2024 Prospects Big Board

The Australian talent's makeup is off the charts, and perfect for the modern game. Bazzana went to work last offseason, his 90th EV jumped up roughly 5 mph and he hit his first batted ball over 110 mph thanks to the bat speed gains he made over at Driveline. He's started hitting the ball in the air more, he's making more contact, and his plate discipline is still about as good as it gets. This summer he checked off arguably the most important box for a college hitter in today's game: the MVP on the Cape. I'm not sure there's a flaw in his offensive game. He can hit for some power, will run a high BABIP and hit for average due to the swing path, bat speed and barrel accuracy. Very few players have a max EV > 110 mph, chase rate < 15% and a zone whiff rate < 10%. Actually he's one of two, the other being Colton Ledbetter. He's an above-average 2B and can run and should be an above-average regular in the bigs.

Honeycutt's approach is great and he rarely chases. He takes his walks, gets on-base often and has pull side loft which allows his average raw power to provide some thump. Everything I just said could've been used to describe Jud, and likewise to him, he's an incredible defender. He might even be a grade better with a touch more athleticism and less length in his frame. He's not in the Bradfield Jr. tier, but he's somewhere between him and Fabian as a 60-grade, all-star talent. He raised his in-zone contact rate by 10% last year, but he also raised his out-of-zone contact rate by 7%. He ran a K-rate just above 20% but walked at an identical clip. Because of the defensive value and plate discipline, there's a relatively high lower percentile outcome on his career, whether he reaches that median outcome of an average everyday regular is dependent on his hit tool. His upper percentile outcome is a 4-win above-average regular with inconsistent but above-average offensive production.

Burns has been sitting in the upper-90s this fall and was sitting in the mid-90s last season with a four-seamer similar to that of Ryan Cusick's . It had slight carry from a high vertical slot. It's an above-average, maybe plus-pitch in the future. But his slider is the attraction. It's an upper-80s hammer with late lateral break, and he lands it for strikes often and gets into the low-90s with. It's the perfect pitch to throw when behind given the platoon neutral shape and command of it. He's thrown some solid changeups, a pitch that works well off of his FF because of the reverse movement profile. He's probably the best arm in the class and now that he's in Winston-Salem we're going to get a near finished product.

Wetherholt isn't too far off from Bazzana. He has the favorable bat left throw right combo with a lean medium athletic build. He's a non-premium defender with plus offensive skills and average or better tools across the board offensively. His bat-to-ball skills are the headliner here but his swing decisions are good, he's just a touch aggressive and doesn't walk much because of it. Should be a solid above-average regular at second with enough power to hit 20 or so home runs annually.

Seaver can hammer the ball and has pull side loft with a gorgeous swing, which should lead to 20+ home runs this spring. I'm not sure if he'll play SS long-term, the arm strength is lacking but he's an above-average runner and could handle 2B easily. Would have him as a plus-defender at 2B, the glove itself is great. Combine that with solid average power and an above-average hit, you're looking at a potential above-average regular. It'll be interesting to see how he develops at Wake, he could end up being the best non-Australian in the class. For now, he's a few spots behind.

Caglianone gets into the triple-digits on the mound and sits in the upper-90s dipping into the mid-90s at times, but he's of more interest as a hitter for now. That could change with improved control and a more efficient fastball shape. He's not quite as athletic as Ohtani, who is an elite athlete, but he does have 70-grade bat speed with a 90th EV of 113.3 mph. He hit 64% of his batted balls over 95 mph and might have the best contact quality in the class. He's aggressive and has one of the worst chase rates in the country, but his bat-to-ball skills are average and the 70-grade power drives his production.

Condon came out of nowhere last season flashing 70-grade raw juice. He hit 25 home runs last year and posted a 114 max EV with a 90th EV just below 110 mph. One-third of his batted balls were barrels, and he whiffed at just 14% of pitches in the zone. He has above-average bat-to-ball skills and a plus hit tool. His plate discipline and pitch recognition are both average. His position is up in the air but he can flat out hit.

Sirota is an ultra gamer with speed and an above-average glove in CF. He's ran a chase rate below 15% in both his freshman and sophomore campaigns and rarely wastes his best contact; the majority of which end up in the air for home runs. He's a better athlete than DeLauter, but the profiles aren't too far off as small school hitters with great profiles and non-traditional swings. Likewise to DeLauter, Sirota hammered the ball on the Cape in back-to-back summers. He's an everyday CF at the big league level by 2027.

