2024 MLB mock draft 3.0: Kiley McDaniel predicts the first round
The intrigue starts right at the top this year, as the Cleveland Guardians have a difficult decision to make with the No. 1 overall pick in a draft featuring a strong group of college players in contention to come off the board first. What will the Guardians do — and how will the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies follow with the No. 2 and No. 3 picks?
This is my next-to-last mock draft of the 2024 draft cycle, with an updated 3.1 version coming hours before Round 1 begins Sunday. And remember, this is the order in which I think the picks will come off the board, while my rankings are the order in which I’d pick the players.
I’m pretty sure Cleveland is still considering five players, and I think I know who all five are. My current handicap here is Wetherholt at a 45% chance, Travis Bazzana a 40% chance, Jac Caglianone a 10% chance, Charlie Condon 4% and Chase Burns at 1%.
Obviously, this will be a bonus price-dependent decision. Bazzana’s camp may believe they have the player atop the Guardians board (I also believe that) and ask for $9.21 million, breaking Paul Skenes’ $9.2 million bonus record (under the current hard-slotting draft rules). Cleveland could then argue that he should take a discount because they have a viable, comparable option in Wetherholt and that Bazzana won’t go until the fourth pick if Cleveland passes; I believe both of those things, as well.
