2024 top MLB draft prospects: Landing spots for best players

Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY

The 2024 MLB Draft is less than three days away, with 30 franchises across the league set to make more than 600 selections over 20 rounds. Sunday's first round at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas will see a first in MLB history: the Cleveland Guardians will select at No. 1 overall.

After a thrilling College World Series saw Tennessee become the first No. 1 overall seed to win since 1999, there are plenty of exciting college prospects in this draft class — especially from the plate. Here are six players to know ahead of the 2024 MLB draft and where the latest mock drafts from USA Today, ESPN, and MLB.com predict they'll land.

2024 Top MLB draft prospects

Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

Condon was the best hitter in college baseball this past season in Athens. He led the NCAA in batting average (0.433), slugging (1.009), and home runs (37) to earn the 2024 Golden Spikes Award (given to the best amateur baseball player in the country). He's a powerful, consistent hitter with a big, 6-foot-6 frame. He may not be fast enough to stick at third or center field, but could move to left or right field to provide average defense in addition to his impressive hitting.

Charlie Condon mock draft predictions:

Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Bazzana will all but certainly become the first Australian selected in the first round of the MLB draft on Sunday. The Oregon State product was a productive hitter from the plate with a .407 batting average (eighth in the NCAA), .568 on base percentage (second), and .911 slugging percentage (second). He was also second in the country in walks, with 76. Though he may not have Condon's power, he's more polished and has a bit more speed on defense.

Travis Bazzana mock draft predictions:

  • USA Today: No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Guardians

  • ESPN: No. 4 overall to the Oakland Athletics

  • MLB.com: No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Guardians

JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia

Wetherholt's good at pretty much everything from the plate and may be the best pure hitter in the class. His pitch recognition helped him post an impressively low miss rate at West Virginia, including just 10% in 2023. He dealt with a hamstring injury in his final season with the Mountaineers but still produced at a high level. His athleticism makes him a base-stealing threat in the majors but he may need to move to second base at the next level.

JJ Wetherholt mock draft predictions:

Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

Caglianone is one of the biggest players in the draft, listed at 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 250 pounds. He won the John Olerud Award in 2024 for the best hitter/pitcher in college baseball and was right behind Condon in home runs with 35 in 2023. He was also top- five in the country in batting average (.419, third), on base percentage (.544, fourth), and slugging (.875, fourth). He's a powerful hitter with a career OPS that doesn't change against lefties. In case he doesn't work well from the plate at the next level, he's above average from the mound with fastballs nearing 100 mph.

Jac Caglianone mock draft predictions:

  • USA Today: No. 3 overall to the Colorado Rockies

  • ESPN: No. 2 overall to the Cincinnati Reds

  • MLB.com: No. 5 overall to the Chicago White Sox

Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Burns was prolific in 100 innings on the mound for the Demon Deacons this past season. Despite pitching the fifth-most innings in the country, he led the NCAA in strikeouts with 191; The next-best pitcher posted 161. His fastball and slider are standouts at this point, but his curveball and changeup are solid. He could be in the majors within a year of the draft as a reliever.

Chase Burns mock draft predictions:

  • USA Today: No. 7 overall to the St. Louis Cardinals

  • ESPN: No. 6 overall to the Kansas City Royals

  • MLB.com: No. 3 overall to the Colorado Rockies

Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

Smith is right with Burns as the top college pitchers in the class. He was second to Burns in strikeouts (161) but did that in just 84 innings, to Burns' 100. That efficiency put him first in the country in strikeouts per nine innings at 17.25, which he did in an SEC that featured champions Tennessee and three more College World Series teams (Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Florida). He does have some concerns though, including: a drop off at the end of the 2024 season, pitching from the bullpen in 2023, and Tommy John surgery in high school.

Hagen Smith mock draft predictions:

  • USA Today: No. 8 overall to the Los Angeles Angels

  • ESPN: No. 7 overall to the St. Louis Cardinals

  • MLB.com: No. 6 overall to the Kansas City Royals

How to watch the 2024 MLB Draft

  • Date: July 14-16, 2024

  • Time: Coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET

  • Location: Cowtown Coliseum (Fort Worth, Texas)

  • TV: ESPN, MLB Network

  • Streaming: MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB app, ESPN+

WATCH: Catch the 2024 MLB Draft with a subscription to ESPN+

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 MLB draft: Prospects to know before Cleveland picks No. 1

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