MLB Draft Grades: First round results and analysis

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It’s time to grade every pick from the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.

The MLB First Year Player Draft is one of the most exciting and important times for any baseball team. It represents the future, as teams strategize and scout players who will represent the organization for their foreseeable future. The 2024 Draft began Sunday night and had plenty of surprises. Below is a pick-by-pick look, along with a grade for each selection.

No. 1: Cleveland Guardians – Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Travis Bazzana’s offensive profile is highlighted by his supreme bat-to-ball skills which helps fuel his outstanding hit tool, as evidenced by his outrageous contact rate while at Oregon State. Bazzana combines his elite hit tool with good raw power, good speed and great approach making him a very well-rounded hitter that should stick at second base. Cleveland got arguably the best player in the draft, and a player that can help their division-leading MLB team as soon as 2025

Grade: A

No. 2: Cincinnati Reds – Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

With perhaps the best pure stuff in the draft, it’s not a surprise that the Reds go with Chase Burns. Burns pairs an elite fastball with a special slider that can be used against right and left-handed hitters along with a fringe, but developing, curveball and changeup making him a legit four-pitch pitcher. Burns is the top pitcher in the draft, so while he isn’t the best player available, the Reds managed to grab the best bet to be a major league starter.

Grade: B+

No. 3: Colorado Rockies – Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia

Charlie Condon combines a fantastic hit tool with power to all parts of the park, as well as an advanced approach at the plate, making him one of the most — if not the most — feared hitters in college baseball last year. His elite power combined with the thin Rocky Mountain air should intimidate pitchers for the foreseeable future. Colorado slid arguably the best prospect in the draft to No. 3 where Condon could be a force in Coors Field.

Grade A+

No. 4: Oakland Athletics – Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

A Wake Forest legend, Nick Kurtz is an outstanding first base prospect that should excel both at the plate and on the field. Kurtz’ blend of supreme bat-to-ball skills, fantastic approach, and great raw power should strike fear in the eyes of pitchers for a long time. Oakland went down the board a bit on their fourth pick to save money, but got the safest power bat left in the draft and also gleaned some financial flexibility.

Grade: C+

No. 5: Chicago White Sox – Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

Pure stuff is the name of the game for Hagen Smith who has a blistering fastball that tops out near 100 with a sharp slider that keeps hitters uneasy at the plate. There is some reliever risk with Smith, but the development of his changeup should be enough to make him an imposing presence on the mound for years to come. Smith is the best pitcher left in the draft in this spot, but this feels like a bit of a reach with better players available.

Grade: C-

No. 6: Kansas City Royals – Jac Caglianone, Two-Way Player, Florida

Power on power on power is the best way to summarize what Jac Caglianone can do for you, and that’s not just at the plate. A super intriguing two-way player, Caglianone can hit the ball all over the field with massive power, and can reach 99 MPH on the radar gun. The only question on Caglianone is will he hit the ball enough? He tends to chase and will be tested against improved pitching in the upper minors. Still, you can’t say no to that upside. It will be interesting to see how Caglianone develops as a two-way player. Kansas City got the best power bat left in the draft.

Grade: B+

No. 7: St. Louis Cardinals – JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia

The Cardinals land a 1.1 talent with the seventh pick of the draft. Known as one of the best hitters in college baseball, Wetherholt’s sweet left-handed swing paired with fantastic approach at the plate make him a gifted offensive player and should provide solid defense at a premium position. Widely considered as one of the top three players in this draft, Wetherholt is a steal at No. 7.

Grade: A+

No. 8: Los Angeles Angels – Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Hard to make a case for anyone who helped their draft stock more in a single season than the Tennessee’s Christian Moore. Moore showed a much-improved approach at the plate, cutting his strikeout rate while improving his contact rate, giving him an easy first round grade. Expect him to spray the ball everywhere, while contributing good defense at second. This is a significant reach for Moore, who is a safe college bat but ranks significantly lower than others available.

