Ranking College Baseball’s Top 2024 MLB Draft Prospects

College baseball season has officially arrived.

The 2024 college baseball season begins Friday, with a wave of tournaments across the country and other series kickstarting the year.

There is a clear favorite to start the year in Wake Forest, which narrowly lost in the College World Series semifinals last year to eventual national champion LSU, which sent the top two draft picks to the pro ranks in Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews. This year, it is the Demon Deacons who are most loaded with talent in the draft.

Baseball fans of any level can enjoy tuning in to a college game to watch some of the sport’s top prospects. Jugo Mobile is taking a look at the 10 draft-eligible players we expect to be among the top picks in the 2024 MLB Draft.

MLB Draft Prospects in College Baseball

1. JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia

There are some players whose numbers are simply amazing. JJ Wetherholt is one of those players. He boasted a 26-to-22 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 2023 and reached base at a .517 rate. He wreaked havoc on the bases with 36 steals and had plenty of power with 16 home runs. Wetherholt, a 5-11, 180-pound left-handed hitter, has made several adjustments throughout his career, each of which helped make him a feared hitter. The only question is whether he is a second baseman or shortstop in the pros. No matter what position he plays, it will be something to see on television.

2. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

It was bad enough that the pitchers facing Wake Forest last year had to deal with Brock Wilken, the eventual No. 18 pick in the draft. The emergence of Nick Kurtz as another powerful threat in that lineup made the team even more dangerous. Now Kurtz will be the star of the team. Kurtz combines thunderous power (24 home runs and a .784 slugging percentage) with stellar focus (63-to-50 walks-to-strikeout ratio). Unlike other left-handed hitters, he has proven to be matchup resistant in his career and has shown the ability to hit the ball on any pitch. Kurtz is a skilled defender at first base and could theoretically test his legs in a corner outfield position.

3. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Oregon State has produced some top draft talent in recent years, from Nick Madrigal to Adley Rutschman. Both were top-five picks in their respective drafts, and Travis Bazzana could be next. The 6-foot, 199-pound second baseman boasts a well-rounded profile that included more walks than strikeouts in 2023, and a 1.122 OPS as a sophomore after an impressive .902 season as a freshman. Bazzana was the 2023 Cape Cod League MVP, an honor that has often been a precursor to success in the professional ranks. The Sydney, Australia native makes a lot of contact from the left side, has become a solid power hitter and has plenty of speed on the bases. Defensively, he’ll probably be limited to second base, but as is the case with Wetherholt, the bat will do a lot to keep him at the top of the class.

4. Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Those things have never been a question for Chase Burns. He throws a triple-digit fastball and spins a slider capable of being the best secondary offering in the 2024 MLB Draft. He adds a solid changeup that gives him a reliable third option. But the former Tennessee pitcher regressed after a stellar first year to struggle a little more in his second year in 2023 and ultimately end up in the Volunteers’ bullpen. Transferring to Wake Forest could be a perfect fit for the 6-4, 195-pound right-hander. The Demon Deacons have the most advanced pitching lab in college baseball and should help him hone his command and control and emerge as the best pitching prospect in his class.

5.Charlie Condon, 1B, Georgia

Charlie Condon is an interesting prospect in this class. He redshirted as a freshman at Georgia before getting his first taste of college action in 2023. He immediately emerged as a feared slugger in the vaunted SEC with a .386/.484/ .800 with 25 home runs. There’s a lot of raw power in the 6-6, 211-pound first baseman’s bat and it’s possible he’ll try to lead the nation in home runs as a redshirt sophomore. Condon has shown signs of some potential swing-and-miss issues that he will have to address this season, but the bat has the potential to be the scariest in the class. He could be headed to an outfield corner, but his limited mobility is more likely to keep him at first base.

6. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

Jac Caglianone may be the biggest name in the 2024 draft class. He enjoyed a sensational 2023 season in which he launched 33 home runs with a .323/.389/.738 line with a 4.34 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 74.2 entries. The 6-5, 245-pound left-hander may not make it as a two-way player in the draft, but he could make it as an arm or a bat. “Power” describes him perfectly on both sides of the ball, as he can hit 99 mph with the fastball and could be the best slugger in the draft. However, he is a bit raw on both sides, with strikeout issues as a hitter and control issues as a pitcher. A team could be confident it can make Caglianone work as a two-way talent. Or a team might see a player capable of reaching the next level, whether as a hitter or pitcher.

7. Tommy White, 3B, LSU

If there’s anyone more famous than Caglianone, it’s the hitter responsible for sending Wake Forest home in the 2023 College World Series. Tommy White was already in the midst of a breakout season with 24 home runs, but his blast in the semifinals certainly made him became a more household name. “Tommy Tanks” has a lot of power, but is surprisingly not hit often and makes a lot of contact. White will likely remain at the hot corner in college, but his defensive questions will likely require a move to first when he hits the pros.

8. Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest

It’s rare for a player with zero at-bats in Division I to rank this high on draft boards. But that’s the case for Seaver King, who will make his D-1 debut Friday after transferring to Wake Forest from Division II North Carolina program Wingate. He tore up the Cape Cod League and impressed Team USA last summer, a sign that he will find success in the Division I ranks. King is an impressive shortstop who looks like a prototypical leadoff hitter. The 6-foot right-handed shortstop doesn’t walk or strike out much and instead relies on a high-contact approach. He has added more power to his swing, although he is not likely to be a feared slugger. He is feared on the bases, where he is a dangerous runner. Some believe he has what it takes to stay long-term at shortstop, while others think he could move to second or even move to center.

9. Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

After his first season it seemed like Vance Honeycutt was on a Dylan Crews track. Crews was widely viewed as the draft’s top prospect from his freshman year to the point where he went second in the 2023 draft. Honeycutt crushed him in his freshman year with a .296/.409/.672 line with 25 home runs and 29 robberies. He posted a major regression in 2023, dropping to .257/.418/.492 with 12 home runs and 19 steals, although plate discipline numbers improved across the board. He is a stellar defensive center fielder, which helps provide a solid floor for his value even if offensive woes continue. The tools are still there for the 6-3, 205-pound outfielder to vault to the top of his class if he can put together a season closer to his freshman campaign.

10. Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

Braden Montgomery starred for two years as a two-way standout at Stanford. Now that he’s headed to Texas A&M for his junior year, it’s likely that his pitching will end up declining as he focuses more on his hitting. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound switch-hitting outfielder has plenty of raw power, and some believe focusing on his hitting will allow him to continue refining his hitting tool and become a more balanced and well-rounded hitter. The Aggies could let him be a reliever, where his fastball velocity should play along with some solid off-speed offerings. Montgomery has had control issues in college, which could prevent him from being used as a pitcher in the professional ranks. However, that arm will play well in the outfield and his decent reach should allow him to be a reliable corner outfielder.