The 2024 MLB draft is now complete, so it's time to take a deeper look at how all 30 MLB teams fared over the past three days.
Starting with the Cleveland Guardians' decision to take Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with the No. 1 pick, it was a college-heavy first round, but the depth of the prep pitching class started to show itself from there. There were many intriguing selections that caught my eye, even as the draft wrapped up Tuesday evening.
Here's my overview of every franchise's 2024 draft haul, identifying the best value pick, slotting the top new player in each system's rankings and picking a sleeper to watch. I'll also leave you with one prevailing thought on every team's full class.
Jump to a team:
AL East: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
AL Central: CHW | CLE | DET | KC | MIN
AL West: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX
NL East: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
NL Central: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL
NL West: ARI | COL | LAD | SD | SF
Arizona Diamondbacks
Best value: Ryan Waldschmidt, LF, No. 31 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 9th (Waldschmidt)
Sleeper to watch: JD Dix, SS (No. 35). This time last year, Dix was tracking like a first-rounder, but other players moved ahead of him as injuries limited his exposure for much of the season. The early spring buzz was that he was seen as a third-rounder or later with a real chance of ending up at Wake Forest, where he had committed to play college baseball. He finished the spring strong, giving scouts certainty that he really is that advanced hitter they had seen before the injuries.
One big thought: By taking Slade Caldwell, Dix and Tytus Cissell, the D-Backs stayed the course with their usual approach, leaning toward up-the-middle prep talent with a hit-over-power style, just like they have in drafting Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, among others in the past. Eleventh-rounder Bo Walker has big tools if Arizona can sign him.
Atlanta Braves
Best value: Cam Caminiti, LHP, No. 24 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 8th (Caminiti)
Sleepers to Watch: Luke Sinnard (No. 99) and Ethan Bagwell (No. 191), RHP. Sinnard is a 6-foot-8 righty who had Day 1 buzz at this point last year, but he didn't pitch last season as he recovered from elbow surgery. He threw well at the draft combine, showing his old form, and had interest in the second round. Bagwell has some relief risk, but he worked 94-97 mph at points this spring, with a low release height and the athleticism you'd expect from a former quarterback.
One big thought: Caminiti's ranking is a close call with the other young arms in the 5-8 range of the Braves' team list: Owen Murphy (a 2022 first-rounder who had Tommy John surgery after breaking out in 2024), A.J. Smith-Shawver (waiting to break through at the big league level) and J.R. Ritchie (a 2022 first rounder just now returning from Tommy John surgery who looked like a top-100 prospect right before he was injured). The Braves clearly see that they have an edge in drafting and developing pitchers, and they'll need some young arms in the majors with Charlie Morton (retirement?) and Max Fried (free agency) possibly departing after the season and Spencer Strider looking to bounce back from elbow surgery.
Baltimore Orioles
Best value: Griff O'Ferrall, SS, No. 32 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 12th (Vance Honeycutt)
Sleeper to watch: Ethan Anderson, C (No. 61). There's no doubt Anderson can hit, but he didn't catch much in college. If he is good enough to be an everyday defender, the Orioles might have a steal on their hands. Virginia hasn't always helped its hitters tap into power while in college, and Anderson has 20-homer upside.
One big thought: I had Honeycutt and Griff O'Ferrall back to back in my final rankings, so while Honeycutt will rank just ahead of him on the Orioles' list, O'Ferrall represents better value going 10 picks later. The O's continue to show that they can diversify their typical type of draftee: Honeycutt was among the worst of the collegiate hitters taken on Day 1 at in-zone miss rate (21%), while O'Ferrall was among the best (4%). Both have flaws to dial in -- Honeycutt might need a swing/timing tweak to unlock more contact, while O'Ferrall needs to find more in-game power -- but rival clubs are fearful of what the Orioles' development machine can do when they get a hitter with some premium skills. They just got a few more.
Boston Red Sox
Best value: Braden Montgomery, RF, No. 12 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 5th (Montgomery)
Sleeper to watch: Conrad Cason, RHP (No. 237). Cason ranked 140th in the draft class for me, and that's tied mostly to his arm speed. His velo exploded in the middle of the spring, sitting 93-97 mph the day I was there and touching even higher numbers in other outings. He is a good enough athlete to play shortstop in pro ball, but there's a little more upside on the mound, where he's an intriguing ball of clay.