Grade C-

No. 9: Pittsburgh Pirates – Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep School

Tools are the name of the game for Konnor Griffin who might be the draft’s most gifted athlete. A two-way player in high school, Griffin has the tools to do either at the professional level and will be an interesting player to watch through his big-league career. At the plate, Griffin is a double plus runner, with a rocket arm and above average power. On the mound, he has a dynamic fastball, great curveball, and below average changeup with fringe average control. Expect the Pirates to develop Griffin as a position player, and should his hit tool not develop, can transition to a pitcher relatively quickly. The Pirates got the best pure talent in the draft, though it comes with significant risk.

Grade: B+

No. 10: Washington Nationals – Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest

Another Demon Deacon comes off the board as Seaver King finds a home with the Washington Nationals. Despite his size, King’s ridiculous bat speed helps him generate exit velocities that Major League Baseball’s best would be in awe of. Combine that elite exit velocity with one of the best running tools in the draft and you have a player that will not only get on base but fly around the base paths while finding a home at multiple premium defensive positions. King is a talented athlete here at 10, but many saw him as a player who fits in the back half of the teens or into the 20s.

Grade: D+

No. 11: Detroit Tigers – Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake HS

Another elite prep talent comes off the board as the Tigers visit the powerhouse Harvard-Westlake team to select two-way player Bryce Rainer. On the field, Rainer showed an improved hit tool his senior season while showing off good power and enough athleticism that should allow him to stay at shortstop. On the mound, he is just as intriguing and worthy of a first-round grade with a three-pitch mix (fastball, slider, curveball). His fastball sits in the mid 90s. He’s either the best or second-best prep bat in the class, depending on who you ask, getting Rainer at No. 11 is a solid pick and a value.

Grade: A-

No. 12: Boston Red Sox – Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

Another two-way player comes off the board as Braden Montgomery heads to the Boston Red Sox. With fantastic athleticism, good power, and balanced approach at the plate, Montgomery has a chance to be a slugging center fielder with a go The only question is will Braden hit enough but his body of tools makes him an intriguing pick. Montgomery is the clear best talent available who will now get a chance to focus only on hitting, and the ankle injury shouldn’t be a long-term concern.

Grade: A

No. 13: San Francisco Giants – James Tibbs, OF, Florida State

James Tibbs III shows you that college can earn you millions of dollars. Over the course of his collegiate career, James vastly improved his approach at the plate transforming into one of the best pure hitters in the sport. While his defensive position is up in the air, his bat is his calling card and makes him a very interesting player to watch. The Giants get a high-level college bat who should be a safe bet to make the major leagues, even with his defensive home in question.

Grade: B

No. 14: Chicago Cubs – Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

The Seminoles go back-to-back as Cam Smith heads to the Chicago Cubs. Smith has the tools to stick at third base, thanks to his great arm and good athleticism. Combine that with a vastly improved hit tool and developing power and you have the recipe for a potential slugging third baseman with good upside.

Grade: B

No. 15: Seattle Mariners – Jurrangelo Cijntje, P, Mississippi State

Jurrangelo Cijntie was perhaps the best college arm in this year’s draft, and he comes off at No. 15 to the Seattle Mariners. Cijntje is one of, if not the most talented, ambidextrous pitchers the sport has ever seen and has a mid 90s fastball with both arms. The major league profile, however, comes from the right side as he sits mid-to-high 90s and pairs that with a fantastic slider. The Mariners get an interesting pitcher for their highly regarded development staff to work with, and now we will see if Cijntje continues to develop with both arms.

Grade: C-

No. 16: Miami Marlins – PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS

What is likely an underslot deal, the Marlins surprise pick of PJ Morlando does provide some intriguing tools to build around. Likely a left fielder, Morlando has excellent bat speed but hasn’t quite hit for the power one would expect and doesn’t, currently, have a highly graded hit tool. It will be interesting to see what the Marlins do with their next few picks, but Morlando could be very intriguing when you factor in the amount of money he will sign for.

