2024 MLB Draft Live Analysis, Scouting Report For Every First-Round Pick

2. Cincinnati Reds

Pick: RHP Chase Burns
BA rank: 4

Instant Analysis: Burns is the top pitcher in this class. There’s front-end starter upside with an electric, powerful repertoire between his fastball and breaking stuff. Some scouts see reliever risk, but I think he’s a starter, and I’m sure the Reds do too if they’re taking him here. But the surprise here has to be passing on Charlie Condon, the No. 1 player on the board who could be a force in the middle of the lineup and has less injury attrition risk than a pitcher. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Burns was already touching 100 mph as a Tennessee prep in the 2021 class. Despite that huge velocity, he made it to campus at Tennessee, where he pitched as a starter and reliever for two seasons before transferring to Wake Forest in 2024. As a full-time starter, Burns put together one of the best pitching seasons in the country, with a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts, a 48.8% strikeout rate that led Division I pitchers, a 7.7% walk rate and a nation-leading 191 strikeouts. A 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander, Burns has perhaps the best pure stuff in the class. He averaged nearly 98 mph with his fastball and has been up to 101. He attacks hitters with a high-effort, high-energy delivery that features plenty of recoil and moving parts. His fastball is a potential 70-grade offering, as is his hellacious upper-80s slider that features hard, biting action with spin rates in the 2,800 rpm range. Burns’ slider is his go-to secondary against both lefties and righties and generated a 64% miss rate. While his fastball/slider combination is his bread and butter, he also showcased a low-80s power curveball and firm upper-80s changeup more frequently in 2024. Both pitches have a chance to be solid-average—or perhaps better in the case of the curveball—and helped create more confidence in Burns’ starter profile. While his delivery screams reliever, he has consistently thrown strikes at a solid rate for three seasons, has a real four-pitch mix and consistently holds his stuff deep into games. While Burns is more of a control-over-command pitcher, he has the top-end pure stuff to make that work and miss plenty of bats. He should be the first or second pitcher drafted.

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3. Colorado Rockies

Pick: OF/3B Charlie Condon
BA rank: 1

Instant Analysis: Condon is the No. 1 player in the draft and he’s the player I would have taken as well with the No. 1 overall pick. To get him here with the third overall pick is an outstanding outcome for the Rockies, who are getting a player with similarities to Kris Bryant. Condon has tremendous raw power, a multi-year track record of dominance in the SEC, and while he’s 6-foot-6, Condon hasn’t shown the same swing-and-miss tendencies that come with a lot of hitters his size.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Condon wasn’t a high-profile prospect coming out of The Walker School in Marietta, Ga. He enrolled at Georgia in 2022 but took a redshirt season and didn’t play until 2023. In a Freshman of the Year season, he led all first-years with an .800 slugging percentage and 25 home runs. He then played for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and slashed .256/.302/.538 with three homers in 10 games. Condon took another step forward in 2024, when he became the first Division I hitter this century to hit 35 or more home runs and pushed to the top of the draft class. A 6-foot-6, 216-pound righthanded hitter, Condon has a special blend of power and pure hitting ability. He has a chance for 70-grade raw power, with the ability to homer to all fields and some of the best top-end exit velocities in the class. He has more pure bat-to-ball skills than might be expected of a tall hitter with such long levers. He’s never been fazed by top-end velocity, has improved his performance against breaking stuff in 2024 and has a chance for a plus hit tool. After playing mostly first base in 2023, Condon played five different positions in 2024 and played them well. He is most likely to profile as a bat-first corner outfielder, but he is a strong enough athlete with the hands and arm strength to get a chance at third base in pro ball. He’s a fine runner now but could slow down to below-average in the future and shouldn’t be a huge factor on the bases. Condon is reminiscent of other tall, righthanded, top-of-the-class corner profiles in recent drafts, such as Kris Bryant and Alec Bohm, and is a favorite to be picked first overall.

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4. Oakland Athletics

Pick: 1B Nick Kurtz
BA rank: 8

Instant Analysis: Kurtz has one of the best combinations of patience and power in the draft. It’s not Jac Caglianone raw power, but he’s a potential 30-plus home run threat with a significantly better eye for the strike zone than Caglianone, making him a higher OBP threat. As a first base prospect, he’s going to have to mash, but there’s potential for an Anthony Rizzo type outcome here if everything clicks.

BA 500 Scouting Report: One of the most well-rounded position players in the 2024 class, Kurtz is a towering, 6-foot-5, 235-pound, lefthanded-hitting first baseman who has been a lethal middle-of-the-order presence in Wake Forest’s lineup since the day he stepped on campus. He homered 15 times as a freshman and then put together back-to-back 20-homer campaigns in each of his next two seasons. He is a career .333/.510/.725 hitter and ranks second on Wake Forest’s career leaderboard with 61 home runs—behind only 2023 first-rounder Brock Wilken—and first with 161 walks. Kurtz has a terrific blend of raw power and advanced bat-to-ball skills with a surprisingly compact swing and a great batting eye. He never expands the zone and is content to take free passes when pitchers work him carefully. His 80% career contact rate is a strong number for a tall, long-levered hitter with his all-fields impact ability. Kurtz has a chance for a plus hit and plus power combination that could lead to a .280 average and 30-plus home runs in his peak years, with a solid offensive floor given his on-base skills. Kurtz finished his career with a 24.1% walk rate, and his 30% mark in 2024 was tops among all Division I hitters. While he is a first baseman, he is a potentially plus defender at the position who moves well around the bag and has reliable hands and a solid throwing arm. Kurtz has dealt with rib and shoulder injuries that have cost him time during his college career, but he should still be a top 10 pick.

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5. Chicago White Sox

Pick: LHP Hagen Smith
BA rank: 6

Instant Analysis: If you’re locked in on for pitching in this spot, Smith is the top talent available. There’s a wipeout fastball/slider combination from the left side that has helped him pile up strikeouts in huge numbers, drawing comparisons to Carlos Rodon. There’s a Tommy John surgery in his past and he did walk 10% of hitters this year, but the upside here is a frontline starter who could be in Chicago within the next year or two.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Smith ranked as a top 200 prospect coming out of high school in Bullard, Texas, and threw seven no-hitters during a loud senior season. He did that after recovering from Tommy John surgery and then made it to campus at Arkansas, where he has pitched in a number of different roles while making steady progress each year. His 2024 draft season was consistently dominant and resulted in him winning Southeastern Conference pitcher of the year honors. Smith posted a 2.04 ERA in 16 starts and 84 innings with a 48.6% strikeout rate, 10.3% walk rate and Division I-leading .144 opponent average. He was the Friday night ace of an Arkansas staff that was one of the best pitching teams in the country. At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Smith has gained good weight in his college career and made strides. He refined his delivery in 2024, which helped lead to improved stuff and strikes. He averaged 95-96 mph with a fastball that has been up to 100 and throws from a low three-quarters slot that helps him create a flat plane to the plate. Those factors allow his fastball to generate tons of in-zone whiffs. Smith backs his heater with a hard, mid-80s slider that is a swing-and-miss pitch to both lefthanded and righthanded hitters, as his 56% miss rate in 2024 attests. His slider is a potential 70-grade offering. Smith’s third pitch is a firm upper-80s changeup that needs more refinement and has been infrequently used during his college career. While he has improved his strike-throwing, Smith has never been a command-oriented pitcher and will need to continue making strides in this area. He will also need to bring up his third pitch to be a slam-dunk starter. Despite having TJ on his ledger and some reliever risk, Smith’s outstanding lefthanded stuff gives him extreme upside and should make him one of the first two pitchers drafted.

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6. Kansas City Royals

Pick: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone
BA rank: 5

Instant Analysis: Caglianone has 80 raw power. It’s the type of power where, if everything clicks, he could have a season where he hits 50-plus home runs. The risk here is that he’s a first base prospect with question marks on his hit tool. To his credit, he cut down on his strikeout rate significantly, so he hasn’t shown much swing and miss on pitches in the strike zone. There still, however, is a significantly higher chase rate, so he’s going to have to develop a more selective approach against better pitching.

