{"id":93257,"date":"2025-06-10T11:58:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T11:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/93257\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T11:58:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T11:58:22","slug":"2024-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-charlie-condon-to-cleveland-bryce-rainer-into-the-top-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/93257\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 MLB Mock draft 2.0: Charlie Condon to Cleveland, Bryce Rainer into the top 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Athletic has live coverage of the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The MLB draft<\/a> is now just four-plus weeks away, and any player not in the College World Series is done with his spring schedule. The MLB Draft combine<\/a> is taking place now in Arizona, with teams particularly focusing on the player interviews. (There is a day of workouts and one game that only includes high school players.) That means that there\u2019s more information out there now on what certain teams might be planning and which players they favor, although much still depends on players\u2019 medicals and signing bonus expectations.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s my latest projection of who each team will take in the first round, based as always on what I\u2019ve heard from sources in the industry and my understanding of the philosophies of specific scouting directors and general managers.<\/p>\n

\"go-deeper\"\/<\/p>\n

GO DEEPER<\/p>\n

Ranking the 2024 MLB Draft top-100 prospects: Condon on top, 3 Wake Forest players in Top 15<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

I doubt we\u2019ll know Cleveland\u2019s pick until the day of the draft, but other teams think it\u2019ll be Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana<\/a> or Condon<\/a>, with one rumor that the Guardians were looking at going way under slot with high school position player Konnor Griffin<\/a>. If West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt<\/a>\u2019s medicals check out, though, I would imagine they\u2019d explore a deal with him, thinking he was good enough to be a 1-1 candidate coming into the spring. Cleveland picks again at 36 and 48, so they can get creative with some high school pitching if they want to.<\/p>\n

2. Cincinnati Reds<\/a>: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State<\/p>\n

I\u2019d be surprised if this was anyone but Condon or Bazzana, or maybe Wake Forest right-hander Chase Burns<\/a>. The Reds don\u2019t pick again until No. 51, which is a good argument for going full slot here and getting the best player available.<\/p>\n

I assume that if the Rockies do this, they\u2019ll make Caglianone a full-time hitter rather than risk a second Tommy John surgery at some point, given their organization\u2019s recent run of elbow surgeries for top prospects. I\u2019ve also heard them associated with the two main college arms, Burns and Arkansas\u2019 Hagen Smith<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"go-deeper\"\/<\/p>\n

GO DEEPER<\/p>\n

Top MLB Draft prospect Jac Caglianone thriving in his final act at Florida<\/p>\n

<\/a>4. Oakland A\u2019s: Nick Kurtz<\/a>, 1B, Wake Forest<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard this will be a college hitter \u2013 Bazzana, Kurtz, maybe Wetherholt, assuming Condon is gone.<\/p>\n

5. Chicago White Sox<\/a>: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia<\/p>\n

Wetherholt\u2019s spot will come down to what team doctors think about his hamstring injuries. The White Sox have been linked to him, Burns, Caglianone and Griffin.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chase Burns (above) and Hagen Smith have been the top two college pitchers all spring. (Isaiah Vazquez \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Folks seem to believe new Royals scouting director Brian Bridges will continue to show his predilection for taking pitching in the first round by going with Burns or Smith here.<\/p>\n

The Cardinals could be staring at multiple players they\u2019d happily take here \u2014 Wetherholt, one of Smith\/Burns, and Rainer.<\/p>\n

This would be a dream scenario for the Angels, who everyone thinks will take a player they can bring to the majors in August. They\u2019ve been linked to East Carolina right-hander Trey Yesavage<\/a>, Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt<\/a>, and Florida State outfielder James Tibbs III, as well as the top group of college guys.<\/p>\n

9. Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a>: James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State<\/p>\n

The Pirates sit around the inflection point of the first round \u2014 with Yesavage and Braden Montgomery<\/a> getting hurt, the Pirates could end up dipping into the second tier of players to try to cut a deal, with Tibbs and Waldschmidt coming up as potential names.<\/p>\n

Montgomery might have sneaked into the top five had he not broken his ankle in the Super Regionals, ending his season and pushing his draft status into the hands of team doctors once they see his medicals.<\/p>\n

11. Detroit Tigers<\/a>: Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson (Miss.) Prep<\/p>\n

Griffin is the high-ceiling, high-risk guy among the prep players and could still end up in the top 10. I also think the Tigers would be on Rainer or Montgomery, depending on who gets here.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

12. Boston Red Sox<\/a>: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina<\/p>\n

Beyond Yesavage, I\u2019ve heard them with several college hitters, including Tennessee\u2019s Christian Moore<\/a> and LSU\u2019s Tommy White<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard this a bunch this spring, but I also wonder if someone slides a little \u2014 Rainer, Griffin, maybe Montgomery \u2014 if they\u2019d go that direction instead, or if they\u2019re one of the teams jumping on Christian Moore because of his metrics.<\/p>\n

This connection keeps coming up, as the Cubs do lean heavily on their model, and Moore has excellent batted-ball data. I\u2019ve also heard them with Christian Moore and Waldschmidt.<\/p>\n

15. Seattle Mariners<\/a>: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky<\/p>\n

The Mariners would go for a high school hitter if the right one were here, but I think Rainer and Griffin are gone and this might be high for Theo Gillen<\/a> and I don\u2019t think they\u2019re on Kellon Lindsey<\/a> here.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Christian Moore has starred for Tennessee this postseason. (Dylan Widger \/ USA Today)16. Miami Marlins<\/a>: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a big Christian Moore believer but he definitely has his fans and his high exit velocities are going to push him up for teams that draft heavily off a model, which is the expectation for the Marlins in their first draft under new team president of baseball operations Peter Bendix. That could also mean Waldschmidt, Malcolm Moore, or White.<\/p>\n

