2024 MLB Mock Draft: Will Travis Bazzana Go First Overall To Cleveland?

We’re less than two weeks away from the big day! Let’s run through another 2024 MLB Mock Draft.

The roar of the College World Series may have faded, but a fresh wave of excitement is crashing over Major League Baseball. Baseball’s brightest minds are already immersed in the MLB Draft, churning out mock drafts like a well-oiled pitching machine. These early looks offer a tantalizing glimpse into the future, a chance to identify the next generation of young phenoms who will soon be lighting up stadiums across the country.

However, it’s crucial to remember that these mock drafts are essentially educated crystal balls. Player rankings are a fluid landscape, and the draft itself can be a rollercoaster of surprises and last-minute decisions. Think of them as portals into a future teeming with baseball brilliance! We’re about to embark on a meticulous scouting mission, dissecting the most coveted prospects – the future stars currently honing their skills on the diamond. Brace yourselves for an in-depth analysis that will have you buzzing with anticipation. It’s time to take a deep dive into the 2024 MLB Mock Draft and celebrate the imminent arrival of baseball’s next wave of superstars!

2024 MLB Mock Draft

With 17 of 18 non-playoff teams in the running, the 2024 MLB Draft lottery promised drama. This weighted lottery determined the first six picks, with teams’ odds mirroring their losing percentages. This intriguing format injected extra excitement into the draft order announcement. The pre-lottery odds for each team were as follows:

18.3% — Oakland Athletics (.309)

18.3% — Kansas City Royals (.346)

18.3% — Colorado Rockies (.364)

14.7% — Chicago White Sox (.377)

8.3% — St. Louis Cardinals (.438)

6.1% — Los Angeles Angels (.451)

4.3% — New York Mets (.463)

3.0% — Pittsburgh Pirates (.469)

2.0% — Cleveland Guardians (.469)

1.6% — Detroit Tigers (.481)

1.2% — Boston Red Sox (.481)

1.0% — San Francisco Giants (.488)

0.9% — Cincinnati Reds (.506)

0.7% — San Diego Padres (.506)

0.6% — New York Yankees (.506)

0.4% — Chicago Cubs (.512)

0.2% — Seattle Mariners (.543)

0.0% — Washington Nationals (.438 — ineligible for lottery pick)

The initial six selections of the draft were determined through a weighted lottery, with subsequent picks for non-playoff teams allocated in reverse order of their regular season performance. Postseason teams followed a predetermined sequence based on their round of elimination, progressing from the Wild Card Game through the Division Series and League Championship Series, and wrapping up with the World Series runner-up.

The conclusion of the 2024 MLB Draft lottery offered a significant shakeup to the pre-draft landscape. While analysts had crafted numerous mock drafts, the actual results deviated considerably, leaving many surprised. The Cleveland Guardians, with a relatively low chance of securing the top pick, defied expectations and emerged victorious. Similarly, the Cincinnati Reds, boasting even lower odds, managed to snag the second overall selection.

This unexpected outcome left pre-draft favorites, the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals, facing a revised approach. Their strategies, centered around a higher draft position, may require adjustments in light of their lower selections. The question now becomes one of adaptation: how will these teams leverage their new draft slots to best suit their needs?

While the disappointment for the Athletics and Royals is undeniable, the 2024 MLB Draft still holds significant intrigue. The Guardians and Reds now hold the power to significantly impact their franchises with their high picks. The draft promises to be a fascinating event, filled with potential for unexpected developments and the unveiling of future stars who could leave their mark on the game.

2024 MLB Mock Draft

1. Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana – 2B – Oregon State
2. Cincinnati Reds: Charlie Condon – OF/1B – Georgia
3. Colorado Rockies: Jac Caglianone – 1B/LHP – Florida
4. Oakland Athletics: Chase Burns – RHP – Wake Forest
5. Chicago White Sox: Konnor Griffin – OF – Jackson Prep (Mississippi)
6. Kansas City Royals: Braden Montgomery – OF/RHP – Texas A&M
7. St. Louis Cardinals: Hagen Smith – LHP – Arkansas
8. Los Angeles Angels: JJ Wetherholt – SS/2B – West Virginia
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: James Tibbs III – 1B/OF – Florida State
10. Washington Nationals: Bryce Rainer – SS – Harvard-Westlake High School (California)
11. Detroit Tigers: Nick Kurtz – 1B – Wake Forest
12. Boston Red Sox: Christian Moore – 2B – Tennessee
13. San Francisco Giants: Trey Yesavage – RHP – East Carolina
14. Chicago Cubs: Cam Caminiti – LHP – Saguaro High School (Arizona)
15. Seattle Mariners: Seaver King – OF/SS – Wake Forest
16. Miami Marlins: Cam Smith – 3B – Florida State
17. Milwaukee Brewers: Carson Benge – OF/RHP – Oklahoma State
18. Tampa Bay Rays: Jurrangelo Cijntje – P – Mississippi State
19. New York Mets: Vance Honeycutt – OF – North Carolina
20. Toronto Blue Jays: William Schmidt – RHP – Catholic High School (Louisiana)
21. Minnesota Twins: Walker Janek – C – Sam Houston
22. Baltimore Orioles: Brody Brecht – RHP – Iowa
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Ryan Waldschmidt – OF – Kentucky
24. Atlanta Braves: Kash Mayfield – LHP – Elk City High School (Oklahoma)
25. San Diego Padres: Braylon Doughty – RHP – Chaparral High School (California)
26. New York Yankees: Theo Gillen – SS – Westlake High School (Texas)
27. Philadelphia Phillies: Tommy White – 3B – LSU
28. Houston Astros: Ryan Sloan – RHP – York High School (Illinois)
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kaelen Culpepper – SS – Kansas State
30. Texas Rangers: Kellen Lindsey – SS – Hardee High School (Florida)