BA 500 Scouting Report: In terms of pure talent, it will be hard for any player in the 2024 class to match what Caglianone brings to the table. He’s a massive presence with a 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame and is one of the better college two-way players since Louisville’s Brendan McKay. Caglianone led the country with 33 home runs as a sophomore in 2023, then put together a second straight 30-plus homer season in 2024, when he also drastically improved his strikeout and walk rates. After striking out 18% of the time in his first two seasons, Caglianone cut that mark to 8.1% in 2024, while tripling his walk rate up to 16.8%. He has astounding raw power and some of the best top-end exit velocities in the country. Despite 80-grade raw power and the ability to homer to all fields with ease, Caglianone will need to improve his swing decisions and pure hitting ability to maximize that juice in games. He has a steep, uphill swing, and his lower half consistently leaks to his pull side. His 43% career chase rate is one of the most aggressive marks of top 2024 college hitters. Caglianone’s upside is greater as a lefthanded slugger, but he’s also been an effectively wild starter for Florida for two years. He features a low-90s sinking fastball that touches 98-99 mph and a pair of average secondaries with a low-80s changeup and low-to-mid-80s slider/cutter. His below-average control creates reliever risk. Caglianone has the power to lead the league in home runs, a la Pete Alonso, who, like Caglianone, is a product of Tampa’s Plant High and UF.

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7. St. Louis Cardinals

Pick: SS JJ Wetherholt
BA rank: 3

Instant Analysis: Getting the No. 3 player in the class with the seventh overall pick is an excellent outcome for the Cardinals. Wetherholt entered the season as the No. 1 player in the class. Injuries at the beginning of the year slowed him and monster seasons from Charlie Condon and Travis Bazzana pushed those two players ahead of him, but Wetherholt remains a supremely talented hitter with a sweet lefty swing, great contact skills and plate discipline. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Wetherholt made his case as one of the best pure hitters in the 2024 class as a West Virginia sophomore in 2023. That season, he led the nation in hitting and slashed .449/.517/.782 with 16 home runs and 35 stolen bases. Despite being hampered by a hamstring injury that summer, Wetherholt was viewed as the top pure hitter on USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Another hamstring injury early in 2024 cost him nearly two months of the season. A 5-foot-10, 190-pound shortstop, he has a clean and fluid lefthanded swing with a slight uphill bat path and plenty of hand speed through the zone. He’s able to manipulate his barrel to consistently get on plane with all pitch types and has the strength to homer to all fields with surprising pop for his size. In addition to his plus contact skills and above-average raw power, Wetherholt has a keen eye and rarely expands the zone, making him one of the most well-rounded hitters in the class. Wetherholt has played third base, second base and shortstop in college. He has the hands and actions for all three, but his arm could be best suited to second base, where he could be an above-average defender. When healthy, Wetherholt is a plus runner who could be a consistent basestealing threat, but multiple hamstring injuries could incentivize him to be less aggressive. Wetherholt should become the highest-drafted player in WVU history, bettering Alek Manoah in 2019 and Chris Enochs in 1997, both of whom were 11th overall picks.

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8. Los Angeles Angels

Pick: 2B Christian Moore
BA rank: 12

Instant Analysis: The Angels get a power-hitting middle infielder with Moore, who after Braden Montgomery was the next highest ranked college hitter available here. He has been an outstanding offensive performer in the SEC and will likely have a power-over-hit profile in pro ball but with a compact swing that should allow him to tap into that power at higher levels. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Moore has been a model of consistency for Tennessee in his three-year career. A 6-foot-1, 216-pound righthanded hitter and infielder, Moore has hit over .300 with double-digit home runs in all three seasons for the Volunteers, culminating in a breakout 2024 campaign in which he slashed .376/.453/.796 with 32 home runs heading into the College World Series. Moore was a power-over-hit offensive player with big strikeout questions during his first two seasons, but in 2024 he cut his strikeout rate from around 25% to just 15%, and his overall contact rate jumped from a poor 65% mark to an impressive 77%. He owes that improvement to a much better performance against secondary pitchers, which gave him issues in his first two seasons. Moore is a broad-shouldered hitter with impressive bat speed who has used the entire field for his home run production. While he doesn’t have much physical projection remaining, he should have more than enough raw power to get to average or better home run totals if his newfound contact ability holds up. Moore has spent time all over the infield and outfield with Tennessee and started the 2024 season at shortstop before sliding over to second base fairly quickly. His arm has been an issue in the past and is light for the left side of the infield, but it should play at the keystone, where he could be a fair defender. Moore is a solid-average runner underway.

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9. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pick: SS Konnor Griffin
BA rank: 9

Instant Analysis: When Griffin reclassified from the 2025 to the 2024 class, he immediately became the No. 1 high school player for 2024 and holds that ranking today. He has an incredible combination of physicality, athleticism and tools, including well above-average speed and arm strength to go with big raw power. He has spent time in both the outfield and at shortstop, with the Pirates drafting him at shortstop, a position I think he has a legitimate chance to play even at his size. The risk scouts see here is in the pure hitting ability and how that will fare against more advanced pitchers. When the Angels drafted Jo Adell out of high school with the 10th overall pick in 2017, there were a lot of similarities in terms of size, athleticism, tools and hitting ability. Adell eventually ascended to become a top five overall prospect in baseball; Griffin has that type of upside, as well as that type of risk. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Griffin has a case as the toolsiest prospect in the 2024 class. He played varsity as an eighth grader and then reclassified following his sophomore year at Jackson Prep to become draft-eligible this year rather than 2025. A 6-foot-4, 210-pound dynamo, Griffin has excelled as a hitter and pitcher with a tremendous package of athleticism, physical upside, tools and track record of performance. He’s a bouncy athlete with plus-plus speed, raw power that should become plus and plus arm strength that could also become a 70-grade tool in the future. Griffin’s swing can get long at times, and he was just solid on the showcase circuit in 2023 before lighting up his Mississippi prep competition this spring to win High School Player of the Year. A former three-sport star, Griffin dropped football and basketball in recent years. He amped up his baserunning aggressiveness after training for baseball only and stole 85 bases this year. Where Griffin’s hit tool falls is the biggest question and will determine whether he becomes a superstar with consistent all-star upside or a player who struggles to actualize his enviable tools. Scouts praised his swing improvements in the spring. He has the tools and athleticism to stick at shortstop but could ultimately be too big for the position and fit better in center field, where he has plus defensive upside. Griffin can touch the mid 90s on the mound and has a real fallback option as a pitcher. He’s committed to LSU but should be one of the first two prep players drafted.

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10. Washington Nationals

Pick: SS Seaver King
BA rank: 17

Instant Analysis: King was expected to be a first-round pick, though not necessarily top 10 overall, so we will wait and see if the Nationals get any savings here to use on later picks. He’s athletic, can play multiple positions, runs well and has the bat speed to drive the ball with impressive impact. The concern here is that he is an extremely aggressive hitter who expands the strike zone too frequently, something that more advanced pitchers could take advantage of, so he will need to develop a more selective approach as he makes his way up the minors.

BA 500 Scouting Report: King dominated the competition during his first two seasons with Division II Wingate (N.C.) and then was the talk of the scouting community during the 2023 summer season when he flashed his electric tools and hitting chops in the Cape Cod League and with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. King transferred to Wake Forest for the 2024 season and proved himself in the Atlantic Coast Conference after a slightly slow start. He slashed .308/.377/.577 with 16 home runs and 11 stolen bases while playing center field, shortstop, third base and occasionally at second. A 6-foot, 195-pound righthanded hitter with a free-swinging approach and electric hands, King stands out for his pure bat speed and uncanny ability to maneuver the barrel to all areas of the zone—and beyond—with impact. He produces shocking top-end exit velocity numbers for a player of his size but often gets himself into bad counts by being overly aggressive or lacking a nuanced plan at the plate. King is a dynamic runner who exits the box quickly, consistently posts 70-grade run times from home to first and is willing to stretch line drives into the gaps into doubles. Defensively, he has a chance to play multiple premium positions, with more natural actions on the infield for now but the speed to handle center with more time and reps. He should join teammates Nick Kurtz and Chase Burns as first-round picks.