The Brewers scored last year when the loaded draft class pushed Wake Forest\u2019s Brock Wilken<\/a> down to their pick, and my best guess right now is that they\u2019ll do something similar this year \u2014 be prepared to take whoever happens to \u201cfall\u201d to their pick even though the player should probably go higher, like Cam Smith or Waldschmidt.<\/p>\n

18. Tampa Bay Rays<\/a>: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake HS (Austin, Texas)<\/p>\n

Gillen has become the hot name among high school hitters this year as scouts have warmed up to his hit tool, which could put him somewhere in the 15-20 range. My sense is that the Rays would be on position players \u2014 college or high school \u2014 much more than college pitchers.<\/p>\n

The Mets have been linked to Benge for a while, and he offers a great combination of present hitting skill and future power if someone can help optimize his swing.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard the Jays all over the place, on names like Gillen, White, Christian Moore, Waldschmidt, and more, anything but high school pitchers.<\/p>\n

I could see the Twins on White, Sam Houston State catcher Walker Janek<\/a>, Wake Forest infielder Seaver King<\/a>, Cijntje, or maybe even one of the high school arms after they went that route with their compensatory pick last year (taking right-hander Charlee Soto<\/a>).<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard the Orioles almost exclusively on college bats, including White, Christian Moore, and Vance Honeycutt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Honeycutt offers plus power and plus-plus defense, but if he goes in the first round I believe he will set the record for the most strikeouts in a draft-year season (81 and counting) by any player selected that high. The word is the Dodgers are looking for someone in that mold, a player with big ceiling but with a weakness the Dodgers think they can \u201cfix.\u201d Players like Honeycutt, White, Benge, Mississippi State outfielder Dakota Jordan<\/a>, etc. fit this bill.<\/p>\n

The rumor mill has Atlanta doing an under-slot deal with Doughty here to try to go over on another prep arm at pick 62.<\/p>\n

25. San Diego Padres<\/a>: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (Baton Rouge, La.)<\/p>\n

Could be Schmidt or other prep arms like Kash Mayfield<\/a>, Doughty, Ryan Sloan<\/a>. For now it seems like folks expect the Padres to go high school arm because so many teams are going the other direction.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dakota Jordan is a plus athlete. (Vasha Hunt \/ Associated Press)26. New York Yankees<\/a>: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State<\/p>\n

The Yankees have been going more for ceiling the last few drafts, and Jordan is the sort of explosive, high-upside athlete they\u2019ve favored at many points in Damon Oppenheimer\u2019s tenure as scouting director. They\u2019d also be a fit for Honeycutt or, if they go pitcher, Iowa\u2019s Brody Brecht<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Phillies seem likely to stick with high school, having gone that way in every first round since Brian Barber became scouting director. Targets could be Johnson or Gillen or one of the prep arms like Schmidt.<\/p>\n

28. Houston Astros<\/a>: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa<\/p>\n

Brecht is a college pitcher who\u2019s less polished than his peers, with athleticism and arm strength that point to more upside, very much the sort of player Houston general manager Dana Brown has liked in his career running drafts.<\/p>\n

The story all spring has been that Caldwell doesn\u2019t get past the Diamondbacks, although I haven\u2019t heard the diminutive outfielder\u2019s name before them, either, and since they pick again at No. 31, they could get creative and take him at the later pick while going for another HS bat here (Tyson Lewis<\/a>?) or perhaps a college pitcher.<\/p>\n

30. Texas Rangers<\/a>: Kellon Lindsay, SS, Hardee HS (Wauchula, Fla.)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard the Rangers with a few high school hitters, including Gillen, Lindsey, and Tyson Lewis, even though their last five first-round picks were all college players.<\/p>\n

(Top photo illustration by Dan Goldfarb \/ The Athletic; from left to right Hagen Smith, Travis Bazzana and Charlie Condon \u2014 Kate Woolson \/ Texas Rangers and Jeff Moreland \/ Icon Sportswire \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Athletic has live coverage of the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The MLB draft is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":93258,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2276],"tags":[22,46,47,5,48,24,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,2291,58,59,60,4,1586,61,62,63,25,64,18,66,65,67,68,69,5379,70,71],"class_list":{"0":"post-93257","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb-draft","8":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","9":"tag-atlanta-braves","10":"tag-baltimore-orioles","11":"tag-baseball","12":"tag-boston-red-sox","13":"tag-chicago-cubs","14":"tag-chicago-white-sox","15":"tag-cincinnati-reds","16":"tag-cleveland-guardians","17":"tag-colorado-rockies","18":"tag-detroit-tigers","19":"tag-houston-astros","20":"tag-kansas-city-royals","21":"tag-los-angeles-angels","22":"tag-los-angeles-dodgers","23":"tag-major-league-baseball-draft","24":"tag-miami-marlins","25":"tag-milwaukee-brewers","26":"tag-minnesota-twins","27":"tag-mlb","28":"tag-mlb-draft","29":"tag-new-york-mets","30":"tag-new-york-yankees","31":"tag-oakland-athletics","32":"tag-philadelphia-phillies","33":"tag-pittsburgh-pirates","34":"tag-san-diego-padres","35":"tag-san-francisco-giants","36":"tag-seattle-mariners","37":"tag-st-louis-cardinals","38":"tag-tampa-bay-rays","39":"tag-texas-rangers","40":"tag-top-sports-news","41":"tag-toronto-blue-jays","42":"tag-washington-nationals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}