The 2024 MLB draft class features tons of talent with plenty of intriguing players.
The college class has numerous high-end prospects with quality skill sets. It contains multiple two-way prospects and a lot of intriguing arms. There also are quality hitters that will go early in the draft, making it a well-rounded class.
Here is a look at the must-watch prep players in the 2024 MLB draft.
Below is a look at some college names to know for the 2024 MLB draft.
Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Caglianone is one of the most exciting players in college baseball. He is a legitimate prospect on the mound and as a first baseman. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound two-way star hit 33 home runs and started 18 games on the mound for Florida this spring. He still needs to refine his skill set, but based on my live looks this spring, the potential is there.
The left-handed hitter has elite power but needs to refine his hit tool and cut down on some swing-and-miss. On the mound, the lefty has a 99 mph and quality slider. He needs to throw more strikes, though, allowing 6.6 walks per nine innings last season.
Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt boasts five-tool potential, possessing exciting raw tools and athleticism. He took a step back his sophomore season from a power standpoint but improved his plate discipline, cutting his strikeouts nearly in half.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitter has a swing built for driving the baseball. He possesses above-average raw power and has cut back on his swings and misses over the last year. Defensively, Honeycutt is a quality athlete who will stick in center field in pro ball.
Tommy White, 3B, LSU
White crushes the baseball and has the nickname “Tommy Tanks.” The right-handed hitter has a wide stance with a slight knee bend and uses a quick swing to consistently square up the baseball. He hits for a ton of power and profiles as a middle-of-the-order bat in pro ball. He was an impressive hitter during my live looks of him at the College World Series.
Defensively, White played third base for LSU this spring. He prefers to play this position but likely profiles best at first base due to his average range at the hot corner.
Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Brecht is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-handed pitcher with a quality pitch mix and athleticism. He uses a quick arm action and throws from a high three-quarters arm slot.
Scouts rave about the righty’s pitch mix. He has a high-90s fastball that touches triple digits, an above-average slider that generates a ton of swings and misses, and a quality curveball. He needs to refine his control and command, but he has exciting potential as a starting pitcher.
JJ Wetherholt, 2B, West Virginia
Wetherholt was one of the top hitters in college baseball in the spring, showing an ability to hit for average and power while also stealing bases. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound left-handed hitter consistently squares up the baseball and shows a tremendous feel at the plate.
As a sophomore, he hit .449 with 24 doubles, 16 home runs, 60 RBIs and 36 stolen bases in 268 plate appearances. He had 26 walks compared to 22 strikeouts. He has exceptional contact skills and uses the entire field.
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Kurtz is a 6-foot-5, 235-pound left-handed power hitter. He boasts above-average raw power to all fields, which might be the best in the class, to all fields and a quality hit tool. He has a strong understanding of the strike zone and draws plenty of walks.
Defensively, Kurtz plays a solid first base due to his instincts and mobility. Some scouts believe he also can handle a corner outfield spot in pro ball.
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana, an Australia native, has developed into a really quality hitter at Oregon State. In the spring, he increased his power, stolen bases, walks and batting average while cutting down on his strikeouts.
The 6-foot, 195-pound left-handed hitter is quick to the ball and consistently squares it up to drive it into the gaps. He also shows an ability to hit for quality power.
Bazzana is a really good hitter, and that will be his calling card moving forward. He also is a respectable defender at second base. He has average arm strength and athleticism, allowing him to cover plenty of ground and make the necessary plays.
Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Georgia
Condon redshirted his freshman season and then exploded last year. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-handed hitter has a potent swing with a low-maintenance load. He boasts notable raw power and a respectable hit tool.
Defensively, Condon played the corner outfield spots this spring. He has the skills to play first base, where he could develop into an above-average defender.
Braden Montgomery, RHP/OF, No School
Montgomery has been on scouts’ radars since high school. He is athletic and a well-rounded baseball player. On the mound, the 6-foot-2, 217-pound righty uses a 95-98 mph fastball, quality breaking pitch and a changeup that shows potential.
He might profile best as an outfielder due to his ability to hit for power and ability to play quality defense due to his athleticism and above-average arm strength. He is a switch hitter.
Montgomery spent his first two years at Stanford but recently entered the transfer portal.
Chase Burns, RHP, No School
Even before he got to college, Burns was a hard thrower, regularly hitting triple digits as a prep star. He was sometimes inconsistent throughout his first two seasons but continued to show an impressive pitch mix.
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound righty throws a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup from a high three-quarter arm slot. Burns primarily relies on his fastball and slider, which generates a ton of swings and misses. He accumulates a lot of strikes and does a nice job of attacking the strike zone and limiting his walks.
Burns spent his first two years at Tennessee but recently entered the transfer portal.
Other Names to Watch
Dream Beam, RHP, Tennessee; Thatcher Hurd, RHP, LSU; Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas; Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest; Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stationsas a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