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11. Detroit Tigers

Pick: SS Bryce Rainer
BA rank: 10

Instant Analysis: Rainer is the second high school player off the board and some scouts thought he was the best one this year. He gives the Tigers another advanced lefthanded-hitting high school pick to go with Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle last year. Rainer has been one of the top ranked talents in the 2024 high school class for years, and while there was some up-and-down performance last summer, a strong spring pushed him up boards this year. The Tigers aren’t drafting Rainer with this in mind, but if hitting doesn’t work out, pitching is a legitimate fallback option.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Rainer used an excellent spring season to catapult himself up the draft board. Now, he has a chance to be the first high school player selected in a draft class that is top heavy with college players. A 6-foot-3, 195-pound, lefthanded-hitting shortstop, Rainer has legitimate upside as a hitter and pitcher, but his preference to play the field—as well as his improved hit tool—give him more upside in the batter’s box. He has a sound approach at the plate with big raw power that should become plus in the future. Scouts marvel at Rainer’s ability to backspin the ball to the opposite field, though he has a history of some swing-and-miss concerns with a swing that can get a bit lengthy at times. He performed at a high enough clip this spring in Southern California to provide confidence that he will reach at least an average hit tool. Rainer is a fluid defender at shortstop with reliable hands and a 70-grade arm that is probably his best tool. It’s a real weapon that gives him additional range in light of his below-average speed. His arm will play at third base if he outgrows shortstop. If Rainer preferred pitching, many teams would have him as a first-round talent there as well. He has an easy delivery and arm action, a plus fastball in the mid 90s, a hammer curveball that could be plus and the athleticism for average or better command. Rainer is committed to Texas but should become the fifth first-rounder of the bonus pool era out of Harvard-Westlake, joining Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jack Flaherty, Max Fried and Lucas Giolito.

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12. Boston Red Sox

Pick: OF Braden Montgomery
BA rank: 7

Instant Analysis: Nine of the top 10 prospects in the Red Sox system are hitters. The only pitcher in that top 10—righthander Luis Perales—is out with Tommy John surgery. So while there’s a talented college pitcher still on the board here with Trey Yesavage, the Red Sox have to be both surprised and quite happy to have Montgomery—the No. 7 prospect in the draft and top player still available—fall to them here. The big three of Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony and Kyle Teel in Boston’s farm system is now a big four, with Montgomery the type of player who could join them soon once he’s healthy.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Montgomery was a standout two-way player in high school who was known for his raw power and arm strength. He made it to campus at Stanford, where he immediately became the regular right fielder while also contributing out of the bullpen for two seasons. He transferred to Texas A&M for his 2024 draft campaign. Despite his huge arm, Montgomery’s future is as a position player. A 6-foot-2, 220-pound switch-hitter, he has a pro body with a chiseled frame and plenty of strength that allows him to generate plus raw power from both sides of the plate. He may not have the purest swing in the class, but Montgomery has done a nice job refining his approach. He cut his strikeout rate to a manageable 20.1% clip in 2024, while upping his walk rate to 17.7%. He can handle top-end velocity but will need to manage his miss tendencies versus secondaries. Montgomery has always been a better lefthanded hitter and might have more of a power-over-hit profile in pro ball, but he should hit for enough impact and draw enough walks to be productive. Montgomery has a prototypical right field profile with a 70-grade arm that should prevent runners from getting too aggressive. Some scouts think he is athletic and quick enough to get a chance in center field. Montgomery pitched just two innings in 2024 but can sit in the low 90s and touch 98 mph. He should be a top 10 pick, given his tools and strong 2024 performance.

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13. San Francisco Giants

Pick: OF James Tibbs
BA rank: 14

Instant Analysis: The Giants get one of the most polished hitters in the draft with Tibbs. There’s a three-year track record of high-level performance at Florida State and with wood bats in the Cape Cod League, with Tibbs making improvements each season in terms of both his power and contact skills. There are a lot of scouts who have high conviction in Tibbs’ ability to hit. He’s restricted to either a corner outfield spot or possibly first base, so it’s very much an offensive-driven profile.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Tibbs led Florida State in slugging as a freshman in 2022 and signaled to the program the offensive force he would be for the next three years. A short and stocky 6-foot, 204-pound lefthanded hitter, Tibbs did nothing but hit in each of his three seasons with the Seminoles—as well as during a summer in the Cape Cod League in 2023. Heading into the College World Series this year, he was a career .342/.465/.697 hitter who had hit a career-best 28 homers in 2024. Tibbs began his career as a slugging bat with significant swing-and-miss questions who struck out 31.7% of the time in 2022. He ended it with a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in a down draft class with just a 10.5% strikeout rate in 2024. He has a clean lefty swing and an ability to use the entire field with solid impact, and while he does swing and miss a bit versus secondaries, he generally makes sound swing decisions and has produced at a high clip against velocity of 92 mph and faster. Tibbs has solid but unspectacular raw power, though his six home runs in 40 games in the Cape Cod League should create confidence in his ability to do damage with wood in pro ball. He’s a corner profile through and through, whether that’s in an outfield corner or at first base, and is expected to be a below-average defender in either spot. Despite a bat-only profile, Tibbs has hit enough to warrant first-round selection.

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14. Chicago Cubs

Pick: 3B Cam Smith
BA rank: 16

Instant Analysis: Smith and Vance Honeycutt were the top college hitters still on the board, with Smith a superior hitter to Honeycutt, albeit without the same defensive skills. He’s coming off a strong season at Florida State and hit well with wood bats last summer in the Cape Cod League, showing a good mix of contact skills and raw power. He’s still learning to pull more balls in the air to fully tap into that power in games, but there are a lot of offensive traits to like here and about where we expected to go based on our rankings. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Smith was a pop-up player in high school who ranked as a top 100 prospect in the 2022 class thanks to his physicality, strength and power potential. He flashed those tools as a Florida State freshman in 2023 but ultimately struggled too much with strikeouts to fully capitalize. After the season, Smith overhauled his offensive approach and tweaked his setup in the box. Those changes led to more contact in the 2023 Cape Cod League, where he slashed .347/.406/.575 with six home runs in 44 games. Smith carried over those gains into his draft-eligible 2024 season and hit .402/.497/.677 with 16 home runs and 20 doubles heading into the College World Series. His strikeout rate fell from 28.7% in 2023 to just 15.2% in 2024. After previously using an upright stance in the box, Smith is now more grounded and crouched in his stance with an all-fields approach that has led to more contact but also more balls on the ground. Developing a healthy balance between the two could be the goal in pro ball, because Smith’s swing can be a bit manufactured and prevent him from fully tapping into his plus raw power. In addition to his mechanical adjustments and enhanced contact, Smith also showed a more patient and selective approach, which bodes well for his ability to make future adjustments. He has the tools to stick at third base with plus arm strength and adequate hands. He’s a solid runner underway but can take a few steps to get rolling.

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15. Seattle Mariners

Pick: SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje
BA rank: 24

Instant Analysis: East Carolina righthander Trey Yesavage (No. 11 in our rankings) was still on the board, but the Mariners go a different direction with Cijntje, the No. 24 player. He’s obviously a unique player, but he’s far more than just a gimmick with his switch-pitching and a legitimate first-round pick who was getting buzz here in the middle of the first round, even if he’s not the top pitcher available here on our rankings.

