The 2024 MLB Draft gets underway July 14. Here's a look at how the first round, featuring 30 selections, could shake out.
Each pick is accompanied by its league-mandated value, the total bonus pool for that particular team, and where that bonus pool ranks in MLB. Individual pick values are added up to calculate a team's total bonus pool. Clubs are allowed to sign prospects above (over slot) or below (under slot) the expected value of the pick but can't exceed their total bonus pool when signing all drafted players.
Pick value: $10,570,600
Total bonus pool: $18,334,000 (1st)
Any one of Condon, Bazzana, or Caglianone would make for a solid first overall pick, but we're going with Georgia product Condon, who led the nation in home runs and batting average. There's been buzz that Cleveland has mixed feelings about Condon, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel wrote in June, but the 6-foot-6 outfielder/third baseman's 70-grade power could already play in the bigs for a Guardians offense that, until this season, lacked thump.
Pick value: $9,785,000
Total bonus pool: $15,842,100 (3rd)
If Condon goes to the Guardians, the Reds could be rewarded with one of the draft's most polished bats in Bazzana. It's not typical for a second baseman to go this high, but the Australian showed he's capable of doing damage with the lumber by winning the Cape Cod league batting title and MVP award. A future infield comprising Bazzana, Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, and Cam Collier - all of whom are 23 or younger - has the potential to be a fixture in Cincinnati for a long time.
Pick value: $9,070,800
Total bonus pool: $17,243,400 (2nd)
One of the most prolific hitters in Florida Gators history slugging at Coors Field seems like a dream come true for the Rockies, who have a chance to select Caglianone should Condon and Bazzana go before him. The 21-year-old is already a proven hitter with 70-grade power. He could be fast-tracked to play for a Rockies club that hasn't rostered an established first baseman since Todd Helton retired.
Pick value: $8,370,800
Total bonus pool: $15,347,900 (5th)
The best available arms in the draft are Wake Forest's Burns and Arkansas' Hagen Smith. Based on stuff alone, Burns gets the nod as the first hurler off the board. Oakland hasn't taken a pitcher in the first round since picking A.J. Puk sixth overall in 2016, but Burns possesses one of the best swing-and-miss pitches in the draft with a slider that's been compared to Corbin Burnes'. He'd be hard to pass up for the rebuilding A's if he's still available.
Pick value: $7,763,700
Total bonus pool: $14,593,300 (6th)
Smith makes a lot of sense for the White Sox with Burns off the board. The southpaw is a much different type of pitcher than Burns thanks to a lower arm slot that delivered elite results in college. Chicago has a solid track record of drafting lefties in the first round, with the franchise having picked Chris Sale, Carlos Rodón, Garrett Crochet, and Noah Schultz since 2010.
Pick value: $7,213,800
Total bonus pool: $15,418,300 (4th)
Wetherholt is showing up on some mock drafts as a potential first overall pick, with certain folks predicting the frugal Guardians will take him as an under-slot option. Some scouts believe the 21-year-old has the draft's best bat and a tremendous eye at the dish. However, Wetherholt's defensive position in the majors is a potential barrier as he had little time to showcase his ability at shortstop in college due to injuries. That shouldn't matter much for the Royals, though, with Bobby Witt Jr. entrenched there until 2031.
Pick value: $6,823,700
Total bonus pool: $10,213,000 (17th)
The Cardinals have a long history of drafting well, especially when it comes to outfielders. In the past 10 years, St. Louis has picked and developed Harrison Bader, Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, and Jordan Walker. Montgomery could be the next one to join the list thanks to his powerful bat and 70-grade arm.
Pick value: $6,502,800
Total bonus pool: $12,990,400 (8th)
The Angels have spent much of the last three seasons loading up their farm system with arms, even selecting a pitcher with every pick in 2021. That shouldn't dissuade them from drafting East Carolina right-hander Yesavage, who was named American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and comes equipped with a 60-grade cutter/slider.
Pick value: $6,216,600
Total bonus pool: $14,000,500 (7th)
The Pirates have done a tremendous job of stockpiling talent since Ben Cherington took over as general manager in 2019, leading to a top-10 farm system. They're still lacking an impact first baseman, though, which makes Wake Forest's Kurtz a perfect fit. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter flashes a 60-grade hit tool with 65-grade power to all fields. There are very few holes in his plate approach, and he also plays a solid first base.
