Seven Things You Didn’t Know About The 2024 MLB Draft
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These insights were provided through Baseball America’s partnership with PramanaLabs, which produces the Shift tool, which allows Baseball America to produce insights from our databases through natural language without the need to write complex SQL queries.
Ryan Was The Most Common Name Drafted
Ryan is also the most popular name drafted over the past 10 MLB Drafts—called 167 times. That’s followed by Tyler (153), Nick (140), Jake (120) and Matt (112). Here’s the history of the 2024 Top-3 names (Ryan, Luke, Jacob):
The first time Ryan or Jacob was called was the 1983 Draft. Ryan peaked in 2009 when there were 44 drafted. Ryan is the seventh-most drafted name in MLB Draft history. The draft didn’t have a Luke until 1986, when two were selected.
The most common name drafted in MLB History is Michael (1,479), followed by John (1,299) and David (1,026).
Michael peaked in 1988 with 74 players with that name selected. That’s also the most of any name in a single year. 2024 saw only five Michael’s taken.
Travis Bazzana is the first Travis to ever be taken 1-1. Travis Lee was selected No. 2 by the Twins in 1996. The most common name taken 1-1 over the years is Tim (3), followed by Paul (2), Jeff (2), David (2), Matt (2) and Mike (2).
California Led The Way, But North Carolina Keeps Climbing
California (63), Florida (57), North Carolina (46), Texas (40) and Virginia (29) led the 2024 MLB Draft in players selected from schools in the state.
The teams that selected the most players from those states:
- California – Orioles (5), Tigers (5), Athletics (5)
- Florida – Angels (6)
- North Carolina – Mariners (5)
- Texas – Royals (4)
- Virginia – Astros (3), Phillies (3)
Here are all teams in the 2024 MLB Draft that selected four or more players from a single state:
Interesting to see the Rays shopping in Kentucky this year. Here are the results from the last five MLB Drafts:
Traditionally, California, Florida and Texas have produced the most draftees, but the Mariners taking 15 players from the state of North Carolina is notable.
Prep Picks Keep Dropping
The 2024 MLB Draft set a record for the fewest high school players taken through 20 rounds (615 picks). The 2020 five-round draft is excluded in that record. It also had the most four-year college players taken. Here’s the breakdown:
The seventh round saw the most four-year college players selected this year, where 28 of 30 picks were four-year collegians. The second round saw the fewest. There were only 26 picks in the second round, and 14 were four-year college players while 12 were high school picks.
Only one high school player was picked in the 13th round. The trend for high school players being picked keeps dropping year after year. The reduction of the minors has made it more difficult to draft second and third-tier prep players, as there are no short-season leagues to serve as an intermediate step on the way to Low-A. The rise of NIL money in college baseball has also shifted the decision point on what kind of signing bonus makes it worthwhile to choose to go pro out of high school.
2024 was also a bad year for high school position players, tied for the second fewest (66) behind 2022. With these charts, the five-round covid-shortened 2020 draft is excluded.
But it was even worse for high school pitchers, they were tied for the fewest ever players selected through 615 picks.
Only three righthanded pitchers were selected in the first round (Chase Burns, Trey Yesavage and Ben Hess). That’s the fewest righthanders selected in the first 30 picks in MLB Draft history. Of note: Jurrangelo Cijntje was drafted as a switch-hand pitcher and not included.
Notable Trends
The Yankees drafted seven consecutive college arms to begin their draft. That’s a franchise record to start a draft for them, besting the five set in 2005, 2017, 2019 and 2022. The seven consecutive four-year college pitchers is also tied for the Yankees record of most consecutive four-year college pitchers selected at any point in a MLB Draft (equalling what the team did in 2017 from the fifth through 11th rounds)).
The last time the Yankees drafted a high school pitcher in the first round was Ian Clarkin in 2013. He has never thrown an MLB pitch. Here’s the full list of signed first-round high school pitchers selected by the Yankees that have made the majors: there’s only been one since 1973.
- The Yankees drafted only one high school player in the 2024 Draft (Cole Royer – 20th round). That’s a franchise record for fewest high school players taken through 20 rounds.
- The Pirates drafted three shortstops in the first four rounds That’s a new franchise record. They chose two in both 2008 and 2015. They went on to select 15 consecutive four-year college players after that. That’s the Pirates all-time record, breaking the previous record of 12 in 2023 (tied with 1982 and 2005).
First-Round Records
The first eight selections were four-year college players, breaking the record to start a draft.
The Nationals drafted a four-year college shortstop (Seaver King) in the first round for the first time.
The Guardians (Travis Bazzana) and Angels (Christian Moore) each selected a college second baseman in the first round for the first time.
Three players from the state of North Carolina were selected in the first 10 picks for the first time ever. The previous record was two, set six times prior.
Which Schools Led The Way?
Mississippi State (11) led all schools in draftees this year. Followed closely by LSU (9) and FSU, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tennessee all with 8. Here’s the leaderboard over the last five Drafts (2020-2024):
Which Teams Drafted The Most By School/Position?
Four-year college:
RHP – Twins (11), Mets (11), Mariners (11)
LHP – Nationals (5), Phillies (5)
OF – Yankees (6)
SS – Marlins (3), Athletics (3), Phillies (3), Padres (3), Cardinals (3)
C – Orioles (3)
3B – Cubs (3), Twins (3)
2B – Eight teams drafted 1 each
1B – Cubs (2), Rockies (2)
TWP – Four teams drafted 1 each
High school:
RHP – Brewers (8)
LHP – Padres (2), Tigers (2)
OF – Diamondbacks (3)
SS – Pirates (3)
C – Diamondbacks (2)
3B – Two teams drafted 1 each
2B – None
1B – Two teams drafted 1 each
TWP – Red Sox (1)
Junior College
RHP – Tigers (3)
LHP – Five teams drafted 1 each
OF – Two teams drafted 1 each
SS – Two teams drafted 1 each
C – Rangers (1)
3B – Three teams drafted 1 each
2B – None
1B – Padres (1)
