Day one of the draft consists of the first two rounds, including all the compensatory, competitive balance and Prospect Promotion Incentive picks following those rounds.
This year, a total of 74 picks were made during the top two rounds of the draft.
Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt and Virginia shortstop Griff O’Ferrall, drafted 31st and 32nd overall by the D-backs and Orioles, were the second- and third-ever PPI draft picks. Arizona and Baltimore added the picks when Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson won Rookie of the Year awards in 2023.
A RECORD EIGHT STRAIGHT COLLEGE PLAYERS KICK THINGS OFF
We expected this year’s first round to lean heavily on college players, and that wound up being the case on a record-setting night.
This draft was the first in history to feature college players taken off the board with the top eight picks, and it also set a record with nine collegians drafted among the first 10 picks of the draft. The 2024 draft was the 60th ever conducted.
1. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
2. Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
3. Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
4. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
5. Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
6. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
7. JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
8. Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
10. Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
Previously, the high-water mark for college players selected in the first 10 picks was six, which happened in 1985, 2018 and 2019.
In the first 30 overall picks, 20 college players were drafted. That tracks with the overall BA draft prospect ranking, which featured 21 collegians ranked among the top 30 players.
After the first 10 picks this year, the first round descended quickly into chaos, as expected. Three high school outfielders were drafted a bit earlier than expected, though all three were legitimate day one talents.
16. PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS (S.C.)
17. Braylon Payne, OF, Elkins HS (Texas)
27. Dante Nori, OF, Northville HS (Mich.)
Another piece of draft history was made by Wake Forest teammates Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz and Seaver King. The trio was the eighth threesome of teammates ever drafted in the first round, and just the second to see all three drafted among the top 10 picks.
THE CARDINALS MAKE THE MOST OF A RARE TOP-10 PICK
The Cardinals’ No. 7 overall pick was their only selection of the first night. Despite the lack of draft capital, they managed to land a player in West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt who landed at No. 7 on the BA draft ranking.
Some scouts thought he had a case to be the top player in the class.
Wetherholt was a common projection to be the Guardians’ pick at No. 1 overall. After Cleveland selected his pure-hitting peer Travis Bazzana, Wetherholt slid six more spots to the Cardinals, who found themselves picking inside the top 10 for the first time since 1998, when they selected JD Drew fifth overall.
Wetherholt’s plus or better pure hitting ability, solid-average or better game power, as well as plus speed and chance to stick at shortstop made him one of the most well-rounded players in the class.
HIGH SCHOOL ARMS MAKE NOISE IN ROUND TWO
A defining feature of this year’s draft class was the relatively light top-end high school talent in the first round. However, the pitching depth of the prep class was as bountiful as ever, full of intriguing, projectable arms with stuff or exciting foundations of command.
There were questions about how much the industry would tap into that depth, because high school pitche...
This year, a total of 74 picks were made during the top two rounds of the draft.
Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt and Virginia shortstop Griff O’Ferrall, drafted 31st and 32nd overall by the D-backs and Orioles, were the second- and third-ever PPI draft picks. Arizona and Baltimore added the picks when Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson won Rookie of the Year awards in 2023.
A RECORD EIGHT STRAIGHT COLLEGE PLAYERS KICK THINGS OFF
We expected this year’s first round to lean heavily on college players, and that wound up being the case on a record-setting night.
This draft was the first in history to feature college players taken off the board with the top eight picks, and it also set a record with nine collegians drafted among the first 10 picks of the draft. The 2024 draft was the 60th ever conducted.
1. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
2. Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
3. Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
4. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
5. Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
6. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
7. JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
8. Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
10. Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
Previously, the high-water mark for college players selected in the first 10 picks was six, which happened in 1985, 2018 and 2019.
In the first 30 overall picks, 20 college players were drafted. That tracks with the overall BA draft prospect ranking, which featured 21 collegians ranked among the top 30 players.
After the first 10 picks this year, the first round descended quickly into chaos, as expected. Three high school outfielders were drafted a bit earlier than expected, though all three were legitimate day one talents.
16. PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS (S.C.)
17. Braylon Payne, OF, Elkins HS (Texas)
27. Dante Nori, OF, Northville HS (Mich.)
Another piece of draft history was made by Wake Forest teammates Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz and Seaver King. The trio was the eighth threesome of teammates ever drafted in the first round, and just the second to see all three drafted among the top 10 picks.
THE CARDINALS MAKE THE MOST OF A RARE TOP-10 PICK
The Cardinals’ No. 7 overall pick was their only selection of the first night. Despite the lack of draft capital, they managed to land a player in West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt who landed at No. 7 on the BA draft ranking.
Some scouts thought he had a case to be the top player in the class.
Wetherholt was a common projection to be the Guardians’ pick at No. 1 overall. After Cleveland selected his pure-hitting peer Travis Bazzana, Wetherholt slid six more spots to the Cardinals, who found themselves picking inside the top 10 for the first time since 1998, when they selected JD Drew fifth overall.
Wetherholt’s plus or better pure hitting ability, solid-average or better game power, as well as plus speed and chance to stick at shortstop made him one of the most well-rounded players in the class.
HIGH SCHOOL ARMS MAKE NOISE IN ROUND TWO
A defining feature of this year’s draft class was the relatively light top-end high school talent in the first round. However, the pitching depth of the prep class was as bountiful as ever, full of intriguing, projectable arms with stuff or exciting foundations of command.
There were questions about how much the industry would tap into that depth, because high school pitche...
You're reading a preview of
Baseball America (Digital) - 1 Issue, August/September 2024