Hagen started out the season flashing above-average stuff at the pro level, but his fastball shape tinkered off by the end of the season and he went from averaging 19" of carry to 16–17" in the mid-90s. It's still an average pitch when the shape isn't firm. His slider is above-average at 81–85 with slight lateral break and it can turn into a cutter when it gets into the mid-80s. He's thrown some cutters in the 89–91 range that look filthy. Solid stuff, has plus feel for his slider and really should be using it more.

Kurtz isn't too far off from Spencer Torkelson in terms of skills, the builds and handedness are where they differ. The approach is advanced, he rarely chases, and has hit the ball as hard as 117.3 mph in his career. He hits nearly 60% of his batted balls hard but he also hits 31% of them between 10 and 35 degrees. His barrel accuracy and feel to hit are all great. It's the complete offensive package at 1B with size and left-handed juice. He's been about as productive as any college hitter over the last two years. But since he's at 1B, there's plenty of risk here and projecting an amateur hitter's production into the pro level is far too difficult and since he doesn't have the defense to keep him afloat when he struggles there's too much risk and not enough upside to make him a top-5 talent, for now. He's an above-average, maybe plus defender at first, and the offense might just be good enough to raise his lower percentile outcome.

Montgomery is certaintly draft worthy on the mound, but he's a plus plus athlete that should be an everyday regular in the lineup when he's done developing. His freshman year had his highs and lows, and his sophomore year showed strides of improvement. After transferring to Texas A&M - a school that's coaching staff is great at improving approaches - he's due for a breakout this year. He dropped his swing rate below 50% last season while chasing 6% less pitches. His walk rates tripled as a result and that could continue as an Aggie. He's struggled from the left side as a hitter but has above-average power and looks like a plus hitter from the right side. His arm is easily a 70 in the outfield, the athleticism could land him in CF but he's more likely a RF. I wouldn't rule out him being a two-way just yet.

Benge looked incredible in his rookie campaign last year after missing his true freshman spring. He flashed tools similar to that of '23 third rounder, Brock Vradenburg. Except he's doing his damage in the outfield. He has a plus arm and can play RF well. He can hammer the ball, it's an above-average lefty thump with a good approach. He hasn't been very productive against lefties, but he handles spin and still makes good decisions against them. He could be an everyday regular in the bigs if the past trends continue.

Dakota was a freak athlete with 80-grade bat speed as a teen. As a 19-year-old last year he ran a 90th EV of 112.6 mph, that's higher than 95% of college hitters' max EV. He hit four balls > 115 mph including one at 118.6 mph. While he has elite raw power, he doesn't lift the ball enough for it to show up in the game, hence him barely getting into the double-digits for home runs. He's a plus plus athlete, he's not done developing and yet he's already flashing above-average plate discipline. His bat-to-ball skills might be the flaw in his game, and that's even with a flat swing path. He could be a top-5 pick, or he could have a lackluster season and go at the beginning of day 2.

Yesavage's arsenal is about as good as it gets. His four-seam has plus carry from his vertical slot, it gets up to 97 and gets a good amount of swings-and-misses. His mid-to-upper-80s cutter has late life and depth, almost like a gyro-slider. It has wrong way movement occasionally but it's usually firm and he can land it consistently. His low-80s banger is the better breaker, it has minimal lateral movement but sharp depth. Great pitch with platoon neutral profile. It gets as hard as 85 and when it's 83–85 nobody touches it. CH in the low-80s doesn't fade much; it can tumble when it gets near home, splitter qualities to it. Every pitch in the mix is average or better and the CB grades out the best as a plus pro pitch.

Smith started struggling as he got into conference play last year, his swing decisions were exposed against better stuff quality. But he turned a corner on the Cape and looked like one of the best hitters in the country. His bat speed is the best part of his game and he has no issue getting to all of it in game with incredible feel for getting the ball in the air. He's an above-average 3B with the power and upside to go in the first 20 picks if he carries his Cape production into his sophomore year.

