a discount in the first round, and sees Tibbs as a prospect who can make his way into the top ten if he cuts a deal at a lower price for the team selecting him.
“Rumors persist that the Angels are looking to find a discount here, and Tibbs gets mentioned often as a deal-cutter who could slide into the top 10 somewhere. East Carolina right-hander Trey Yesavage is another below-slot possibility. If the Angels look to go full slot, any of the consensus top eight collegians would be in play, with Wetherholt and Kurtz still on the board in this scenario. But would they take another first baseman in Kurtz after selecting Nolan Schanuel 11th overall last July?”
Over at The Athletic, Keith Law has a different read on the Angels. He reports that Los Angeles is looking to take a college arm and bring them right to the majors this season. Law has East Carolina’s Trey Yesavage pegged to the Angels at No. 8 but also says that they would do the same if Chase Burns or Hagan Smith fell to them at No. 8.
“The rumor is the Angels will take Yesavage and bring him right to the big leagues — or would do the same with Smith or Burns if here, although Yesavage is also likely to sign at this pick for a discount while the other two would not. I’ve also heard they might do the same with a college hitter like James Tibbs.”
Law name-checks Tibbs to Los Angeles as well but says that, like the college arms, he’s heard that they would move Tibbs straight to the majors.
I don’t for a second doubt Keith Law’s reporting, but I can’t understand why they would fast-track a top-ten pick to the majors when they’re 29-43 and 13 games behind the Mariners with the Rangers and Astros in between them in the American League West entering play today.
That would be really strange, but, hey, it’s the Angels, so I wouldn’t put it past them.