One big thought: There were questions around the industry about the kind of pitchers new baseball ops head Craig Breslow would target in his first draft at the helm, and the answer was ... a little bit of everything. Payton Tolle is a low-90s lefty starter with good-not-great stuff. Brandon Neely was mostly a reliever at Florida but has the traits to start. Brandon Clarke is a likely reliever with power stuff (and a Tommy John surgery in his past) from a junior college. Cason is a power-armed two-way prep prospect who needs more polish. They all have what look like riding four-seamer type fastballs but don't even have similar release characteristics, so I'm not sure there's a unifying quality between them. Sometimes a new leader will help influence a team to take a specific kind of pitcher the organization thinks it has an edge in developing. It seems like the Sox are more focused on the pitchers they like, rather than targeting specific traits.
Chicago Cubs
Best value: Ivan Brethowr, RF, No. 154 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 8th (Cam Smith)
Sleeper to watch: Cole Mathis, 1B (No. 54). Mathis had top-two-rounds buzz entering the spring after a strong Cape Cod League performance (.318 average, 11 homers, 1.048 OPS in 38 games) and had a solid but not overwhelming regular season (.335 average, 14 homers, 1.122 OPS in 52 games). Meanwhile, other major college hitters went off this spring, so the buzz after the regular season was that Mathis had a number of landing spots in the second round. The thought is that, as he moves past an elbow injury and stops pitching, there could be more upside at the plate.
One big thought: The Cubs are leaning more into power hitters and power arms in recent drafts. Smith, Mathis and Brethowr are potential middle-of-the-order hitters. Last year's draft featured Matt Shaw and Jaxon Wiggins, while the year before was led by Cade Horton, Nazier Mule, Brandon Birdsell and Jackson Ferris. In the Yu Darvish trade before the 2021 season, the best player in the return is Owen Caissie, who has among the biggest raw power in the minors and is now a top-100 prospect. Keep an eye on 11th-rounder prep right-fielder Eli Lovich; he was a late-riser with third-round grades from a few teams.
Chicago White Sox
Best value: Caleb Bonemer, SS, No. 43 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 4th (Hagen Smith)
Sleeper to watch: Blake Larson, LHP (No. 68). Larson is from Iowa, but he transferred to IMG Academy in Florida for his draft year. At that point, he hadn't thrown a ton of innings relative to his peers, and hadn't really shown good stuff and decent command at the same time. This spring, his stuff spiked, flashing above average across the board, and his command also improved to the point it looks like he could start.
One big thought: The White Sox continue to lean into the low-slot lefty trend they started with Chris Sale and Garrett Crochet by taking Hagen Smith and Blake Larson this week. Chicago is stocking up on pitching depth because, as ESPN has reported, big league starters Crochet and Erick Fedde could be dealt at the deadline. Adding these two drafted arms (and the potential return in their deadline deals) to current prospects Noah Schultz, Drew Thorpe, Jonathan Cannon, Jairo Iriarte, Jake Eder, Jordan Leasure, Nick Nastrini, Grant Taylor, among others, might actually be enough bulk of quality young arms to form the core for a competitive club.
Cincinnati Reds
Best value: Luke Holman, RHP, No. 44 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 3rd (Chase Burns)
Sleeper to watch: Mike Sirota, CF (No. 87). Sirota's swing got stiffer this spring, but he has a real combination of power, patience and speed that could make him an everyday center fielder with a mechanical adjustment.
One big thought: The Reds are really sold on building around power arms. Burns wasn't a reach, per se, but typically teams will take comparable position players over pitchers at premium picks. The Wake Forest ace could be in the big leagues at this point next year and prove Cincinnati's decision correct. Tristan Smith and Luke Hayden have relief risk but are both power arms, while Holman is a polished pitcher with a plus slider and a chance to see his velocity rise from his current 90-94 mph.
Cleveland Guardians
Best value: Joey Oakie, RHP, No. 84 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 1st (Travis Bazzana)
Sleeper to watch: Chase Mobley, RHP (No. 295). Mobley was in the upper-90s in every start this spring, mixing in an above-average breaking ball and better-than-expected control. His delivery and inverted back elbow cause some scouts to temper their enthusiasm, but there's big upside here.