Pick value: $5,953,800
Total bonus pool: $11,500,100 (13th)
Hey look, a prep player! Griffin could be the first high schooler off the board thanks to an incredible five-tool skill set that includes elite speed - he stole 87 bases in 88 attempts - and a 70-grade arm. The 18-year-old Gatorade National High School Player of the Year stands 6-foot-4 and has already filled out to 215 pounds. The rebuilding Nationals are already getting better, but there's no need to rush Griffin with CJ Abrams entrenched at shortstop. There's also a good chance Griffin winds up as an outfielder once he turns pro.
Pick value: $5,712,100
Total bonus pool: $11,921,800 (12th)
Caminiti has been linked to the Tigers for a while, and the connection makes sense. Six of the Tigers' top-10 prospects are pitchers, but they're all right-handed, making the left-handed Caminiti a good fit. The 17-year-old cousin of former NL MVP Ken Caminiti is also one of the top prep pitchers available thanks to a fastball that touches 98 mph and solid command of the strike zone.
Pick value: $5,484,600
Total bonus pool: $10,521,600 (15th)
Rainer was once being looked at as a potential two-way player but rocketed up draft boards once he focused mostly on becoming a position player. The long-bodied Californian has a high ceiling and comes with a solid pedigree after attending Harvard-Westlake, which used to house MLBers like Max Fried, Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. He'd be another blue chipper for an ever-improving Red Sox farm system that already includes top-100 prospects in Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel.
Pick value: $5,272,300
Total bonus pool: $7,566,200 (26th)
The 21-year-old Florida State product would be a safe pick for a Giants club that's selected two-way players with its first-round picks in each of the last two drafts. Tibbs has a polished bat and performed well in both college and during a Cap Cod stint with wood bats. He looks destined to become a first baseman due to a lack of outfield speed, giving San Francisco some fantastic farm-system depth at the position along with Bryce Eldridge.
Pick value: $5,070,700
Total bonus pool: $9,802,300 (19th)
It's pretty rare to see so many second basemen off the board this early, but this year's crop is impressive. Moore stood out for the College World Series champions, slugging .797 with 34 homers and 74 RBIs during the 2024 season. The 21-year-old's tools are solid across the board, as evidenced by his cycle in Tennessee's College World Series opener. The Cubs don't have an immediate need at second base, with Nico Hoerner in place until 2027, but organizational depth is always a good problem to have.
Pick value: $4,880,900
Total bonus pool: $9,543,300 (21st)
The first round and Wake Forest are made for each other this year. King possesses solid contact skills, and he once put together a 47-game hitting streak in Division 2 before transferring to Wake Forest. He's a versatile defender who has experience at second, third, short, and the outfield, making him a good fit in the Mariners' farm system. Seattle could also draft a pitcher since its cupboards are a touch bare in that area.
Pick value: $4,704,700
Total bonus pool: $10,438,500 (16th)
Smith went undrafted as a high schooler in 2022, but that might have done more good than bad for the 21-year-old as he performed well for the Seminoles in college. He also stood out in the Cape Cod League, earning Most Outstanding Pro Prospect honors last season, and it looks like he could stick at third base in the pros thanks to 60-grade arm strength. Miami's farm system is lacking at the spot behind 2022 draft choice Jacob Berry.
Pick value: $4,534,100
Total bonus pool: $12,984,400 (9th)
The Brewers have hit the jackpot drafting outfielders in the first round since 2020, with Sal Frelick and Garrett Mitchell already appearing in the bigs. Milwaukee could go to the well once again by picking Benge. The Oklahoma State grad, who also pitches, looks like a first-rounder as a hitter thanks to excellent bat-to-ball skills and solid bat speed.
Pick value: $4,372,900
Total bonus pool: $10,093,100 (18th)
The Rays have an uncanny ability to find particular strengths and ride them to success. This could be the case once with White, who slugs with the best of them. The former teammate of Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews slugged .704 through his three years in college, which included three consecutive seasons with an on-base percentage above .401.
Pick value: $4,219,200
Total bonus pool: $9,572,200 (20th)
One of the most interesting arms in the draft is switch-pitcher Cijntje, whose ability to throw with both arms is more than an attraction. The 21-year-old Dutchman posted elite strikeout numbers for Mississippi State in 2024, sitting down 113 hitters across 90 2/3 frames. He does look sharper from the right side, with some scouts expecting him to stick to that hand once he goes pro. Cijntje would make a nice addition to a Mets farm system that includes Brandon Sproat and Blade Tidwell.
Pick value: $4,073,400
Total bonus pool: $8,987,000 (23rd)
Multiple outlets, including MLB.com, have the Blue Jays linked to Janek, who's the top catcher available in the draft. The Sam Houston product won the Buster Posey Award as college baseball's top backstop thanks to his excellent framing and agility behind the dish, as well as impressive bat speed and strength at the plate.