Grade: C

No. 17: Milwaukee Brewers – Braylon Payne, OF, Elkins HS

Speed is the calling card for Braylon Payne who figures to be an underslot pick, freeing up money for more higher upside players later in the draft. Payne doesn’t have the loudest tools, but once on base he figures to be a menace. With continued development of his hit tool, the Brewers could have a top of the lineup talent that strikes fears into pitchers and fielders alike. Milwaukee follows Miami’s lead and goes with an under-slot prep option which should give them to be aggressive later in the draft.

Grade: C-

No. 18: Tampa Bay Rays – Theo Gillen, OF, Westlake HS

Theo Gillen, the super intriguing shortstop out of Texas finds his home with the Rays. Gillen has a good hit tool, good power, excellent speed, excellent bat speed, and a good approach at the plate making him one of the most intriguing players in the draft and well worthy of a first-round grade. He has the athleticism to stay at short but was announced as an outfielder. Tampa Bay gets the best remaining prep bat who was a late riser in the draft process.

Grade: B+

No. 19: New York Mets – Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

Yet another two-way player, Carson Benge has intriguing upside as both a hitter and pitcher. Benge is a trackman data stud with exit velocities and bat speed that can make anyone’s mouth water. He has average speed, a good hit tool, a great approach at the plate and projects to be an average to plus fielder. The Mets get a high-level athlete in the second half of the draft, one who should hit at the next level.

Grade: A-

No. 20: Toronto Blue Jays – Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

The pitching lab over at East Carolina has churned out yet another high end first round talent in Trey Yesavage. The main risk with Yesavage is his complicated delivery but when he repeats his mechanics, he has a very intriguing four pitch arsenal and good enough command that should make him a quick riser in the Blue Jays system. Toronto gets a pitcher who was seen as the third-best college arm in the draft at pick No. 20.

Grade: A

No. 21: Minnesota Twins – Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

Kaelen Culpepper is a well-rounded prospect who does a lot of things well. If he sticks at shortstop, his offensive profile is perfect for the role. He should be a high OBP guy thanks to his great bat-to-ball skills and approach at the plate. If he shifts to third, then you would like to see more power at the plate but he would be special defensively. Culpepper is a gamer with great bat speed and is a high-level athlete who could stick at shortstop.

Grade B+

No. 22: Baltimore Orioles – Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

It’s safe to assume if the Orioles think Vance Honeycutt can hit, then he can hit. There is no denying the tools Honeycutt possesses — with fantastic power, speed, and a dynamic arm that will also make him special on defense. The biggest question is will he make consistent enough contact, as he strikes out at a near 30% rate, but should the hit tool develop, you have the makings of a lottery type talent falling to the Orioles at No. 22. Baltimore has done a good job developing hitters, and while Honeycutt has hit tool questions, this is a great landing spot for an elite athlete.

Grade: B

No. 23: Los Angeles Dodgers – Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS

We return to the prep ranks with the selection of Kellon Linsey by the Dodgers. A two-sport star in high school, Kellon brings premium athleticism to a premium position as he should stay at shortstop. With the bat, Kellon doesn’t project to have a ton of power thanks to his compact swing, but with double plus speed singles can turn into doubles in the blink of an eye. Los Angeles has done well at developing prep hitters, and Lindsey is a top tier athlete whose strength and projectability is underrated.

Grade: B+

No. 24: Atlanta Braves – Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS

Cam Caminiti finds a home in Atlanta and the Braves must be thrilled. Caminiti was nearly a guaranteed lottery pick in the 2025 draft before he reclassified and became one of the youngest players in the draft. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and can touch 98. He has a good changeup and a developing curveball and slider with good potential for four plus pitches. Caminiti won’t be cheap, but a great pitching development group has arguably the top prep arm from this class to work with.

Grade: A

No. 25: San Diego Padres – Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elks City HS

An Oklahoma State commit, Kash Mayfield had a great showcase season and found himself with a first-round selection. Kash sits in the low-to-mid 90s with his fastball with good arm-side run and can touch 96-97 at times. He combines that fastball with an outstanding changeup, likely his best pitch, and a fringe average curveball. Kash repeats his mechanics well which gives him surprisingly good command for a high school pitcher. A well-rounded prep lefty, the Padres got a young guy with a classic pitchers frame whose fastball jumped into the mid 90’s this spring.