One big thought: The Guardians had the biggest pool in draft history and certainly saved a bit versus slot on the top pick, choosing to put those savings and their overage into prep pitching. Braylon Doughty and Oakie were top-50 talents in the draft for many teams; Mobley is in the next tier and Cam Sullivan just beyond that, and all show impact potential in the right development system. Aidan Major fits the Cleveland style of medium-stuff starter who could take off with more velocity, while lefties Rafe Schlesinger (above-average stuff from a low slot) and Donovan Zsak (upper-90s velocity coming off Tommy John surgery) also have standout qualities.
Colorado Rockies
Best value: Brody Brecht, RHP, No. 38 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 1st (Charlie Condon)
Sleeper to watch: Cole Messina, C (No. 377). You can pick your own variant of Funky Cold Medina to make a nickname. Messina was one of the best framers in college baseball this season and has 25-homer upside if things click at the plate.
One big thought: I usually don't like what this organization does at the big league level, but I'm in on this draft class. I don't understand why Condon made it to the third pick, and I don't understand why Brecht made it to the 38th pick, but maybe when the bonuses become public it will make a bit more sense. Messina seems likely to be a useful big leaguer and possibly an everyday catcher, while Jared Thomas has that same level of value -- someone who can play all three outfield spots and first base. Konner Eaton and Lebarron Johnson are two trendy picks to click among scouts -- Colorado got to them before other teams could.
Detroit Tigers
Best value: Bryce Rainer, SS, No. 11 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 4th (Rainer)
Sleeper to watch: Ethan Schiefelbein, LHP (No. 72). I saw Schieflbein pitch a few times over the summer, but he had another gear when I saw him this spring at the NHSI tournament. He was toying with hitters, throwing a fastball 88 mph then the next one at 95 mph; I had to check my video to make sure these weren't different pitches. He threw four average or better pitches and showed plus control from a projectable 6-foot-2 frame.
The Tigers picked Corona HS (CA) LHP Ethan Schiefelbein 72nd overall.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) July 17, 2024
I'm the high guy on him due to this NHSI start: CG 1-hitter w/12 K + game-high 2 hits at the plate.
He threw one 2-seam 88 then the next 95 mph. He was intense and was toying with hitters with 2SM/SL/CB/CH. pic.twitter.com/giHMG43KDP
One big thought: The Tigers' new regime clearly still isn't scared of taking high school players with top picks, but it usually leans into safer sub-demographics within prep players -- for instance, last year's top picks of Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle: up-the-middle prep hitters with long track records of hitting, the ideal group of high school players. Rainer draws questions from some analytical types on his hit tool due to his mediocre summer and being old for the draft class, but scouts aren't worried. Schiefelbein gave me Zack Greinke vibes in terms of advanced pitchability in high school while Owen Hall and Zach Swanson fit into the riskier power righty demographic, but both have good breaking pitches.
Houston Astros
Best value: Walker Janek, C, No. 28 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 6th (Janek)
Sleeper to watch: Parker Smith, RHP (No. 131). Smith fits the Cleveland mold -- a medium-stuff starting pitcher with some good qualities that can be optimized more -- and I found out late in my rankings process that a number of teams saw the same upside in him. He has three average or better pitches and throws strikes, doing some of the same things Houston saw in fast-riser Jake Bloss in last year's draft.
One big thought: Houston leaned into potentially quick-moving college players in the first two days of the draft. Janek is an impact defender with a bat that puts him on the borderline of backup or starter. Ryan Forcucci had second-round buzz going into the spring but only made five starts due to injury. Smith, mentioned above, is another one, and 10th-rounder Ramsey David is 23 years old hitting the upper-90's just before the draft.
Kansas City Royals
Best value: Jac Caglianone, 1B, No. 6 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 1st (Caglianone)
Sleeper to watch: David Shields, LHP (No. 41). Despite going in the second round, Shields isn't the typical prep pitcher with power stuff and below-average command. Shields' velo didn't take the big expected jump this spring, but he's a classic projection type: low-90s velo with silky smooth operation, above-average offspeed stuff and control. And he's doesn't turn 18 until September.
One big thought: After the splashy Caglianone pick and the old-school projection type in Shields, the Royals dipped heavily into the category of possibly fixable college arms. Drew Beam could use better fastball shape but has No. 4 starter upside. L.P. Langevin has near-ideal fastball shape but is likely a reliever. A.J. Causey has below-average velocity but starter command if that can tick up, and Dennis Colleran has hit 100 mph with a good slider but rudimentary command.