BA 500 Scouting Report: There have been a handful of players who are able to pitch with both arms over the years, but perhaps none with more legitimacy than Cijntje, who can touch 94 mph as both a righty and lefty. A convincing case can be made that he’s the most talented ambidextrous pitcher of all time, with a chance to supplant journeyman MLB reliever Pat Venditte. Cijntje is a Curacao native listed at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds who began to focus more on his righthanded pitching in 2024. That is his stronger side, even though he is a natural lefthander. He posted a 3.67 ERA in 16 starts and 90.2 innings with a 29.9% strikeout rate. His 7.9% walk rate was nearly halved from his 2023 mark. From the right side, Cijntje averaged 95 mph and touched 99, while mixing in a mid-80s slider that takes on a cutter-like shape at its top-end velocities near 90 and a firm, upper-80s changeup. From the left side, Cijntje averages around 91 mph and throws a slower, low-80s sweeping slider nearly half the time that he shows decent feel to land in the zone. During the 2024 season, he only worked as a southpaw in specific left-on-left matchups and threw an overwhelming majority of his pitches from the right side. Increased power and improved control has pushed Cijntje up into potential first-round range, and even if he continues to focus on his craft as a righty, the fact that he has two legitimate pitches from the left side makes him a fascinating prospect.

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16. Miami Marlins

Pick: OF PJ Morlando
BA rank: 52

Instant Analysis: If we held this draft a year ago, Morlando going here wouldn’t have been a surprise. Morlando for years has been one of the elite high school players in the 2024 class with arguably the best combination of hitting ability and power. He’s older for the class, he’s likely either a corner outfielder or first baseman in pro ball and this spring, scouts seemed to pick him apart more, in part because his power wasn’t showing up as much in games, but there’s no questioning the bat speed or high-end raw power and exit velocities that Morlando can produce. We have Morlando ranked No. 52, but I don’t think taking him here is as much of a reach as those rankings might indicate. He has a pretty simple swing, and with some small adjustments, there’s a chance for a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Morlando earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous hitters in the 2024 high school class thanks to a strong combination of contact skills, plate discipline and raw power. He is powerfully built with well-developed musculature throughout a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame and easy plus raw power thanks to well above-average bat speed. Morlando’s hitting setup is unorthodox. He uses an extremely wide stance and no leg kick or stride, but rather a quiet and simple lower-half weight transfer. He has no wasted movement with his hands or head throughout the swing. The fact that he’s able to generate standout game power with that setup is a testament to his strength, bat speed and pure hitting ability. Notably, he didn’t show the sort of offensive performance scouts expected this spring, and teams might want to get him less grounded in the future. Morlando’s contact skills and swing decisions should make him an above-average hitter who will also take his fair share of walks. An outfielder and first baseman, he might be best at first base, where his below-average speed and upright, heel-striking running stride won’t limit him quite as much. Morlando is old for the class and will be 19 on draft day, which, combined with a first base profile, will make him a polarizing prospect. He’s committed to South Carolina but could be drafted on day one if he’s signable.

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17. Milwaukee Brewers

Pick: OF Braylon Payne
BA rank: 54

Instant Analysis: Payne is the No. 54 player in our rankings, and with five of the top 100 picks in the draft, I’m assuming the Brewers are going a good bit under slot here and use that bonus pool savings on other players in those spots. There are things to like with Payne—he’s young for the class, he’s athletic and has the speed to handle center field, though there are more question marks on him at the plate and on what his offensive upside will be. It’s surprising to see him go this high, but with the way the draft works, we need to see how the rest of Milwaukee’s picks play out to see the full picture. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: An athletic and lean lefthanded hitter and outfielder, Payne has table-setting, top-of-the-lineup tools, led by his double-plus speed. He’s young for the class, doesn’t turn 18 until a month after the draft and has a ton of physical projection in a 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame. Payne has impressive pure bat-to-ball skills, but over the 2023 high school showcase circuit he employed a swing with a significant step-in-the-bucket action. His lower half often was disconnected and leaked out to his pull side with some back-foot drift. Payne’s swing looked better this spring, with better direction and balance in his lower half—and he pushed further up draft boards because of those developments. Still, he still might be more of a singles and doubles hitter than a 20-homer threat. He gets out of the box quickly with jailbreak run times that will often lead to sub 3.9-second home-to-first times. He is a 70-grade straight-line runner who should be able to handle center field and play above-average defense with more refinement. Payne’s arm is not a weapon, but it should be perfectly serviceable in the middle of the outfield. Payne is a Houston commit who has a chance to be drafted inside the first three rounds.

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18. Tampa Bay Rays

Pick: SS Theo Gillen
BA rank: 23

Instant Analysis: Two years ago, Gillen was a top five player in the 2024 high school class. But injuries kept him sidelined, and while there are still question marks that linger as a result, Gillen took a leap forward this spring to become a first-round pick. Scouts highest on Gillen are excited about his mix of athleticism, hitting ability and power that has jumped over the past year.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Gillen developed an early reputation as one of the most talented hitters in the 2024 class as an underclassman, but he has missed time during the last few seasons with a handful of injuries, including right shoulder surgery in 2022. He made up for some of that lost time this spring with Westlake High, where the 6-foot-3, 198-pound shortstop and lefthanded hitter consistently showcased a great swing with power, plus speed and advanced physicality for a high schooler. Gillen has a balanced and relaxed setup in the box with a quick and level swing that he fires through the zone with impressive bat speed. He makes tons of contact and is learning to tap into his raw power more consistently in games, but he has the potential for above-average pure hitting ability and above-average game power. Gillen is a plus runner who should be able to stick at a premium defensive position, though he is a risk to slide off shortstop to either second base or center field because of questionable arm strength in the wake of his injuries. His speed would fit nicely at either position, and he has the agility, body control and actions to give himself a chance to stick on the dirt. Gillen is committed to Texas, but he has been scouted heavily enough this spring to expect a selection at some point in the middle or back-third of the first round.

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19. New York Mets

Pick: OF Carson Benge
BA rank: 15

Instant Analysis: Getting Benge here is good value for the Mets. He’s an advanced pure hitter with a selective approach, a nice lefthanded swing and good bat control, resulting in a low swing-and-miss rate. It’s not the same level of bat speed and power that players like Braden Montgomery or Seaver King have who went ahead of them, but Benge has the edge on them in terms of pitch recognition and bat-to-ball skills. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Benge redshirted in 2022 during his first season with Oklahoma State as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He has both hit and pitched for the program in each of the last two seasons, though his focus and the bulk of his playing time has come as a hitter. A 6-foot-1, 184-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter, Benge has hit well over .300 in both of his seasons in the Big 12 Conference, with great plate discipline and solid power to go along with his contact skills. He has a noisy swing that features a wide and open setup, a sizable leg kick and some hand movement throughout his load, but he’s made it work in college with a solid 82% overall contact rate and more than enough bat speed to handle big league velocity. Benge might need to quiet his operation at the next level, but his combination of bat-to-ball skills and impact provides a solid foundation for a quality hit-and-power pair. Benge has mostly played right field and probably is best suited for that position given his plus arm and average speed, but scouts think he is a standout athlete who might be able to handle all three outfield spots. On the mound, Benge has a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, upper-70s curve, mid-80s changeup and low-80s slider. He was most effective as a reliever with Oklahoma State, but his pro upside is greater as a hitter—the opposite of 2023 Mets third-rounder and former OSU two-way player Nolan McLean.