Grade: B

No. 26: New York Yankees – Ben Hess, RHP, Alabama

At 6’5” 255, Ben Hess is an absolute hoss on the mound and has an arm deserving of the size. Hess’s fastball sits mid 90s but can get near triple digits and complements that with three additional pitches — a sharp slider, fringe average changeup, and fringe average curveball. Despite his size, Ben repeats his mechanics well, which bodes well as he continues to refine his command after it took a step back this past season. The Yankees take a risk here with Hess but get a talented college arm with a high ceiling that should afford some financial flexibility.

Grade: C

No. 27: Philadelphia Phillies – Dante Nori, OF, Northville HS

Athlete is the name of the game for the Phillies first round draft pick. While a bit of a surprise at 27th overall, there is no disputing Dante’s athleticism with his double-plus speed that pairs well with good bat-to-ball skills. The oldest prep player in the draft, Dante should be able to not just stick in center fielder thanks to his speed, and good arm, but do well defensively. Nori was a major surprise pick, and is old for the high school class, but has some athleticism and gives Philly some money to work with.

Grade: D

No. 28: Houston Astros – Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

Walker projects to be a solid player at the plate with a decent hit tool and average power with below average speed, but it’s on the defensive side of things where Walker really shines. Walker, the draft’s best defensive catcher, not only excels as a pitch framer, but can absolutely shut down opposing run games thanks to a strong pop time. The Astros got the top catcher from this draft who made a major leap up draft boards with his impressive performance this spring.

Grade: A-

No. 29: Arizona Diamondbacks – Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS

Everyone knows the Diamondbacks don’t care about undersized outfielders thanks to the ascension of Corbin Carroll, so they went back to that well with the selection of Slade Caldwell. Slade, standing at 5’9”, knows his strengths and plays to them by offering a sweet, compact swing that drives the ball to all parts of the field. While he’s not going to hit for a ton of power, Slade doesn’t need to because of his outstanding speed. That speed allows him to not only cause havoc on the base paths, but helps him out on defense where he projects to be a plus defender despite the below average arm. Caldwell slid, and the long-stated connection between him and Arizona came to fruition.

Grade: A

No. 30: Texas Rangers – Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

The Rangers head over to California for their first pick of the draft as they select catcher Malcolm Moore out of Stanford. A bat-first catcher, Moore struggled a bit with the bat his sophomore year, hitting just .255, but saw his OBP take off thanks to a good approach at the plate and an 18% walk rate. It remains to be seen if Malcolm will stay at catcher, but with the advancement of power in Year 2, he’s got good upside even as a first base prospect. Rangers get a great hitter who has great underlying data, and if he sticks at catcher this could be a steal.

Grade: B

Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks

If a prospect makes a significant Top 100 list, breaks spring training on a big-league team, accrues a full season of service time, and factors into a major award (wins Rookie of the year or top 3 in MVP or Cy Young) a team is awarded an additional first round draft pick.

No. 31: Arizona Diamondbacks – Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

The Diamondbacks select another outfielder, this time Kentucky standout Ryan Waldschmidt with the 31st pick of the draft. Ryan saw his draft stock rocket up thanks to his trackman data that kept him in the upper echelon of batted ball stats. While he may not win many platinum gloves in the outfield, he has very intriguing upside with his bat and projects to not only hit for average, but for power as well. Arizona gets a player with great data who should be a safe MLB hitter.

Grade: B+

No. 32: Baltimore Orioles – Griff O’Ferrall, SS, Virginia

Baltimore doesn’t go very far from home as they select UVA shortstop Griff O’Ferrall with their second pick of the draft. Griff, a shortstop who should stay at the position, does a lot of things well earning him a first-round selection. Griff excels at hitting for contact, which is helpful as he does not hit for much power, nor does he project to in the future. Once on base, despite not having superb speed, Griff knows how to steal bases highlighted by his 90% stolen base rate. A solid defender who makes a lot of contact, O’Ferrall is a safe pick but doesn’t jump off the page overall.