Los Angeles Angels
Best value: Ryan Prager, LHP, No. 81 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 3rd (Christian Moore)
Sleeper to watch: Dylan Jordan, RHP (No. 143). While he isn't a data darling, Jordan was my pick to click last summer because he looked like he had an Aaron Nola starter kit. Jordan throws three pitches for strikes, but his velo didn't take a jump this spring as some expected. At this point, his command is more good than great.
One big thought: Despite some rumors otherwise, the Angels continued to lean into their usual draft approach: quick-moving collegiates, plus a prep pitcher getting some of the savings. Moore might be a below average hitter but the rest of his profile suggests he will move quickly. Prager, Ryan Johnson, and Chris Cortez would've all been in a pre-draft top 10 list of potential quickest movers: Prager is optimized and polished, Johnson has dominated as a starter despite some relief elements to his delivery, and Cortez might just be Jordan Hicks, both in raw stuff and a reliever that could be able to start later. Eleventh-rounder Trey Gregory-Alford has some of the biggest raw stuff in the draft, but his strike-throwing lags behind.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Best value: Chase Harlan, 3B, No. 98 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 16th (Kellon Lindsey)
Sleeper to watch: Jakob Wright, LHP (No. 128). Wright has some relief risk, but he has a monster pitch: a 3000 rpm sweeper that's extremely tough for lefty hitters. I'm sure the Dodgers have a plan to try to develop him into a starter, but there's a solid backup plan in the pen if that doesn't work.
One big thought: The Dodgers are known as a standout scouting and development organization, and they leaned into that in the 2024 draft, taking three notable developmental prospects with their first three picks, despite not having second and fifth round selections. Lindsey is a Trea Turner clone with 80-grade speed but very limited experience against top pitching. Harlan has above-average speed and arm strength along with plus raw power while being young for the class, but there's some debate about how good a pure hitter he is.
Miami Marlins
Best value: Carter Johnson, SS, No. 56 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 8th (Johnson)
Sleeper to watch: P.J. Morlando, RF (No. 16). Usually a mid-first-round pick isn't the sleeper, but it's worth updating the narrative on Morlando. I noted on the broadcast that he got faster this spring -- he's now running above-average times, even plus for some scouts. I said in my final rankings that his ill-fated early-spring swing adjustment (spread out with less raw power) was ditched before the draft, but the narrative hung around because he was getting pitched to so infrequently this spring. His hitting tools are still the same as they were at this time last year, when he was expected to go in the top 20 picks. The last left-handed-hitting outfielder with above-average tools and plus power whose bad high school senior season caused him to slide down the board for many teams? James Wood.
One big thought: I like what the Marlins did in their first draft under the guidance of Peter Bendix. The pre-draft buzz was that the Marlins were on a couple of the college hitters who might get to their pick, then otherwise were on a handful of prep hitters, with Johnson and Morlando the most rumored. Amazingly, it actually played out that way. Johnson is a hit-first prep shortstop who likely either grows into plus power or sticks at short, but probably not both. Aiden May has one of the best sliders in the draft, Fenwick Trimble was a late riser as an athletic standout at mid-major James Madison, while Grant Shepardson was another late riser from Colorado with more stuff than command at the moment.
Milwaukee Brewers
Best value: Bryce Meccage, RHP, No. 57 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 10th (Braylon Payne)
Sleeper to watch: Marco Dinges, C (No. 123). Dinges mostly played first base this spring but was announced as a catcher. Some scouts were skeptical he could both hit and catch at the next level, but he was a sleeper pick-to-click as a pure bat in the fifth and sixth rounds for many I spoke with, so it makes sense the Brew Crew drafted him in the fourth.
One big thought: The Brewers stuck with what has worked for them: moving money around and taking hit-first types with strong defensive value with high picks. Payne is a plus-plus runner and plus defender with one of the better hit tools in the prep class. Taking Blake Burke, an accomplished but not fully polished first baseman from Tennessee, was a bit of a swerve, but Burke has elite bat-to-ball ability. Meccage and Levonas are Northeastern prep righties with above-average stuff; Mason Molina is a seventh-rounder who has a rising heater and plus changeup that could be enough to make the big leagues.
Minnesota Twins
Best value: Derek Bender, C, No. 188 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 11th (Kaelen Culpepper)
Sleeper to watch: Bender, Khadim Diaw (No. 96) and Jaime Ferrer (No. 126), C. None of these three catchers are polished enough defenders to be definite backstops in the big leagues, but they all have a shot -- and the real offensive potential to make it worth trying.