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20. Toronto Blue Jays

Pick: RHP Trey Yesavage
BA rank: 11

Instant Analysis: Getting Yesavage here at No. 20 overall is a steal for the Blue Jays. He could have easily fit in the top 10 overall picks, but instead the Blue Jays are getting one of the three premium college pitchers here toward the back of the first round. There’s an impressive mix of starter traits, high-end stuff, good control and a strong collegiate track record. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Yesavage was a hard-thrower who had touched 96 mph in high school, but at the time he was raw in other areas. Now, after three years at ECU, Yesavage is one of the most polished and well-rounded pitchers in the 2024 draft. He pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman but made a strong transition to the rotation in 2023. In 2024, he posted a 2.02 ERA over 15 starts and 93.1 innings with a 40.4% strikeout rate and 8.9% walk rate. Listed at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Yesavage works with a stiff delivery and over-the-top slot but has impressive feel for a four-pitch mix. He sits in the 93-95 mph range with a four-seam fastball that touches 97 and has above-average riding life. He establishes his fastball for strikes, then will go to a mid-80s slider and low-80s split-changeup to get swings and misses. Both secondaries are at least above-average and allow him to attack batters on both sides of the plate. He primarily uses his slider versus righties and changeup versus lefties, with an occasional 12-to-6 curveball in the low 80s for good measure. Yesavage has above-average control and has generally been a reliable innings-eater. He had a scary situation late in the season when he was hospitalized with a partially collapsed lung, but he pitched well in a high-profile regional matchup with Wake Forest’s Chase Burns after the fact. Yesavage is a high-floor starter and is the consensus No. 3 arm in the class behind Burns and Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith.

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21. Minnesota Twins

Pick: SS Kaelen Culpepper
BA rank: 34

Instant Analysis: Culpepper has been a steady performer at Kansas State the last two seasons. He moved from third base to shortstop this year, and if he can stick up the middle that would significantly enhance his value, though a lot of scouts aren’t sure if he will stay there. He made contact at a high clip in college, but he doesn’t have to project to hit for much power.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Culpepper is a well-rounded infielder with a 6-foot, 190-pound frame and lengthy track record of performance at Kansas State and in various summer leagues. His 2023 sophomore season was a breakout offensive effort, and he replicated that performance again in 2024 and is a career .312/.403/.529 hitter. He also played well in the Cape Cod League and was one of the top hitters for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team during the 2023 summer. Culpepper has an upright stance with a high handset and quick hands in the righthanded batter’s box. He uses a level swing and has raw power that should allow him to hit plenty of doubles but maybe a below-average total of home runs. He has solid contact skills, but is a better fastball hitter who will need to sharpen up his bat-to-ball skills against secondaries. Culpepper has a tweener defensive profile and is likely an above-average third baseman. He slid over to shortstop for the Wildcats in 2024 but might not have the actions to stick there. He has more than enough arm strength to stick on the left side of the infield, with a plus arm and great carry on his throws. Culpepper is an above-average runner and solid basestealer who has gone 27-for-31 (87.1%) for Kansas State. A team that views him as a shortstop could pop him in the first round, but he could slide a bit further than that with no clear carrying tool.

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22. Baltimore Orioles

Pick: OF Vance Honeycutt
BA rank: 13

Instant Analysis: If there weren’t so many questions about swing-and-miss with Honeycutt, we would be talking about him as a top five overall pick. He’s a premier defender in center field and a power/speed threat who slugged 28 home runs and stole 28 bases in 32 attempts this year. He also struck out at a frightening 27% clip, which is why he was a polarizing player who was still available here. The Orioles have done a great job with their hitting development, so maybe that can help him make the adjustments he will have to make to produce more frequent contact. There’s scary risk here, but especially in this draft, everyone still on the board has their holes; few have the upside of Honeycutt if he is able to make those adjustments. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Honeycutt was a relatively under-the-radar player when he got to campus at North Carolina in 2022, but he quickly made a name for himself after hitting 25 home runs and stealing 29 bases as a freshman. Three years later, Honeycutt stands as UNC’s all-time home run leader with 61 deep flies. In 2024, he became the first Division I player to hit more than 60 homers and steal more than 70 bases in a career. Pair that power-speed combination with Honeycutt’s excellent athleticism and defensive prowess in center field and you have one of the most dynamic and high-upside players in the class. The fact that a 6-foot-3, 205-pound center fielder with his physical tools and production in the Atlantic Coast Conference isn’t viewed at the very top of the class speaks to the questions present in his offensive profile. Honeycutt has oscillated between a highly productive hitter with loads of strikeouts and one who can reign in the whiffs but at the cost of his power output. He hit over .300 for the first time in his career in 2024, though that came with a 28% strikeout rate. He has significant contact questions, particularly against secondary stuff. Honeycutt’s at-bats lead scouts to wonder about his pitch recognition at times, but he’s as capable as anyone of hammering a mistake pitch out of the park to left field or right-center. Honeycutt comes with real risk but should have enough potential to dream on to earn a first-round selection.

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23. Los Angeles Dodgers

Pick: SS Kellon Lindsey
BA rank: 27

Instant Analysis: There was no bigger riser in the 2024 high school class over the past year than Lindsey. He’s a premier athlete and runner who projects to stay at a premium position at shortstop. Scouts highest on him like his hitting ability as well, though there are still questions about how much power he will ever develop, but this is about the range where we expected Lindsey to go tonight.

BA 500 Scouting Report: In a down year for high school talent in Florida, Lindsey quickly became the pop-up player to know in the 2024 class thanks to his athleticism, speed and defensive skills at shortstop. Lindsey is a lean righthanded hitter with a 6-foot, 175-pound frame and a background as a multi-sport athlete. He threw for more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns as Hardee High’s quarterback last fall before moving to the diamond in the spring and showing scouts significant improvement as both a hitter and defender. Because of Lindsey’s 80-grade speed, there was some thought a year ago that he could slide from the infield and play an above-average defensive center field. This spring, he has shown all the hands, actions and arm strength necessary to stick at shortstop as an above-average defender in the long run. Offensively, Lindsey has quick, twitchy hands in the box and strong bat-to-ball skills, but he lacks pop and might have the frame of a player who never grows into anything more than average raw power. Given his speed, contact skills and defensive profile, Lindsey’s projected lower power output won’t hinder him if he is to profile as a top-of-the-order table-setter who sprays hard-hit line drives around the field. Lindsey is a Florida commit but should be drafted on day one with first-round upside. He earns plenty of Trea Turner comparisons thanks to his speed, size and contact skills.

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24. Atlanta Braves

Pick: LHP Cam Caminiti
BA rank: 21

Instant Analysis: Caminiti was originally a 2025 player who reclassified to 2024, so he’s still 17 and young for the class. He’s an athletic lefty with a power fastball that has been up to 98 mph. Camini isn’t quite to the level that righthander Noble Meyer and lefthander Thomas White were from the 2023 high school class, but the Braves are getting the No. 1 ranked high school pitcher in the BA rankings. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Caminiti was originally a top-ranking member of the 2025 high school class, but in June 2023 he announced his reclassification. Now one of the youngest players in the 2024 draft class, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound lefthander is the top-ranked southpaw in the high school ranks and boasts first-round talent thanks to big-time velocity from an athletic frame with advanced feel to pitch. He generates his velocity with a loose, easy and athletic operation that features a crossfire landing that adds deception. His 92-96 mph fastball is one of the best swing-and-miss heaters in the prep class, and scouts have seen him get up to 98 mph at peak. The pitch has great life, generates plenty of whiffs at the top of the zone and has a chance to develop into a 70-grade offering. Caminiti throws multiple breaking balls, but scouts believe he’s a natural pronator who struggles to consistently spin either at a high level. Both his slider and curveball register in the mid or upper 70s, with the former showing a bit of sweep and the latter more a top-down action. Caminiti has toyed with different slider looks this spring, and some scouts have been intrigued on his good days. Finding a consistent breaking ball will be a key piece of his pro development. His mid-80s changeup is his best secondary at the moment thanks to its solid armside fading life. Caminiti is committed to LSU and is the nephew of three-time all-star and 1996 National League MVP Ken Caminiti.

