The second annual Major League Baseball Draft lottery took place during the winter meetings and I go back to December all the time. The Cleveland Guardians defied the odds and landed the #1 overall pick while the Cincinnati Reds moved all the way up to #2. The White Sox came in with the fourth best odds to land the top overall selection and they will pick fifth overall. It wasn’t a great outcome for the Pale Hose as the club is now ineligible to receive a lottery pick in 2025 and they might be one of the worst teams in baseball in 2024.
Bonus pools haven’t been released yet due to some inactivity on the free agent market. Super agent Scott Boras represents outfielder Cody Bellinger, third baseman Matt Chapman and southpaw Blake Snell and none of them have signed free agent contracts in early February. All three received a qualifying offer which means that clubs will be required to forfeit draft compensation to sign them. The inaction has delayed the official announcement of bonus pools related to the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.
Last year, the Minnesota Twins used the fifth overall pick on high school outfielder Walker Jenkins and the slot value came in at $7,139,700. That number is likely to increase for the White Sox this year. The pick should be worth around $7.3 million once the official numbers are determined. The club’s second round pick should be pick #43 overall and that selection came with a value of $1,998,200 last year.
In a recent trade, the organization acquired another draft pick as well. The Seattle Mariners shipped their competitive balance round B selection to the White Sox and that pick currently stands at #69 overall. It could end up as high as #66 depending on the rest of free agency however. The 69th selection was worth $1,074,100 last year. Here is our first edition of a 2024 MLB Mock Draft. Remember that it’s way too early to make many determinations but the college season has started.
1. Cleveland Guardians: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
Left-handed hitter with a 70 tool and lots of wood bat success. Wetherholt might be the best hitter in the class and could stay at shortstop.
2. Cincinnati Reds: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana is an Australia native who hit .375 in the Cape Cod League last year. The infielder shows and advanced approach and raw power.
3. Colorado Rockies: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
The Rockies have been focused on pitching and Burns looks to be the best in the class with 100 mph velocity and a plus-plus slider.
4. Oakland Athletics: Nick Kurtz, 1B/OF, Wake Forest
Kurtz is a great defender at first base and has hit 39 homers in two college seasons. He hasn’t shown many weaknesses at the dish. BPA pick for A’s.
5. Chicago White Sox: Konnor Griffin, CF, Jackson Prep (MS)
Griffin is a 6-4, 205 pound outfielder who reclassified from the 2025 draft. The White Sox grab a definite center fielder with 30 home run potential. Area scout Warren Hughes was busy last year and he could be on the board early again this July.
6. Kansas City Royals: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
King is a member of the United States Collegiate Team and has Cape success as well. A transfer from Wingate; all fields approach and defensive versatility should get him drafted this high.
7. St. Louis Cardinals: Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
Condon is a right-handed hitter with massive raw power. The 6-6 slugger could end up at first base but teams likely try him in the outfield initially.
8. Los Angeles Angels: Jac Caglianone, LHP/OF, Florida
Caglianone is a two-way star but he has more upside with the bat. He’s a physical freak with big left-handed raw power.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Smith has front line starter upside if he can harness his inconsistent control. The southpaw possesses great stuff and will be just 20-years-old on draft day.
10. Washington Nationals: PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS (SC)
Morlando displays significant offensive upside with plus hit and power tools but comes with significant risk on the defensive spectrum.
11. Detroit Tigers: Caleb Bonemer, SS, Okemos HS (MI)
Bonemar probably profiles at third base but he might be the best prep prospect from Michigan since Derek Jeter.
12. Boston Red Sox: Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
Hartle is in contention for top college lefty in the class but he’s more stuff than polish with a four-pitch mix.
13. San Francisco Giants: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
The Tar Heel outfielder is really young for the college class and has shown significant rightly power but must cut down on the strikeouts.
14. Chicago Cubs: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Brecht has monster stuff with a plus-plus slider and fastball but he also possesses command issues and reliever risk.
15. Seattle Mariners: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)
Earning some Jack Flaherty comparisons, Rainer has shown projection and raw power at the plate while pitching.
16. Miami Marlins: Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern
Sirota will be 20-years-old on draft day and has had Cape success with speed, bat speed and a center field profile.
17. Milwaukee Brewers: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Montgomery is a switch-hitting outfielder with a right field profile.
18. Tampa Bay Rays: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Could be the highest drafted position player ever from Kansas State. He makes consistent contact and is playing shortstop this spring.
19. New York Mets: Tommy White, 3B, LSU
White has huge power and 51 homers in two college seasons but he’s a likely 1B or DH in pro ball.
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Thatcher Hurd, RHP, LSU
Hurd’s fastball gets into the high 90’s with an above-average slider and could be a mid-rotation starter
21. Minnesota Twins: Caleb Lomavita, C, California
Lomavita has had Cape success, shows big raw power and should stay at catcher but he’s position versatile.
22. Baltimore Orioles: Jacob Cozart, C, North Carolina State
A catcher for USA Baseball, Cozart hits for average and power from the left side and should stay behind the dish.
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee
Beam is a safe profile with some upside. He’s shown three plus pitches and he’s very polished and consistent.
24. Atlanta Braves: Noah Franco, OF, IMG Academy
Franco has some two-way ability but teams likely prefer him as a hitter after reclassifying from the 2025 Draft.
25. San Diego Padres: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)
Caminiti doesn’t turn 18 until August and might be the best prep pitcher in the class. Athletic southpaw with TOR potential.
26. New York Yankees: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
Moore is a bat first catcher as a draft eligible sophomore with huge raw power.
27. Philadelphia Phillies: Carter Johnson, SS, Oxford HS (AL)
Johnson likely moves off of shortstop but it’s a great left-handed swing with all fields power.
28. Houston Astros: Anthony Silva, SS, TCU
Silva is a “jack of all trades” type and the 20-year-old is a draft eligible sophomore.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith is a solid defender at third base and he’s dropped his strikeout rate considerably while showing power.
30. Texas Rangers: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
Premium athlete who could go much higher than this and challenge the top southpaws in the class.
43. Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (IL)
Sloan is another Illinois kid (York High School; Elmhurst) and he might be the best prep righty in the class. The 6-4, 220 pounder dominated the showcase circuit and has shown multiple plus pitches. Mike Shirley and the White Sox love drafting local prospects and he has the talent to match.
69. Ben Hess, RHP, Alabama
Hess is another Illinois kid with a 6-5, 250 pound frame. He has had a plethora of different injuries but possesses big upside and with #2 starter potential.
77. Travis Smith, RHP, Kentucky
Smith was one of the best prep prospects out of Kentucky back in 2021. He’s battled injuries as well but the 6-4, 220 pound right-hander has improved his strength and conditioning and features multiple plus pitches.
James stepping out and predicting the White Sox will select the only prep player in the top-9 of his first 2024 mock draft. I like the pick which could still change with a top-3 collegiate player falling to the White Sox. I suspect Chris Getz and his posse will pass on the #4 pick dropping since he’s a first baseman.
Thanks for sharing this mock draft. I hope Konnor Griffin is there at 5