One big thought: The Twins tend to play it safer, with hit-first, up-the-middle types at their top picks (Brooks Lee, Walker Jenkins, Luke Keaschall in the previous two drafts), then they open things up with more upside at later picks. Sure enough, they did that again this year. Culpepper and Kyle DeBarge are hit-first shortstops who project to stay at the position with sneaky power, similar to Keaschall. Amick has big power but fits on a corner and has real in-zone miss questions. Dasan Hill has some relief risk but flashes plus stuff from the left side as a teenager.
New York Mets
Best value: Carson Benge, RF, No. 19 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 10th (Benge)
Sleeper to watch: Eli Serrano, RF (No. 111) and Corey Collins, 1B (No. 173). These are two of my favorite mid-round college hitters, but they are at almost opposite ends of the spectrum. Serrano is passable in center field and a standout hitter with 20-homer upside, but he hasn't fully dialed into his power in games. Collins is a first baseman who used to catch; he has in-zone swing-and-miss but an excellent approach and plus power he gets to often.
One big thought: I liked the gambles the Mets took on pitchers. Jonathan Santucci had first-round stuff, but command issues and injuries derailed his season. Nate Dohm also missed a lot of time but looked like a second-round pick for stretches this season. Ryan Lambert sat in the 94-98 mph range this season, and Jaxon Jelkin was up to 97 mph with buzz in the first three rounds before needing Tommy John surgery earlier this spring. I'm also a fan of 11th-rounder 2B Nick Roselli.
New York Yankees
Best value: Bryce Cunningham, RHP, No. 53 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 15th (Cunningham)
Sleeper to watch: Griffin Herring, LHP (No. 181). Herring has pitched almost exclusively in relief for LSU, but he has the components to start, with above-average stuff and average control.
One big thought: The Yankees went heavy on pitching, not taking their first position player until the eighth round. Ben Hess had a tough spring but shows plus stuff and starter control when he's right. Cunningham was getting interest in the late first and is a No. 3/No. 4 starter type if he continues developing. Thatcher Hurd turned down big money out of high school but never fully put it together in college. Gage Ziehl was an analytical favorite for his starter qualities and polish. Greysen Carter has been up to 100 mph for years but hasn't yet broken through with any finesse pitches. Lastly, 11th-rounder Mack Estrada was the best junior college prospect in the draft for some teams, with grades in the first five rounds.
Oakland Athletics
Best value: Gage Jump, LHP, No. 73 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 3rd (Nick Kurtz)
Sleeper to watch: Jump. He was a top-two-rounds talent out of high school but opted to go to UCLA, where he then underwent Tommy John surgery and transferred to LSU. He eventually delivered on his high school promise, showing four above-average pitches and starter control this spring.
One big thought: I can run hot and cold with the A's drafting tendencies, and this year I'm much more on board. Kurtz is a solid player, and I'll assume he comes with some savings against slot, though I would've taken J.J. Wetherholt or Jac Caglianone over him. The next three picks were solid values, with third baseman Tommy White, Jump and shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer all going before where I had them ranked. After that, there were some intriguing players with a tool or two that I liked, led by Cal right fielder Rodney Greene.
Philadelphia Phillies
Best value: Griffin Burkholder, CF, No. 63 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 9th (Burkholder)
Sleeper to watch: Marcus Morgan, RHP (No. 282). Morgan was part of arguably the most talented weekend rotation in the country at Iowa with Brody Brecht and Cade Obermueller. They all underperformed and many pointed to poor development by the Iowa staff, but nobody is questioning the upside of those three arms.
One big thought: The Phillies seek variance -- or risk -- and, with plenty of ways to seek out upside in the college ranks, they don't always take high school players. Nori was a surprising but not shocking first pick, likely with some savings against slot due to his nearly unprecedented age as a high school player in the draft: He'll turn 20 in October. A number of teams didn't have Nori close to that high on their boards for that one reason, so Philly capitalized, getting a plus-plus runner with standout athleticism and a strong hit tool.