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25. San Diego Padres

Pick: LHP Kash Mayfield
BA rank: 25

Instant Analysis: No surprise to see the Padres take another high school player with their first-round pick. Mayfield has a clean, easy delivery without much effort, good arm action and pitchability. That has always helped him stand out, but this spring he added significantly more power to his stuff, dialing his fastball up to 97 mph. He checks a lot of boxes scouts look for in a teenage lefty pitcher with a lot of starter traits.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Mayfield established a reputation as one of the better strike-throwers for 2024 as an underclassman, though he didn’t pitch much on the 2023 summer showcase circuit. He rocketed up draft boards during the 2024 spring season after adding significantly more power to one of the better deliveries in the class. Mayfield stands 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and has a smooth and easy pitching motion with excellent body control, balance and athleticism. He throws with a clean arm action from a three-quarters slot with an operation that screams starter. After previously pitching in the upper 80s and touching 91 mph, Mayfield now throws a fastball that is consistently in the low to mid 90s and has been up to 97. It looks like a future above-average offering. He’s got two advanced secondaries in the form of an upper-70s slider and a low-80s changeup that he throws with conviction. Both pitches are at least average, with some scouts projecting an above-average grade on his slider as he adds more velocity. Other scouts do the same with his changeup, thanks to his confidence and command of the offering. Mayfield is an advanced strike-thrower who should be able to consistently throw all his pitches in the zone, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he eventually developed plus control. He’s committed to Oklahoma State and is old for the class, but his high-probability starter traits could make him a first-round pick.

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26. New York Yankees

Pick: RHP Ben Hess
BA rank: 38

Instant Analysis: Hess is a huge righthander with a powerful, riding fastball and missed a lot of bats this spring at Alabama, striking out 106 batters in 68.1 innings. There’s feel to spin both a slider and curveball, with his curveball getting the most swing-and-miss this year. But he struggled with his control this year and got hit hard, allowing a 5.80 ERA. The college pitchers still on the board here generally either have big stuff but control/results issues or are more advanced pitchability guys with lighter stuff, so the Yankees are betting on their development staff being able to help Hess better corral his stuff in the zone.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Hess is an extra-large righthander with a 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame and big velocity. He pitched in parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons for Alabama but was limited by injuries before turning in his first fully healthy season in 2024. In 15 starts this year, he posted a 5.80 ERA in 68.1 innings with a 34.8% strikeout rate and 11.5% walk rate. That walk rate was much higher than scouts hoped or expected to see and was particularly an issue as he tried to navigate Southeastern Conference competition. Hess has a fastball that sits around 94 mph and has been up to 98-99 with above-average riding life. He complements it with three different secondary pitches. Hess’ mid-80s slider has traditionally been his go-to breaking ball. When executed properly, the pitch features two-plane break and solid depth, but his location of the offering was inconsistent this spring. Hess also throws a mid-70s curveball with 12-to-6 shape and solid depth and a mid-80s changeup with lots of armside life. Like his slider, Hess’ changeup was another pitch he showed less feel for in 2024 compared to his previous years with Alabama. Hess’ four-pitch mix, strong frame and relatively easy delivery give him a chance to start, though he’ll need to rediscover some of the control that he flashed in previous years to do so.

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27. Philadelphia Phillies

Pick: OF Dante Nori
BA rank: 80

Instant Analysis: Nori is an elite runner and athlete, which allows him to play center field. He’s also a lefthanded hitter with compact swing who makes frequent contact. There isn’t a ton of physical projection remaining—he’s already strong for his size and he turns 20 in October—but the mix of hitting ability, speed and defense at a premium position are all appealing. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Nori is 5-foot-11, 188-pound outfielder whose advanced age for the prep class will take him off many teams’ draft boards outright. He will be 19 on draft day and turns 20 in October, which makes him one of the oldest prospects in the class and one of the older top 100 talents the industry has seen in years. However, Nori also happens to be one of the better athletes, runners, defenders and pure hitters in the class. He employs a compact and direct swing from the left side and sets up with a wide base and minimal pre-pitch movements. He does a great job spraying line drives to all fields. Nori makes quality two-strike adjustments, and while he’s a contact-driven hitter in games, he has plenty of raw power that he can flash in batting practice as well. He consistently turns in 70-grade run times and had the fastest 60-yard time at Perfect Game’s national showcase in 2023. He uses that speed effectively on the bases and in center field, where he should stick and be a solid-average defender with a strong throwing arm. Nori’s age and lack of projection are the lone marks against him, and they could mean he gets to campus at Mississippi State, but he’s a top-three rounds talent.

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28. Houston Astros

Pick: C Walker Janek
BA rank: 20

Instant Analysis: Janek receives glowing praise for his defensive skills behind the plate. He’s an agile, flexible defender who blocks and receives well with the mix of arm strength and quick release to be able to clamp down on the running game. Janek hit .364/.476/.709 this season at Sam Houston State, but despite the lofty numbers, scouts do have more questions about his ultimate offensive impact. But the Astros are getting a high-end defensive catcher, one we had ranked eight spots higher than where they got him at 28th overall.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Janek is the top defensive catcher in the 2024 class, and his elite catch-and-throw skills have earned him praise and stymied baserunners since his 2022 freshman season. He made the Western Athletic Conference all-defensive team as a freshman and in 2024 became the Conference USA defensive player of the year while also having a career-best offensive season. A 6-foot, 190-pound catcher, Janek has a typical backstop’s build with plus defensive tools for the position. He receives at a high level and presents the ball with a comfortable and athletic setup—and he’s adept in a one-knee stance. He moves well laterally and has soft, deft hands and centering ability while blocking. He gets rid of the ball quickly and efficiently on his transfers with plus arm strength and consistent 1.85-second pop times in games. He threw out 16 of 31 basestealers (51.6%) and is a lock to stick at the position with plus defensive upside. Janek’s tools are quieter on the offensive side but still solid. He’s got a chance for average pure hitting ability and average power, though he has traditionally been a low-ball, fastball hitter who will flash pull-side power but needs to improve his contact versus secondary pitches. His 2024 season was his loudest. He hit .368/.480/.714 with 17 home runs. Janek is a high-probability big leaguer thanks to his defensive prowess and has a chance to be the first catcher off the board.

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29. Arizona Diamondbacks

Pick: OF Slade Caldwell
BA rank: 19

Instant Analysis: Caldwell is young for the class but his baseball instincts are well beyond his years. He’s small in stature but uses it to his small strike zone to his advantage and has short levers at the plate that leads to a compact swing. There isn’t a ton of physical upside here, but he’s a high-contact hitter with the speed to handle center field.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Caldwell is a short but strong 5-foot-9, 182-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter who is one of the smaller players in the class. He’s also been a consistent in-game performer with some of the most advanced pure baseball skills in the prep ranks. He has short levers and twitchy hands with a compact swing that leads to tons of contact and line drives. He uses a simple operation with solid rhythm, which he pairs with a keen eye that leaves him mostly swinging at pitches in the zone. His smaller zone also allows him to spit on balls and draw lots of walks. He doesn’t project for much raw power but should be a table-setting, top-of-the-lineup type who can get on base and create havoc with his speed—which is one of his best tools. Caldwell is a double-plus runner who accelerates out of the box quickly. He used that speed as a talented high school running back and should be a consistent threat to steal bases. He pairs his pure speed with high-level instincts on the basepaths and advanced route-running and reads in center field that should allow him to be a plus defender in the middle of the grass. His arm likely won’t be an asset or liability for him in the outfield. Caldwell is a Mississippi commit who’s also young for the class, but has been scouted enough to go in the first round with his well-rounded skill set. He has a chance to become the fourth Arkansas high schooler ever drafted in the first round, and the first since Tony McKnight in 1995.

