The 2024 MLB Draft: A Second Look Reveals a Different Top 10! Ever wondered if teams would make the same choices if they had a do-over? Well, we're diving deep into the 2024 MLB Draft to see how the top 10 picks might shake out with the benefit of hindsight. Get ready, because some familiar names might be moving up or down!
First off, a quick heads-up for all the prospect enthusiasts: our brand-new Top 30 Prospects list for 2026 is just around the corner, set to drop in the first week of March. Now, let's get to the burning question that's been circulating: If we could re-draft the 2024 class right now, who would land in the top 10?
This is where things get really interesting, especially at the coveted No. 1 pick. Do you go with Nick Kurtz, who's already making waves with an American League Rookie of the Year season, or Konnor Griffin, a player with electrifying tools and a phenomenal professional debut? It's a tough call, and honestly, both are incredible talents. However, for this redraft, I'm leaning towards the player with the highest upside, even though a player who posted a slash line of .290/.383/.619 with 36 homers in just 117 big league games clearly has a sky-high ceiling too.
So, who makes the cut? Drumroll, please...
My Redrafted Top 10 for the 2024 MLB Draft:
- Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates (Originally drafted at No. 9 overall)
- Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (Originally drafted at No. 4)
- J.J. Wetherholt, INF, Cardinals (Originally drafted at No. 7)
- Trey Yesavage, RHP, Blue Jays (Originally drafted at No. 20)
- Chase Burns, RHP, Reds (Originally drafted at No. 2)
- Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians (Originally drafted at No. 1)
- Jac Caglianone, OF/1B, Royals (Originally drafted at No. 6)
- Carson Benge, OF, Mets (Originally drafted at No. 19)
- Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox (Originally drafted at No. 50, 2nd round)
- Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers (Originally drafted at No. 11)
But here's where it gets controversial... While the top six felt pretty clear-cut to me, I'm still pondering Jac Caglianone's performance after a challenging summer in the Majors. His struggles are a stark reminder that even highly touted prospects can face unexpected hurdles. What are your thoughts on his current standing?
Beyond this top 10, the talent pool runs deep! Players like Mariners right-hander Ryan Sloan and White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery were strong contenders for my next picks. And the list of impressive prospects who could have easily made the cut is extensive, including Kaelen Culpepper, Gage Jump, Ryan Waldschmidt, Mike Sirota, Caleb Bonemer, Cam Caminiti, Charlie Condon, Hagen Smith, Theo Gillen, Jurrangelo Cijntje, and Nate George. Plus, we can't forget Christian Moore and Cam Smith, who have already made their MLB debuts!
This exercise was inspired by a fantastic question from my MLB.com colleague, Jason Catania. Our process for compiling the Top 100 involves creating personal Top 125 lists, merging them, and engaging in spirited debates, all while gathering insights from industry experts. It's a collaborative effort that aims to capture the pulse of the prospect world.
And this is the part most people miss... One of the most debated prospects in our internal discussions was Royals catcher Blake Mitchell, who ultimately landed at No. 75. Despite being the eighth overall pick in the 2023 Draft and having a solid first pro season, he faced a setback with a broken right hamate bone during Spring Training, leading to a .207/.372/.296 line in 49 games in High-A last year. My initial ranking was No. 53, while Jonathan had him at No. 68, and Sam at No. 108. My reasoning for the higher ranking was his potent power and defensive skills at a position where talent is scarce, viewing the offensive dip as a temporary consequence of his injury. Sam, however, pointed to the significant swing-and-miss and the impact of the hamate on his power, raising valid concerns about his long-term development.
What do you think? Is Blake Mitchell a top-tier prospect despite his recent struggles, or are the concerns about his swing and injury valid?
Now, let's shift gears to the international scene. A question has come up about the No. 1 International Free Agent (IFA) distinction between Luis Hernandez and Wandy Asigen. This isn't a tough one to answer, as I'm happy to defer to Jesse Borek, who meticulously assembled our International Top 50 and penned all the reports.
According to Jesse:
"Hernández's experience and success in the Venezuelan Major League is a significant factor. While both players are projected to remain at shortstop long-term, Hernández is considered a slightly better defender and possesses the versatility to play center field if needed. He's expected to make an immediate impact on the basepaths and has the potential for 30-30 seasons if he continues on his current path."
Finally, let's take a trip down memory lane! With our current Top 100 list fresh in mind, let's rewind and pinpoint the No. 1 prospect heading into each year of the 1980s. We all know the iconic names like Strawberry (1983), Gooden (1984), Canseco (1986), Jefferies (1987, 1988), and Griffey Jr. (1989). But who were the top prospects in the other years?
This question brought back fond memories of my time at Baseball America. Back in 1990, we started our Top 100 Prospects list, and 12 years later, the legendary Allan Simpson, founder of Baseball America, embarked on an ambitious project: identifying the best prospect for every year dating back to 1951! Allan's contributions to draft and prospect coverage are immeasurable, and his passion for baseball is truly unparalleled.
While I couldn't unearth his original story online, I do have a hard copy of his incredible work. Here's Allan's definitive list of baseball's No. 1 prospect entering each season from 1951 to 1989, with his 1980s selections largely drawn from Baseball America's position-by-position rankings at the time:
- 1951: Mickey Mantle, SS, Yankees
- 1952: Gene Conley, RHP, Braves
- 1953: Ted Kazanski, SS, Phillies
- 1954: Al Kaline, OF, Tigers
- 1955: Herb Score, LHP, Indians
- 1956: Sandy Koufax, LHP, Dodgers
- 1957: Juan Pizzaro, LHP, Braves
- 1958: Bob "Hawk" Taylor, C/OF, Braves
1959: Frank Howard, OF, Dodgers
1960: Frank Howard, OF, Dodgers
1961: Willie Davis, OF, Dodgers
1962: Boog Powell, 1B, Orioles
1963: Bob Bailey, 3B, Pirates
1964: Tony Conigliaro, OF, Red Sox
1965: Rick Reichardt, OF, Angels
1966: Rick Reichardt, OF, Angels
1967: Tom Seaver, RHP, Mets
1968: Johnny Bench, C, Reds
1969: Ted Simmons, C, Cardinals
1970: Cesar Cedeno, OF, Astros
1971: Bobby Valentine, SS, Dodgers
1972: Burt Hooton, RHP, Cubs
1973: J.R. Richard, RHP, Astros
1974: Frank Tanana, LHP, Angels
1975: Jim Rice, OF, Red Sox
1976: Garry Templeton, SS, Cardinals
1977: Floyd Bannister, LHP, Astros
1978: Clint Hurdle, OF, Royals
1979: Bill Gullickson, RHP, Expos
1980: Kirk Gibson, OF, Tigers
1981: Tim Raines, 2B, Expos
1982: Brad Komminsk, OF, Braves
1983: Kevin McReynolds, OF, Padres
1984: Dwight Gooden, RHP, Mets
1985: Shawon Dunston, SS, Cubs
1986: Jose Canseco, OF, Athletics
1987: Bo Jackson, OF, Royals
1988: Gary Sheffield, SS, Brewers
1989: Ken Griffey Jr., OF, Mariners
What are your thoughts on these historical rankings? Do any surprise you? Let us know in the comments below!