Pick value: $3,934,400
Total bonus pool: $12,209,600 (11th)
Gillen might have the best bat among prep players, and he likely would've been higher in mocks had he not been so injury-prone. The 18-year-old has already had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, and he injured his knee in his junior year of high school. The shoulder issue zapped some of his arm strength, making him a potential second baseman in pro ball. Nonetheless, his bat and 60-grade run tool are very intriguing and worth a shot for the Twins.
Pick value: $3,802,200
Total bonus pool: $10,920,900 (14th)
Culpepper is popping up on some mocks outside of the first round, which is strange considering he slashed .328/.419/.574 for Kansas State in 2024. He only posted a .699 OPS during a 17-game Cap Code stint in 2023, but he also got on base at a .382 clip during that same stint. He'll likely be a third baseman in the pros, which is fine considering the Orioles are pretty set at shortstop with Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday in the organization.
Pick value: $3,676,400
Total bonus pool: $6,114,700 (29th)
Brecht's stuff is comparable to Skenes thanks to his 70-grade fastball and slider. He doesn't locate as well as the Pirates phenom, but the Dodgers are an elite organization at developing players, especially pitchers. Scouts also suggested Brecht's command issues had to do with Iowa tinkering with the right-hander's pitches and mechanics too much.
Pick value: $3,556,300
Total bonus pool: $7,765,000 (25th)
Schmidt might be a little low on this list compared to other mocks, but there are just so many talented college players in this year's draft that this feels like a good spot for the Gatorade's Louisiana High School Player of the Year. Atlanta has selected a pitcher in the first round every year since 2020, including two high schoolers in 2022, so it wouldn't be surprising for the organization to take Schmidt, who features the best curveball of any prep pitcher in the draft.
Pick value: $3,442,100
Total bonus pool: $9,360,500 (22nd)
A two-time Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Oklahoma, Mayfield has shown similarities to Jordan Wicks of the Chicago Cubs, although scouts believe he'll be better. His best pitch is his 60-grade changeup, and there's still room to grow for the 19-year-old southpaw. Adding Mayfield to a system that already includes Robby Snelling and Dylan Lesko could put San Diego's rotation in a very good spot around 2025-26.
Pick value: $3,332,900
Total bonus pool: $8,134,500 (24th)
The Yankees have done well finding pieces late in the first round, including Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe, Clarke Schmidt, and Austin Wells. Jordan is one of the best athletes available in the draft and could be another steal for the Bronx Bombers. He starred in baseball and as a three-star wide receiver in high school before giving up football prior to attending Mississippi State. It was a smart move by the 21-year-old, who's improving quickly and has lightning-fast bat speed.
Pick value: $3,228,300
Total bonus pool: $7,381,800 (27th)
Someone will eventually have to take the reins from J.T. Realmuto, who'll be 35 years old when he hits free agency in 2026. The Phillies have a few catching prospects in their farm system, but none of them are of the same quality as Moore, who's drawn comparisons to Tyler Soderstrom and has an elite bat.
Pick value: $3,132,500
Total bonus pool: $5,914,700 (30th)
Amick, another standout on the College World Series champion Volunteers, became one of the nation's most dangerous hitters after transferring from Clemson. He frequently barrels balls and has legit 55-grade power. The son of former NASCAR driver Lyndon Amick could stick at third base in the pros, but first also looks like an option because of his average arm and range. Houston should stockpile its system with third-base candidates with Alex Bregman eligible for free agency.
Pick value: $3,045,500
Total bonus pool: $12,662,000 (10th)
An assortment of injuries, which included tearing the ACL in his left knee while stepping in a hole during a throw, took away a lot of Waldschmidt's playing time in recent years. When healthy, he's been terrific and is one of the more toolsy players that could be available in the late first round. The Kentucky product's 55-grade hit, power, and run tools should be appealing for the D-Backs, who already have outfielder Drew Jones in the pipeline and Corbin Carroll inked until 2031.
Pick value: $2,971,300
Total bonus pool: $6,997,900 (28th)
The Rangers haven't made a pick this low since 2019 when they selected Davis Wendell out of Baylor, but they've done a really good job of selecting high-end talent in recent years (Wyatt Langford, Josh Jung, Evan Carter). While they've leaned more toward picking college players with their first-round selections since 2018, the extremely talented Lewis is too good of a player to pass up if he's still available. His speed is elite, while his hit, power, arm, and field tools all grade at 50 or better.