Burkholder is also a clear center-field athlete with a standout hit tool, but many teams didn't have him in position on their boards because a hamstring injury severely limited his playing time this spring. John Spikerman (broken hamate bone), Carson DeMartini (high in-zone miss) and Carter Mathison (three extra-base hits in 31 games in the Cape Cod League) all bring tools and upside to the table, but with questions that made other teams pause.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Best value: Duce Gourson, 2B, No. 264 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 4th (Konnor Griffin)
Sleeper to watch: Josh Hartle, LHP (No. 83). Hartle was a second-round talent in high school whose price wasn't met. Entering this spring, he looked like a late first-rounder, but things took a bad turn. He leaned into throwing harder but lost what had gotten him to that point: the deception and angles created by his lower arm slot. I think he could regain that by reverting to his old delivery, and it seems like Pittsburgh has a similar idea.
One big thought: The Pirates continue to lean into prep upside with their high picks (outside of Paul Skenes last year). Griffin might have the highest upside in the whole draft but comes with some real hit tool risk, though he mitigates that a bit with his pitching potential. Sanford was seen as a late-first-round talent: He's a plus runner who will stick at short and has an average or better hit tool. Sterling's velocity didn't take the expected jump this spring, but he's still 17 years old with every indicator you'd want to see to project that his stuff will jump in the coming years.
San Diego Padres
Best value: Kavares Tears, CF, No. 34 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 6th (Kash Mayfield)
Sleeper to watch: Cobb Hightower, SS (No. 83). Hightower had a handful of teams on him in the second-to-third round range despite having turned 19 years old in March. He's a quick shortstop with bat speed who many scouts thought would spend two years at North Carolina, but now it looks like he'll be turning pro.
One big thought: The Padres continue to Padre, taking prep upside, then mixing in some college upside and leaning on high school pitching. Mayfield has frontline potential if he continues developing his breaking ball, while Boston Bateman is a massive 6-foot-8 lefty who is less polished but might have better stuff. Tyson Neighbors is probably just a reliever, but has late-inning-level stuff. Tears (a center fielder with above-average power) has standout tools but could use a bit more polish, as could Kale Fountain (a prep corner type with big power).
San Francisco Giants
Best value: Dakota Jordan, CF, No. 116 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 5th (James Tibbs)
Sleeper to watch: Robert Hipwell (No. 178), 3B. Hipwell had a big sophomore year at Santa Clara, but missed the first half of 2024 due to a suspension. He'll fit at one of the four corners defensively, with above-average patience and power from the left side that means he has a shot to be a platoon guy.
One big thought: Tibbs was a safe pick in the first round, then the Giants leaned more into risk with Jordan at their next pick. I don't know exactly how far he dropped organically, but Jordan scared some teams with his lack of refinement while exciting others with his borderline 80-grade speed and power. After taking Bryce Eldridge and Walker Martin with their top two picks last year, this year's crop follows a similar risk profile with power hitters who come with some, but not a ton, of defensive value.
Seattle Mariners
Best value: Josh Caron, C, No. 121 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 9th (Jurrangelo Cijntje)
Sleeper to watch: Brock Moore, RHP (No. 213). I had a months-old text sent back to me this week during the seventh round. My text said, "Look at the fastball data of Brock Moore at Oregon. Now look at his age. This has a Mariners stench to it."
Moore is 24 years old and sat 95-99 mph this year, after pitching the previous two seasons at NAIA Menlo College. The M's are at the forefront of chasing interesting or unique pitch profiles, often getting discounts for reasons that seem silly in retrospect, like Moore's age might soon. He has real offspeed stuff and good enough command, so he could move quickly through the lower minors.
One big thought: I continue to like what Seattle does in the draft, taking a late-rising switch-pitcher in Cijntje, who certainly has some unique characteristics that could benefit from the development system that helped create a very strong current big league rotation. Ryan Sloan was a late first or comp-round talent who is up to 100 mph as an 18-year-old and also has a plus changeup and above-average breaker. Caron is a hitter version of the Mariners' pitching profile with intriguing raw tools and no bad habits. Grant Knipp is another one to watch: He has plus raw power and is a solid catcher but is most intriguing on the mound, where he's just scratching the surface.
St. Louis Cardinals
Best value: Cade McGee, 3B, No. 261 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 1st (JJ Wetherholt)
Sleeper to watch: Brian Holiday, RHP. Holiday gets by on guile, command and fastball shape with a 90-93 mph fastball that works best at the top of the zone. The Cards prioritize potential starters over pure power arms in the early rounds and clearly see the components (Holiday's slider is also solid) for a back-end type here in their third-round pick.