Green can fly and has the speed/defense to be a big league center fielder. He's a plus runner with a physical build that hasn't filled out entirely. He already has above-average bat speed with plus power due to his steep swing. His steep spinal tilt as he's getting to contact helps elevate the ball with ease. He had a 22° HH LA last year with a 107 mph 90th EV. From the left side, it's a big-time thump. He got more aggressive in his sophomore and chased much more, which raised his punch out rates and dropped his walk rate a touch. His bat-to-ball skills are rough, when he connects it's loud contact but he struggles to do it consistently. If the approach improves, and he can limit the chases, he'll check enough boxes to overcome the whiffs and still be productive. I think there's a chance he could be an above-average regular with occasional all-star appearances, but his median outcome is closer to an average regular.

Neighbors has worked out of the bullpen for Kansas State thus far, but he has the stuff and control to be a starter in the long-term. His mid-90s heater is a plus, maybe 65-grade pitch with above-average control, plus ride and solid command. He can elevate it for whiffs with or without 2K, and he has the control to live in the center of the zone with it. He has two breakers, both filthy. His upper-80s slider can play like a cutter at times with a firm late action. His feel for it is fine, and the pitch itself is easily a plus pitch with the chance to be a plus plus pitch as the feel improves. His low-80s banger is sharp and has the upside to be a 70-grade pitch if he can learn to land it in the zone. The stuff is so loud here, and the control is good enough to start. The arm talent and shapes are so good that he could fly up boards.

Taylor turned down top-15 pick money out of high school to dual sport at Clemson. He's finally given up the football side of the arrangement after injuries relating to his time on the team. His best part of the game is his 70-grade speed and defense in CF but he has sneaky juice offensively and had a 90th EV of 103 mph last year. He nearly walked more than he struck out and should be back in the first round discussions like he was in 2021.

Silva was a highly regarded freshman last season and got better as the year went on. He's a lock to stay at short and has plus athleticism with smooth and easy actions. He lacks definitive power and thump, but his bat-to-ball skills are above-average and he has enough barrel accuracy to run solid BABIPs which should drive his production alongside average bat speed. He'll be a solid average regular in the show.

Tibbs is absolutely hammering the ball, and it's not just how hard he's hitting the ball, it's how often they're on a line and in the air. 35% of his batted balls last year were barrels, he's a masher with above-average bat speed but even better bat-to-ball skills. He swings with intent, and that comes with him swinging through pitches at times. He's on green light mode always, and there's never a pitch he doesn't think he can ambush. He has plus power, and had 17 home runs last year but more importantly he hit 6 on the Cape where his ability to damage didn't stutter. He cut down his punchout rates as a sophomore by being more aggressive. Despite being so aggressive, he has solid plate discipline and runs high walk rates. I'm bullish on the hit and power, although the power is clearly his best skill. He's split time at LF and 1B, likely a LF with average speed and a below-average.

Tanks is a gamer, but the swing decisions are erratic. He's been able to make it work in college because of his plus bat-to-ball skills but it might catch up to him in the pro game. Even still, he has elite barrel accuracy and plus bat speed with feel for pulling the ball with authority. He lacks a high floor because of the defensive profile and inability to walk, though he should still be a middle-of-the-order bat with ~30 home run power. He's a gamer with incredible production in the ACC and SEC as an underclassman.

Amick is a masher. He ran a 90th EV just below 110 mph last year, his hardest hit batted ball came at 115 mph, and 27% of his balls in play were barreled. It's plus bat speed with feel to lift it but he doesn't always do it to his pull side, so he hit just 13 home runs last year. A mark much lower than most college hitters with this type of bat speed. His bat-to-ball skills are solid but not great, and his approach is ultra aggressive, hence the low walk rates. A lot needs to go right offensively for this to be a productive profile, he doesn't do much in the field and has split time at 1B/DH. He's played some 3B in the past but is likely a high-risk 1B

Brecht's a two pitch guy in the upper-90s and into the 100s. His heater has a cutting action, similar to Hurston Waldrep's. His upper-80s slider is a power-slurve, when he lands them anywhere near the zone it's a filthy pitch. But the command of either pitch is well below-average and part of the reason the relief risk here is so high. There's still starter upside here thanks to the plus stuff. If any school is going to get him in the zone and dominate, it'll be the factory at Iowa.