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30. Texas Rangers

Pick: C Malcolm Moore
BA rank: 31

Instant Analysis: Moore goes one spot ahead of where he was ranked on the BA board, so this is about where we expected him to go. It’s an unorthodox swing, but his ability to maneuver the barrel is impressive, with one of the lowest swing-and-miss rates among the top college draft picks this year. He’s an offensive-minded catcher who has some risk that he might ultimately move off the position and head to first base, so improving his defense will be key for his development.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Moore earned a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in the 2022 high school class, but like most Stanford commits he wound up making it to campus. He was a Freshman All-American after hitting .311/.386/.564 with 15 home runs and 20 doubles in 2023 and played with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team during the summer. The 6-foot-2, 216-pound catcher took a step backward in his draft-eligible 2024 season and hit just .255/.414/.553, though his plate discipline improved. He hit 16 home runs and was probably the victim of poor luck on balls in play. Moore is a lefthanded hitter and bat-first prospect who employs a unique setup at the plate. He has a wide, open stance and almost directly faces the pitcher. He uses multiple toe taps in his load phase to get back to a neutral stance, which could create timing issues in pro ball. Moore seemed to quiet down his operation considerably this season and also has ample bat speed, bat-to-ball skill and raw power. Scouts have long been impressed by his ability to backspin the baseball with authority and believe he’ll hit for both average and power with a wood bat. Moore will need to work to stick behind the plate, and there’s a chance he winds up at first base. He took some strides behind the dish this spring and has a potentially average throwing arm. Moore should fit in the back of the first round or shortly thereafter.

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31. Arizona Diamondbacks

Pick: OF Ryan Waldschmidt
BA rank: 33

Instant Analysis: Waldschmidt’s performance in the SEC is what stands out about him. He raked in the best conference in college baseball and did so with a selective approach, a low swing-and-miss rate and a lot of hard contact. Those metrics make Waldschmidt pop, though he does it with a less than picturesque swing and is likely limited to left field, which has made him a split camp player, though in the end he ended up going right around where he ranked on the BA 500.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Waldschmidt started his college career at Charleston Southern, where he led the team with a 1.044 OPS as a freshman in 2022 before transferring to Kentucky to try his hand against Southeastern Conference competition. After playing third base, center field, second base and left field at Charleston Southern, Waldschmidt has played primarily left field with Kentucky. He used a tremendous offensive season in 2024 to rocket up draft boards and into first-round consideration. Waldschmidt slashed .359/.482/.657 with 14 home runs, 24 stolen bases, a 15.5% strikeout rate and 13.5% walk rate in 54 games. He has a powerfully built, fullback-like frame at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds with tons of strength in his chest and forearms that has led to lots of pull-side power. His batted ball data is excellent, and on the surface Waldschmidt’s offensive profile is well-rounded with tons of contact, strong swing decisions and loud top-end exit velocities. He employs a steep, uphill swing that causes some scouts to wonder if he’ll be able to cover the top third of the zone consistently against pro pitching. If he does strike out a bit more frequently at the next level, he should still have the batting eye to maintain quality on-base skills. Waldschmidt fits best in left field, where he’s an above-average runner but a fringy or below-average defender who will need to improve his routes—particularly going back on fly balls—and below-average arm strength.

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32. Baltimore Orioles

Pick: SS Griff O’Ferrall
BA rank: 115

Instant Analysis: The Orioles are taking the No. 115 player with the No. 32 overall pick, so presumably they’re getting O’Ferrall on an under-slot deal, perhaps to go over slot to sign their top pick, outfielder Vance Honeycutt. O’Ferrall does have outstanding bat-to-ball skills, at least when he’s swinging at strikes, but he will have to cut down on his chase tendencies, especially since he hasn’t shown much power.

BA 500 Scouting Report: O’Ferrall is the stereotypical, steady college grinder profile who doesn’t boast loud raw tools but does everything well and helps win games. A 6-foot-1, 185-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter, O’Ferrall assumed Virginia’s everyday shortstop role as a true freshman and spent the next three seasons making tons of contact. He finished his three years with a .345/.409/.443 slash line and just a 9.7% strikeout rate. During the 2023 summer he was invited to Team USA where he assumed the coveted starting shortstop role and then was second on the team with a .463 average in 10 games. Contact is the name of the game for O’Ferrall as a hitter. He grinds at-bats, puts the ball in play and is difficult to strike out. In three years he managed an 86% overall contact rate and 93% in-zone contact rate. While he finds the barrel, he mostly hits soft line drives and the ball dies off his bat with wood, with very little power upside to project on moving forward. In one of the most power-friendly college environments, O’Ferrall hit just eight home runs in 910 UVA plate appearances. He’s a sound and reliable defender at shortstop, though he’s not flashy and his arm might be stretched on plays in the hole to his arm side. Because of that he could be a better fit for second base. He’s an above-average runner and savvy basestealer who went 50-for-58 (86.2%) in stolen bases.

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33. Minnesota Twins

Pick: SS Kyle DeBarge
BA rank: 89

Instant Analysis: DeBarge makes a lot of contact. That’s his calling card, along with the ability to play somewhere in the middle infield. While he hit 21 homers in 62 games this year at Louisiana-Lafayette, how his power translates with wood bats against better pitching is a big question, especially after he hit .267/.336/.297 with no home runs in 114 plate appearances last summer in the Cape Cod League.

BA 500 Scouting Report: DeBarge is an undersized middle infielder with a 5-foot-9, 175-pound frame who plays bigger than his stature and has been an excellent performer for three years with Louisiana-Lafayette. He’s a career .338/.404/.549 hitter with the program and in 2024 he had a career year with a 1.102 OPS and 21 home runs that tripled his 2023 total of seven. While the home run surge was encouraging, and a result of hitting the ball in the air much more frequently than his first two seasons, DeBarge stands out more for his hand-eye coordination and excellent bat-to-ball skills. He posted an excellent 85% overall contact rate throughout his Lafayette career and that rate jumped to 93% on pitches inside the zone. He tracks the ball well and rarely misses a fastball. He generates solid torque and pull-side pop thanks to an engaged lower half with plenty of torque. DeBarge has an advanced game clock and range in either direction with above-average arm strength and solid carry on his throws from the hole. He’s also an above-average runner who’s been a consistent base-stealing threat. DeBarge should have the tools to stick at shortstop and be a solid defender or slide to second and be an above-average defender.

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34. Milwaukee Brewers

Pick: 1B Blake Burke
BA rank: 51

Instant Analysis: Burke has a three-year track record of hitting for power at Tennessee. He has well above-average raw power and it hasn’t come with much swing-and-miss either, as he struck out in just 15 percent of his plate appearances this season. The mix of contact and impact is exciting, but he is an extremely aggressive hitter who chases too many pitches outside the strike zone, so he will have to reign in his approach against better pitching, especially as a first baseman.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Burke is a physical 6-foot-3, 236-pound first baseman with some of the most impressive raw power in the country. He homered 14 times as a freshman with Tennessee despite a 30% strikeout rate but cut that mark significantly over his next two seasons. He finished his career as a .331/.422/.654 hitter in the middle of a consistently strong Tennessee lineup. For a large, slugging lefthanded hitter with a history of strikeout questions, Burke actually makes plenty of contact. He steadily improved his bat-to-ball skills versus secondary pitches and as a junior posted a strong 84% overall contact rate. He is an overly aggressive hitter who will expand the zone too much but has done enough damage with a fast and powerful uppercut swing to make it work in the Southeastern Conference. Burke has 70-grade raw power and enough strength to homer to all fields. He has some of the best top-end exit velocity in the class, but he’s mostly a pull hitter who figures to be a power-over-hit player in pro ball. He’ll need to hit for plenty of impact because he’s a well below-average runner who will be limited to first base and offer little defensive value. Despite a bat-only profile, Burke’s hit and power tools could be loud enough to make him a day one selection.

