The College World Series begins on Friday, and this year’s event is wide open. The top four seeds advanced to Omaha, Nebraska, for a chance to win a national title.
All eyes are on the top MLB draft prospects showcasing their talents on the national stage. These athletes are vying for a championship and aiming to solidify their positions in the upcoming MLB draft, making every game a high-stakes audition for their professional careers.
Here are the top 11 prospects to watch in the College World Series who are expected to be selected early in July’s draft.
Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Caglianone is one of the most exciting players in college baseball and the 2024 MLB draft class. He is a legitimate prospect on the mound and as a first baseman. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound left-handed hitter has elite power. On the mound, the lefty has a 99 mph and quality slider.
As the College World Series begins, Caglianone has performed better as a position player than a pitcher. He has taken a step forward at the plate, hitting .411 with 33 home runs and 68 RBIs in 236 at-bats. He has improved his plate discipline, drawing 52 walks and 25 strikeouts. The two-way star is a potential top-five pick.
Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith was a top draft prospect out of high school in 2022. He elected to go to Florida State, and the decision paid off. He was productive his freshman season and is destroying baseball this spring. Smith has above-average raw power and is a respectable defender at third base.
Smith is batting .402 with 20 doubles, 16 home runs and 56 RBIs in 254 at-bats. He figures to go in the top half of the first round in July’s draft.
James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
Tibbs is an offensive-first player, and scouts rave about his exceptional, well-rounded offensive tools. He hits for average and power with strong plate discipline. He destroys fastballs and hits for power to all fields. Defensively, Tibbs has average tools, and scouts project him as a likely left fielder in pro ball.
As the College World Series begins, Tibbs has a .375 batting average 17 doubles, 28 home runs and 94 RBIs in 235 at-bats. He figures to go in the top half of the first round in July’s draft.
Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Honeycutt is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitting center fielder with an extremely impressive toolset. He is a dynamic athlete with quality instincts and an improving hit tool. Defensively, Honeycutt is an elite center-field defender due to his athleticism, instincts, arm strength and ability to cover tons of ground.
The biggest question mark in Honeycutt’s game is his plate discipline. As the College World Series begin, he is batting .314 with 12 doubles, 26 home runs, 65 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 242 at-bats. He has 80 strikeouts and 35 walks this spring.
Scouts rave about his upside. If Honeycutt can continue to develop and put all his tools together, he has the potential to be a star in pro ball. He projects as a potential top-20 pick.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Honeycutt and his skill set here.
Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
Amick is in his first season at Tennessee after starting his college career at Clemson. As a sophomore at Clemson last year, he developed into an impact bat and has continued it this spring in the SEC. The right-handed hitter hits for above-average power to all parts of the field. Defensively, he has displayed improved skills at third base and will have the chance to stick there in pro ball.
As the College World Series begins, Amick is hitting .313 with 23 home runs and 64 RBIs in 230 at-bats. He’s a potential first-round pick in July’s draft.
Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
Waldschmidt is one of the more underrated players in the 2024 MLB draft class. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed-hitting outfielder had a tremendous junior season to enhance his draft status.
He is a well-rounded player who consistently squares up the baseball to drive the ball into the gaps to hit for average and power. Scouts also rave about his quality plate discipline and above-average approach. He is an athletic player with quality speed, which helps him on the bases and in the outfield.
Waldschmidt is the prototypical top-of-the-order hitter. He is hitting .346 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 205 at-bats. He also has 43 strikeouts and 36 walks. He’s a potential first-round pick in July’s draft.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Waldschmidt and his skill set here.
Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Moore boasts quality size (6-1, 210) and well-rounded tools. Offensively, Moore has an aggressive approach and can drive the baseball with authority to all parts of the field.
Defensively, Moore profiles best at second base. He has respectable athleticism and arm strength. He moves well laterally and makes all the necessary plays at second base.
Moore is batting .376 with 17 doubles, 32 home runs and 71 RBIs in 269 at-bats. Scouts consider Moore a potential first or second-round pick.
Griff O’Ferrall, SS, Virginia
O’Ferrall has been a reliable and consistent performer throughout his three years at Virginia. The right-handed hitter doesn’t hit for much power but consistently makes strong contact due to his bat-to-ball skills. Defensively, he has a respectable arm strength and is accurate with quality range due to his athleticism.
O’Ferrall is hitting .332 with 20 doubles, five home runs, 51 walks and 17 stolen bases in 277 at-bats. He’s a potential second-pick in July’s draft.
Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee
Beam is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-handed pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball, two-seamer, curveball, cutter andchangeup from a high three-quarters arm slot, long arm action and low-effort delivery.
He primarily relies on a four-seam fastball and curveball. His mid-90s fastball tops out at 98 mph, while his curveball generates plenty of swings and misses.
Beam has the size, pitch mix and potential to be a quality starter in pro ball. Scouts consider him one of the safer pitching prospects in this year’s draft class and someone who will likely hear his name called in the second round.
As the College World Series begins, Beam has struggled with consistency. He has a 4.44 ERA, 85 strikeouts and 23 walks allowed in 93 1/3 innings.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Beam and his skill set here.
Jacob Cozart, C, North Carolina State
Cozart is a quality catcher with a well-rounded toolset. He makes consistent contact and can hit for power. He also is a respectable defender with above-average arm strength.
The 6-foot-3, 222-pound backstop has a .300 batting average with 19 home runs and 53 RBIs in 217 at-bats. He projects as a likely second-round pick.
Ryan Prager, LHP, Texas A&M
Prager has had a strong spring after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has developed into Texas A&M’s ace this spring.
Prager is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefty who throws a fastball, slider and changeup from an over-the-top arm slot, deceptive delivery and repeatable mechanics. His pitches complement one another well. His fastball is a low-90s offering that plays up due to his arm slot, deception and the pitch’s late movement.
Prager is a competitive pitcher with an impressive pitch mix who attacks the strike zone. He has a 3.10 ERA with 144 strikeouts and 19 walks in 87 innings. He projects as a potential second-round pick.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Prager and his skill set here.
Read more in-depth stories on top 2024 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
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 stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