Likewise to Brock Wilken, Waldschmidt might be in line for a big junior year after two solid but not great springs. He missed time on the Cape because of an injury but looked really good in his brief time there. His approach is great, it's a selective approach. He rarely chases, but he gets rung up a bit too much. He hits the ball hard, but not to his pull side. Despite plus bat speed he's struggled to get to his power in games. The lack of pull side loft is limiting his ability to get to his 60-grade raw. It's 35-grade power now, but could be 55-grade through development. He's spent time in center field but probably ends up in right field.

Jump missed his sophomore season thanks to an injury, but he's back this fall after heading to Baton Rouge. He's been in the mid-90s this fall with his signature riseball and FF/CB combo that doesn't catch many barrels. He's flashed a low-80s sweeper in the past and always had a solid changeup. Somebody will have to replace the innings lost from Skenes and Floyd in the weekend rotation and Gage could do just that. His stuff is electric and plays way up from its velo. He could be the best left-handed pitcher in the country if all goes as expected.

Santucci's 3-pitch mix is mostly just 50 and 55's, but he's left-handed and can throw all of them for strikes in any count. His changeup plays like a splitter of sorts with low spin efficiency and late life, really looks like a plus pitch at times but it's the pitch he has the least feel for. His slider is fairly standard at 81-84, his four-seam performs well and misses bats at 91-96. There's reliever risk because of the high walk rates but they're bound to drop this season and he could go on the first day of the draft.

DeMartini dropped his K-rate below his BB-rate this past year. He started hitting the ball harder but hit less balls on a line and in the air, which dropped his barrel rate by 6%. He's been productive and plays good defense on the left side but doesn't play a premium position or have the juice offensively to be a gamewrecker so the upside isn't as high as some of his peers.

Turner handled himself on the Cape and looks great in CF where he'll be sticking long-term. His swing decisions are great, he walks a lot and doesn't whiff much. He lacks the bat speed to damage, but has good enough barrel accuracy to still be productive offensively. He's handled lefties better than righties as a left-handed bat, and the athleticism here offers some security. Some Sal Frelick shades in the profile.

Debarge could barely hit a ball over 100 mph his freshman year but he rarely whiffed and didn't chase much. He then added some bat speed, raised his 90th EV above his previous year's max EV, and improved his swing decisions while hitting a higher percentage of balls at optimal angles. He has a high leg left with a vicious swing at times. He's running the Nico Hoerner peripherals right now with low punchout rates but also low walk rates due to his high swing rates. I think he's a better hitter but the approach has been a touch aggressive. He's a plus-runner with athleticism and should stick up the middle at SS. He checks off three of the big four- athleticism/defense, bat to ball, and swing decisions -  if the contact quality takes a jump with his bat speed gains, he'll check off all four and be in the mix at top of the draft.

Stewart's aggressive, but doesn't have the pitch recognition or decision making to overcome his below-average bat-to-ball. But when he does connect with a pitch, he hammers it. 33% of his batted balls last year were barreled, over half of them were hit 95+ mph, and he hit multiple balls over 110 mph. His power is above-average, and his contact quality will keep the BABIPs high. He's an approach tweak away from being a clear first round talent. He's moved around in the OF, and should end up in the corners.

Shelton has incredible feel for pull side loft and the power numbers showed up in the box scores. He doesn't have great raw power, but more importanly he gets all of it to play in games because of the swing path and early connection, he's pull-heavy with all of his hard-hits being put into the air. His bat-to-ball skills are below-average and his swing decisions are too. Since he's making his decisions so early to get to the pull side juice, he'll have the occasionally swing. He's physical at 6-foot and has an average arm, he's a 45-grade defender at third and probably won't stick long-term. He's a better fit at second, and the power production will keep him in a lineup regardless of the glove.

Hess has a power-heater, but it doesn't have much carry. He pounds the zone with it and at 93-97 in college it performs. It's a touch better than average for now. His command of it makes it play better and it might be a future 60 pitch. His secondaries are solid, but he lacks command of them. His slider in the mid-80s is above-average, his curveball at 75-79 is average, and his low-80s changeup is around average. An uptick in feel for secondaries would push him into the first round, for now he's on the edge.