One big thought: I don't have an answer as to why Wetherholt made it to the seventh pick, but the Cardinals are beneficiaries of every team picking ahead of them having a specific idea of what they wanted that just happened to not include him. I think he's the third-best player in the draft and should move quickly through the minors. Because St. Louis didn't have a second-round pick, the rest of its draft was mostly potential role players. McGee reminds me a bit of Oakland's overachieving 2021 seventh-round third baseman Brett Harris, who is currently in the big leagues. Andrew Dutkanych had mid-first-round hype in the middle of his senior season in high school but his command has wandered a lot since then.
Tampa Bay Rays
Best value: Theo Gillen, 2B , No.18 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 5th (Gillen)
Sleeper to watch: Nathan Flewelling, C. Flewelling is a 17-year-old Canadian catcher who held his own playing against professional pitchers this spring. He's got the tools to be an every-day player and will get plenty of time to develop.
One big thought: The Rays have historically gone after middle infielders who can hit, often figuring out how to turn them into shortstops and/or teasing out more power. Tampa Bay's first three picks this year all fit that description. Gillen was a prep shortstop who had shoulder issues that made many project him to second base, but he's also a plus runner, leading the Rays to announce him as an outfielder -- a place he has barely played. Emilien Pitre is a later-blooming Canadian shortstop who helped propel Kentucky to Omaha this year. He can hit, run and has gap power. Bell is a switch-hitting prep shortstop with some questions about his ultimate offensive upside, similar to Noah Miller from the 2021 draft.
Texas Rangers
Best value: Devin Fitz-Gerald, 3B, No. 165 overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 5th (Malcolm Moore)
Sleeper to watch: David Hagaman, RHP (No. 133). Hagaman returned this season from elbow surgery and was up to 98 mph at times, with big extension. He flashes an above-average slider and playable feel, likely fitting in relief, but there's a strong value here even if he turns into a seventh-inning-type arm as a fourth-round pick; there's a chance for more.
One big thought: The Rangers stocked up on polished corner-type college hitters with their first three picks. Moore is advanced at the plate, with 20-25 homer upside, but is still just OK defensively behind the plate. I look at him as a corner fit who has a chance to catch some. Dylan Dreiling and Casey Cook are left fielders. Dreiling has plus power and patience along with solid feel to hit, while Cook has plus on-base skills and a good feel for how to get to his fringy raw power.
Toronto Blue Jays
Best value: Johnny King, LHP at 95th overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 4th (Trey Yesavage)
Sleeper to watch: I'm a big believer in King. The 6-foot-4 lefty is still 17 years old until next week, runs his fastball into the mid-90s in every start and has three pitches that flash above-average potential. He slings from a lower slot, which helps give him a data-friendly approach angle along with the ability to get lateral movement on his breaking ball and changeup. He delivers every pitch with intent like it's a Mortal Kombat finishing move.
One big thought: The Jays picked potential starting pitchers with their first three picks, chasing the ability to have optionable, quality rotation depth. Yesavage had a bizarre injury to end his year but has three above-average pitches and control that makes it easy to project him into a big league rotation. Khal Stephen has a similar profile with a little less raw stuff but also has a shot to be in the upper minors at this point next year. Keep an eye on Austin Cates (medium-stuff starter type who could take off with more velocity), Carson Messina (Cole Messina's little brother, whose velocity spiked into the mid-90s this spring) and Sean Keys (Bucknell third baseman with a strong power and patience profile)
Washington Nationals
Best value: Caleb Lomavita, C at 39th overall
Where best player drafted ranks on team list: 9th (Seaver King)
Sleeper to watch: Davian Garcia, RHP (No. 170). This is the player I would've added to my draft rankings once other players started pulling their name out of the draft Sunday. He worked 92-94 and hit 97 mph this spring with top-of-the-zone shape and a sweeper that flashed swing-and-miss quality. Also keep an eye on fifth-rounder shortstop Randal Diaz, whose power might still be improving after a fall hamate surgery.
One big thought: The Nats targeted up-the-middle types with plus athleticism and above-average power projection on Day 1. King likely came with some savings and will need some development but has the tools to be an above-average everyday player at a number of different positions. Lomavita was the consensus best catcher in the draft but went third among the three leading candidates, likely for a bit over slot. He's still raw, as well, but has All-Star upside if it clicks. Dickerson is a plus runner who might move to center field eventually, but the former hockey player has the components to be a steal if things click in pro ball.