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35. Arizona Diamondbacks

Pick: JD Dix
BA rank: 62

Instant Analysis: I’m very intrigued by this pick. In January 2023, we bumped Dix up to the No. 11 player in the 2024 high school class, then eventually up to No. 9 in the class at the start of the summer, but a mix of injuries and up-and-down performance—likely related—left scouts wanting more, though recently there had been more chatter about him moving up. When he’s as his best and healthy, he has looked like one of the most advanced high school hitters in the class with his ability to stay balanced, square up all types of pitches and physical projection for bigger power to come. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: Dix is the top prospect out of the state of Wisconsin in the 2024 class, and when he was an underclassman there were scouts who believed he was more advanced at the same stage than fellow Wisconsin product—and 2016 first-rounder—Gavin Lux. A switch-hitting shortstop with a 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, Dix is a standout athlete with a lean build and broad shoulders with quick-twitch actions on the defensive side. His swing is compact and fluid from both sides of the plate, with bat speed and strength that should allow him to hit for both average and power. His approach is mature for his age, and he’s done a nice job staying back on breaking stuff, handling velocity, using all fields and getting on plane with a variety of pitch types and locations. Dix is an above-average runner with a powerful running stride who moves well underway and has the tools to perhaps stick at shortstop as well. He had right shoulder surgery last fall but has shown solid arm strength when healthy and has reliable hands, defensive actions and an ability to throw from multiple angles. Dix has played all over the infield and could easily profile at third base or second base as well. He’s committed to Wake Forest but could fit as a top-three rounds pick.

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36. Cleveland Guardians

Pick: RHP Braylon Doughty
BA rank: 47

Instant Analysis: Doughty has been on an upward trend since he broke out last summer. There’s mid-90s velocity that he complements with a pair of high-spin breaking balls. Those are good traits to build on as the Guardians add pitching here after going with a premium hitter in Travis Bazzana for their top pick.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Doughty is a 6-foot-1, 196-pound righthander who dominated in his outings throughout the 2023 summer showcase circuit and then continued his high-end performance during the 2024 spring with Chaparral High in Southern California. While he’s a shorter righthander with a frame that is close to maxed out, he’s a sneaky good athlete who repeats his operation on the mound and throws from a fairly clean three-quarters slot. Doughty pitches in the low 90s and has been up to 96 mph, but scouts were impressed with his ability to hold 92-95 deep into his starts this spring. He does a nice job establishing his fastball in the zone for strikes and then snapping off a pair of high-spin breaking balls. He will throw a 78-80 mph downer curveball and a harder slider in the mid 80s. Both pitches have plus potential, though they can blend together at times. He can spin the ball in the 2,800 to 3,100 rpm range, and some scouts believe his feel to spin rivals Louisiana prep righthander William Schmidt for best in the 2024 class. Doughty’s ability to manipulate the shape of his breaking pitches, land them in the zone or bury them for whiffs is impressive. He has also thrown a mid-80s changeup, but it’s a distant fourth piece in his arsenal. Doughty is committed to Oklahoma State but has pitched well enough to warrant a day one selection.

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37. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pick: RHP Levi Sterling
BA rank: 55

Instant Analysis: Sterling has a ton of projection indicators in his favor. He’s still 17, so he’s young for the class, with a great mix of physical projection, athleticism and body control that helps him throw strikes along with the ability to manipulate multiple secondary pitches. It’s a starter look, but Sterling doesn’t have as much power behind his fastball right now relative to some of the other top high school arms in the 2024 class and didn’t make a leap forward with his velocity this spring. He’s basically a 2025 age equivalent player though, and if he’s able to squeeze out some more velocity—something I think he will do—he has the potential to shoot up the rankings.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Sterling is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound righthander with starter traits and an array of projection indicators in his favor. He’s one of the youngest players in the draft class and doesn’t turn 18 until this September and also has some of the best command in the 2024 prep class. Sterling works with a clean, repeatable and balanced delivery and throws from a low three-quarters arm slot. He typically sits in the 89-92 mph range and will touch 94, but he can spot his fastball with precision, hit his spots and change eye levels with consistency and intent. Sterling’s fastball command sets up a trio of solid secondaries, including a low-80s slider that might be solid-average, a mid-70s curveball with impressive spin and depth that has above-average potential and a low-80s changeup with fade and tumble that’s thrown with fastball arm speed. There are a number of pitchers who throw harder than Sterling at the moment, but he should add more strength to his projectable frame. He also has yet to focus exclusively on pitching because he is also a talented high school shortstop. Owing to Sterling’s athleticism, plus control and four-pitch mix, scouts are happy to dream of what he could be in three or four years. He’s committed to Texas but has top-three rounds talent.

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38. Colorado Rockies

Pick: RHP Brody Brecht
BA rank: 28

Instant Analysis: If you’re a Rockies fan, you have to be excited about the way the draft has started. First, the Rockies get the top player available with Charlie Condon at No. 3 overall. Now they get Brecht, who has outstanding raw stuff and athleticism, albeit with obvious control concerns that prevented him from being a first-round pick. Brecht might never correct his strike-throwing issues, but outside the first round, it’s a gamble worth taking in case he is able to make things click in pro ball. 

BA 500 Scouting Report: It could be difficult to find a pitcher in the 2024 class with the pure arm talent, athleticism and upside to match Brecht. A former two-sport athlete who played wide receiver on Iowa’s football team, Brecht chose to focus exclusively on pitching during his junior year with the Hawkeyes. That led to his best season and a 3.33 ERA in 15 starts and 78.1 innings, with a 37.2% strikeout rate and career-low 14.2% walk rate. A 6-foot-4, 235-pound righthander, Brecht has a great pitcher’s frame and attacks hitters from a higher release point and three-quarters slot. His fastball sits in the 96-97 mph range and has been up to 101 with hard cutting action that has made his fastball both a miss and groundball-inducing pitch. He throws a high-80s slider more frequently than his fastball, and over the offseason worked to add multiple shapes to the pitch. One is a shorter gyro offering and the second a breaking ball with more sweep. Whichever variant he settles on should have double-plus upside given his feel to spin the ball at high velocities. Brecht also worked on a split-changeup that comes in around 90 mph and used the pitch more consistently in his arsenal this spring. Brecht’s below-average control is the huge question and creates significant reliever risk for him in pro ball. It also makes him a polarizing prospect. He’s improved slightly in each season, but his career 17% walk rate would represent an outlier figure for a first-round college arm.

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39. Washington Nationals

Pick: C Caleb Lomavita
BA rank: 18

Instant Analysis: With the 10th overall pick the Nationals drafted Seaver King (No. 17 in our rankings) and here at 39 they get Lomavita, No. 18 in our rankings. We’ll see how it works out, but I would imagine Lomavita is getting an over-slot bonus with perhaps an under-slot deal for King. So with two of the top 40 picks, the Nationals come away with two top 20 talents per the BA 500.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Lomavita was a standout high school player and the top prospect from Hawaii in the 2021 draft, but he made it to campus at California, where he initially split time at DH and catcher before taking over as the team’s everyday backstop in 2023. Lomavita is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher who has stood out for his contact skills and athleticism over the last three years. He’s a career .302/.369/.534 hitter and also performed at a high clip in the Cape Cod League in two summers. Lomavita loves to swing the bat and does so often. He doesn’t work deep counts and will chase pitches out of the zone, but he has gotten away with that approach thanks to his advanced contact skills and strength that allows him to pull the ball with authority. He’ll need to develop a more nuanced offensive approach and potentially learn to use the opposite field with more frequency to become an above-average hitter. Barring that, he’ll be reliant on making great contact to over-perform a career 6.2% walk rate. Lomavita has a chance to be an above-average defender thanks to his athleticism, above-average arm and strong hands. He’s consistently gotten better as a receiver and blocker, and scouts have praised his work ethic and mentality for the position. Speed is an afterthought for catchers, but Lomavita is an above-average runner who went 35-for-42 in stolen base attempts in college. He has a chance to be the first catcher drafted in the middle of the first round.

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