Mathis is a decent arm but will be getting drafted as a 3B with a plus-arm, solid glove and all-around package as a hitter. He hammered the ball on the Cape and has shown he can hit with a wood bat, but he also ran a 107 mph 90th EV as a sophomore and walked 17% of the time. His tool is better than his power, and yet he has above-average power.

Hurd has a power heater with ride in the mid-90s, but his best pitch is the mid-80s slider that gets into the 90s with a sharp plane; he even throws it for more strikes than his fastball but uses it significantly less. Once he gets into pro ball it'll be his primary pitch. His curve in the low-80s is more of a chase pitch when he's ahead due to his lack of feel for it. He's shown the occasionally good looking change but he's a FF/SL guy for now. There's plenty of relief risk here but he has the stuff to be a mid-rotation arm.

Kling's sophomore eligible, he got lost in the shuffle of a loaded LSU lineup last year. He hammered the ball for most of the year but didn't walk much and punched out too much to keep his lineup spot. He's physical, has average bat-to-ball skills and swing decisions but above-average bat speed. He looked like a top-2 rounder as a prep and nothing has changed since then.

Cade's stuff is filthy, even if it's just two pitches. His low-90s sinker has SSW traits and Stroman low launch heater qualities, but even better. His low-80s sweeper is above-average with below-average feel. Though he's not without flaws, he's not getting many swings due to the large separation between them. He's a platoon concern for now and will need to add a cutter or changeup. He's a candidate for both, but he could also turn the heater in two pitches and split the zone with them. The overall funk and stuff here will slot into a bullpen if the platoon concerns continue but there's the chance he develops into a backend starter.

Moore is sophomore eligible and performed well as a freshman despite his .327 BABIP and above-average bat speed. His pitch recognition and plate discipline have hindered his production, but his bat-to-ball and feel for the barrel are what drives the production. He's a better thrower than receiver, a 50-grade defender now he could be a 55 once he's done developing.

Massey transferred from Tulane before last season and proceeded to gain 4 mph on his fastball and throw it way less; the Demon Deacon way. He pounds the zone with mostly two pitches, a plus four-seamer and average slider. The heater has plus carry with a straight vertical plane at 93-96, getting all the way up to 97. His slider is a great pitch in college, but it's fairly generic in the pro environment. His feel for it is solid and it could very well be an above-average pitch in the future but at 11 mph off his heater with minimal movement it's not a special pitch. He'll likely get a shot to start this spring and he could jump into the first round with continued production and improved secondaries.

Schrier doesn't have an outlier tool or trait, but he's average at the majority of them. He's yet to breakout in college after being one of the best prep shortstops in the '21 class, but he's set to. He missed a portion of his sophomore year. In his ~30 games, he showed a slight uptick in bat speed, swing decisions, and bat to ball skills. He's good enough to stick at short, but might be a touch below average there. His power is the worst part of his game, but his hit tool is above-average and his plate discipline is average.

White was at Texas Tech before transferring to Arkansas for his junior season. He doesn't have a flaw in his game and was nearly eligible last year as a sophomore. He played all over the field last year but primairly plays catcher; it's where he projects best to the next level. His bat-to-ball skills are well above-average and he makes great decisions, He nearly walked more than struck out at Texas Tech and might have a plus hit tool. He's older for the class but could end up going in the first round as an above-average athlete that can hit in the middle of a lineup.

Overn is a dynamic athlete capable of playing center field in the long-term. It's plus plus speed with a lean, non-physical build. His swing is fairly weak and he doesn't get much extension. He lacks bat speed but has above-average bat-to-ball skills and will run highish BABIP thanks to his speed and solid barrel accuracy. I doubt he'll be hitting for power and his approach is the exact opposite of what you'd like from a guy with 35-grade power; he's way too aggressive and isn't walking much as a result. I like his odds as a big leaguer, but not as an everyday guy.

Beam fills up the zone, but is more control-centric like all Tennessee arms. He lives in the heart of the plate and sits in the mid-90s. He's up to 98 with slight ride, his upper-80s cutter has wrong way movement but could end up being an average pitch. His low-80s breaker has depth and sweep, but he doesn't glove strike it enough. The stuff is below-average right now, but it could get to average with better stuff. He's a backend arm with above-average control, shapes will need to improve to be a #4 starter.