Grade: C

Compensation Picks

If a team loses a qualifying free agent, is a revenue-sharing recipient, and the free agent subsequently signs a contract worth more than $50M, a compensation pick is awarded.

No. 33: Minnesota Twins – Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana Lafayette

Minnesota goes to college shortstop again, this time grabbing DeBarge who is a fantastic defender but lacks Culpepper’s upside. A shortstop by trade, Kyle should be able to stay at the position. His ability to get on base thanks to great bat-to-ball skills drives his hit tool. Power isn’t in his game, but his contact skills and above average speed should provide good offensive value to pair with good defense at a premium position. Better when evaluated with Amick pick in next round.

Grade: C+

Competitive Balance Round A

The 10 lowest-revenue clubs, as well as the 10 smallest market clubs, receive an additional pick either in Round A or Round B.

No. 34: Milwaukee Brewers – Blake Burke, 1B, Tennessee

From a pair of high contact players to one where power is the main calling card. Blake is a power-first type of hitter who has high chase rates — but when he connects, he connects. Blake has struggled with breaking pitches in the past, but if he hits at a decent clip the value from his slugging will make him a much more valuable player. He’s limited on the field with a below average arm so his bat will have to carry him. Burke has elite power and has some hitting ability but is limited to 1B/DH. Milwaukee’s picks are hard to evaluate without the context of Day Two/Three.

Grade: C

No. 35: Arizona Diamondbacks – JD Dix, SS, Whitefish Bay HS

There’s a lot to like about JD Dix’s game as he projects to not just hit for average but for decent power as well, from both sides of the plate. JD’s good speed may help him stick at short but his speed and arm could also find a home somewhere else in the infield. Dix is a solid all-around athlete and another great addition to a good Day One for Arizona.

Grade: C+

No. 36: Cleveland Guardians – Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS

The Guardians happily take one of the best prep arms of the draft with the 36th pick. At 18 years old, Braylon already throws in the mid 90s topping out around 98 MPH. He combines that with what is possibly his best pitch, a tight-breaking slider and good curveball. Braylon also has a changeup which is further behind the rest of his pitches but could develop into an average pitch to give him potentially three plus pitches with an average grade changeup. Doughty has great traits and throws a potential mix of four above average pitches with command. Had some first round buzz but dropped with some rumors around injuries.

Grade: B+

No. 37: Pittsburgh Pirates – Levi Sterling, RHP, Notre Dame HS

The Pirates add another impressive arm to their arsenal with the 37th pick of the draft in Levi Sterling. Levi has a low 90s fastball right now, but with his size (6’5” 200) and the fact that he’s still just 17, you see projectability with it. He pairs that fastball with a mid 70s curveball and average slider. Levi’s calling card is his command, which is far superior to most his age, and that paired with a good frame makes Levi a very interesting pick for the Pirates.

Grade: C+

No. 38: Colorado Rockies – Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

After selecting the mammoth power prospect Charlie Condon in the first round, the Rockies select the mammoth power pitching prospect Brody Brecht out of Iowa. While Brody struggles to throw strikes, his high 90s to 101 mph fastball and wipe out slider combination is overpowering when located in the zone. He also has a changeup that’s below average right now but if developed properly can help him against left-handed hitters. There is significant reliever risk with the command issues, but the Rockies will give him as many chances as they can to develop as a starter. Brecht has elite stuff but dropped in the draft after his command faltered at the end of the season. Colorado has a lot of work to do but could have a high ceiling arm.

Grade: A

No. 39: Washington Nationals – Caleb Lomavita, C, California

Caleb gives the Nationals an intriguing catching prospect that has upside both with the bat and with the glove. On the offensive side, Caleb is a free swinger who would rather get on base via hit than walk. He’s a good athlete that has decent pop as a catcher and has a good arm that should help with limiting opposing run games. Lomavita is the most physically talented catcher in the draft, but has a lot of work to do on his approach.

Grade: A-