The 2024 MLB Draft is within the books as groups added some contemporary skills to their group. Grading draft lessons this early is at all times a subjective process. One issue that must be thought of whereas studying this piece is that we’re assuming that each participant will likely be signed by their crew. This is a big factor to notice, as Day 3 is the place you usually see groups draft gamers that will not signal as a result of bonus swimming pools so it will not be reflective of the gamers that truly be a part of every group. That being mentioned, let’s get to it!
American League East
Baltimore Orioles
After a strong Day 1 that noticed the Orioles take excessive upside however dangerous gamers in Vance Honeycutt and Griff O’Ferrall, they have been ready so as to add a few very robust catching prospects in Ethan Anderson and Ryan Stafford whereas grabbing the tremendous athletic Austin Overn. This draft will hinge on the manufacturing and improvement of the highest two picks, as a result of in the event that they hit that is much more profitable than it already is.
Grade: B
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have been capable of get a steal when Braden Montgomery was nonetheless out there at No. 12. They have been then ready so as to add some intriguing gamers with strong upside in Conrad Cason, Payton Toll, Brady Tygart, Devin Futrell, Brandon Neely, and Brandon Clarke. On a holistic view, the Red Sox have been ready so as to add numerous good depth, however Montgomery is certainly the very best upside participant amongst their choices.
Grade: B+
New York Yankees
Arms aplenty for the Yankees as they used eight of their first 9 picks on pitchers. Ben Hess looks as if a little bit of a attain within the first however most likely wouldn’t have been there after they picked once more within the second spherical. Bryce Cunningham, Thatcher Hurd, and Gage Ziehl make for one more trio of promising arms. I’d have preferred to see somewhat extra on the place prospect aspect, however a very robust draft particularly if you give attention to the pitching.
Grade: B+
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays added a ton of expertise as they obtained their draft began by taking the elite athlete Theo Gillen. Emilien Pitres and Tyler Bell are one other pair of actually good hitters that they have been capable of snag with their second and aggressive stability decide. That’s already quite a bit to love and that’s simply three picks within the draft. Tampa Bay would go on so as to add a further 5 from the highest 250 together with a large arm in Oklahoma State right-hander Janzen Keisel.
Grade: A
Toronto Blue Jays
Getting Trey Yesavage with the twentieth decide will need to have made the Blue Jays entrance workplace ecstatic as he was seen as one of many high pitchers within the draft. Khal Stephen and Johnny King have been attention-grabbing choices, however there was seemingly somewhat extra expertise out there with these picks. There’s a very good quantity to love about Sean Keys, and whereas the expertise he confronted in school wasn’t precisely the very best, if he can hit to the diploma that he did in school, that’s a very good bat-first third baseman. If the Blue Jays can signal Dmarion Terrell, which isn’t doubtless, the grade shoots as much as a B+, but when not, it’s nonetheless a strong draft by the Blue Jays.
Grade: B
American League Central
Chicago White Sox
It was definitely attention-grabbing to go together with Hagen Smith over JJ Wetherholt who was one of many high gamers within the draft. But the White Sox recovered with some actually attention-grabbing excessive upside picks like Caleb Bonemar, Blake Larson, Nick McLain, and Case Saucke. The Day 3 additions of Pierce George and T.J. McCants additionally assist in the general analysis of their draft class.
Grade: A-
Cleveland Guardians
Expectations have been excessive for a Cleveland crew who’re one in all finest groups within the league whereas additionally having the highest decide within the draft. The trio of Travis Bazzana, Braylon Doughty, and Joey Oakie provides you three picks with potential first spherical worth as is. Add within the slugging Jacob Cozart, the undersized however big-armed Aidan Major together with going for it on Chase Mobley and you’ve got an incredible quantity of expertise in a single draft with out even entering into the remainder of the picks.
Grade: A
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers went all in on excessive upside gamers with their choices of Bryce Rainer and Owen Hall. In the aggressive stability spherical, they added the intriguing Ethan Schiefelb who has nice projectability in his body together with already good command for his age. Later, they might add right-hander Michael Massey who offers them with one other excessive finish pitching prospect. As famous, this text assumes all the class indicators, so with the addition of Anson Seibert within the sixteenth spherical, it is a very excessive upside draft for the Tigers.
Grade: A-
Kansas City Royals
Jac Caglianone is probably going essentially the most intriguing participant within the draft with monumental upside however a big quantity of danger with the quantity that he swings and misses. If he hits, he alone might propel this draft class, or another draft class to an A. Outside of him, the Royals went huge on pitching nabbing themselves 5 pitchers within the high 250. Dennis Colleran is an actual wildcard in addition to he has an unlimited arm however struggles to command his fastball and slider. There is quite a bit to love with Colleran, but in addition numerous danger.
Grade: B+
Minnesota Twins
Rounding out the AL Central are the Twins who did effectively for themselves with the additions of Kaelen Culpepper, Billy Amick, Dasan Hill, and Kyle DeBarge. There is danger in all of those gamers, however that’s what the beginning of the draft is all about. Gambling on excessive upside gamers that would make important contributions sooner or later. Then you add in a man like Khadim Diaw who simply hits, and if he can keep at catcher can turns into a participant to look at himself. The first two days, alone, make this a implausible draft for the Twins
Grade: A
American League West
Houston Astros
The Astros positively had an uphill battle by having solely a single decide within the first 100 of the draft however they have been capable of get actually good worth in catcher Walker Janek at No. 28 after which right-hander Ryan Forcucci within the third. Cole Hertzler within the fifth might repay, however there’s additionally some reliever danger with him.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Angels
If they will get everybody signed, it is a good draft for the Angels and one which they desperately wanted. Christian Moore was a little bit of an overdraft at No. 8 however nonetheless has good upside. Chris Cortez and Ryan Johnson each have reliever danger however there’s a ton of arm expertise there. Trey Gregory-Alford, and Connor Gatwood are additionally excessive upside pitching prospects however total, a very good quantity to love about this Angels draft class.
Grade: A
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics will need to have thought JJ Wetherholt would have priced them out of their draft technique as a result of going with Nick Kurtz at No. 4 was fairly odd. Getting Tommy White and Gage Jump with their subsequent two picks actually helped ease these questions. They additionally stockpiled on actually good school gamers like Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Rodney Green, Kyle Robinson, and Sam Stuhr. There’s just about no approach they signal Dylan Volantis however for the sake of this text let’s say they do which helps reduce the knock they get for going with Kurtz over Wetherholt.
Grade: B+
Seattle Mariners
There’s no denying the arm expertise that Jurrangelo Cijntje has however choosing him at No. 15 after which giving him full slot worth is a bit attention-grabbing. Ryan Sloan within the second is implausible as he was projected as a primary spherical expertise. The solely concern is that in the event that they don’t develop it is a little bit of a weaker draft, although Josh Caron and Hunter Cranton are good picks themselves. If Cijntje and Sloan each come near their ceiling, the Mariners can have two excessive finish pitchers with the primary two picks however there’s a good quantity of danger with this draft.
Grade: C+
Texas Rangers
Getting Malcolm Moore within the first spherical was positively a strong decide after which including Dylan Dreiling who ought to hit, however doesn’t actually have a place to play made for an okay Day 1 for the Rangers. Casey Cook ought to hit, although he doesn’t undertaking to be a star however reasonably only a strong excessive common man with a very good method. Days 2 and three have been okay, with an attention-grabbing collection of Devin Fitz-Gerland within the fifth which seems like a attain, however they have been capable of seize Cade Obermuelller which positively helps
