2024 Mock Draft: April 11

 

 

 

 

New York Mets
1:19 Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

 At 19th, the New York Mets could invest in the tools with Iowa’s flamethrower, Brody Brecht. He's an arm who’s been up to 104 mph on the heater with a devilish slider. This spring has been more in the upper 90s in the colder midwest temps, and the walk rate may worry some teams. However,the absurd punchout rate and stuff makes him an option. The Mets could very much so be in on the long term here, with an arm who’s already flashed triple digits and has a great slider to work with. -TK

Toronto Blue Jays 
1:20 William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic (HS) 

It is the third straight year the Blue Jays will pick in the low-20’s and the selection of William Schmidt here would make it three straight years picking a prep player. One of the top prep arms in the class, Schmidt possesses a power fastball and big time spin rates. It may seem early for a prep right-hander to come off the board, but the upside might be too hard for Jays to pass up on here. -TH


Minnesota Twins
1:21 James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State

Few players in this first round have seen their stock rise like Tibbs has as the Florida State corner outfielder is putting together a dominant season. The Twins have a fairly strong history with college hitters and left-handed bats and Tibbs’ track record looks so good that he should have a fast-track to the Majors. -VC

 
Baltimore Orioles
1:22 Carter Johnson, SS, Oxford (HS)

Baltimore stays in the prep ranks with its first pick, taking a shot at one of the cleanest shortstops in the prep class with a sweet left-handed swing in Johnson. It’s very sound bat-to-ball skills and a crisp glove in a class that lacks the highest end up-the-middle talent on the dirt. Johnson has well-rounded tools and projects on the dirt coming off a big spring. -IB
 

Los Angles Dodgers
1:23 Cameron Smith, 3B, Florida State

The Dodgers have been looking at prep players lately, but seeing them take a chance on Cam Smith could be in the cards at 23rd overall. A player who’s been raking for a red-hot Florida State team could wind up being a great addition to the system. The Dodgers may buy into what Smith offers as an uber-athletic and strong presence in the box. -TK


Atlanta Braves
1:24 Ryan Johnson, RHP, Dallas Baptist 

The Braves have spent their 1st round pick on an arm every year since 2020, including what looks to be a potential steal last year in Hurston Waldrep. They once again tap into the college arm market and could grab yet another high-end arm here with the selection of Ryan Johnson. The physical right-hander has been stellar this year and could quickly accelerate through the minor league system. -TH


San Diego Padres
1:25 Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral (Cali.)

There are few players at the top of this draft with more buzz surrounding their name than Doughty and the Padres make it a whopping eight consecutive years drafting a high schooler with their first pick. AJ Preller likes to take big swings and Doughty has a starter profile with excellent stuff and could be a frontline arm with development. -VC
New York Yankees  
1:26 Carson Benge, OF Oklahoma State

The Yankees keep their recent trend of left-handed collegiate bats going, and Benge fits the mold of a solid first-round type who does a lot well. He’s a quick-twitch athlete with big bat speed with a polished hit tool and low chase rates this year. He projects to hit and is a sound defender capable of roaming the outfield. It’s good tools across the board that can shoot up a system. -IB  
Philadelphia Phillies
1:27 Slade Caldwell, OF, Jonesboro (AR)

The Philadelphia Phillies have been all-in on prep players in the last few years, and with Dave Dombrowski still running things at the very top in Philadelphia, it’s easy to see them grabbing a prep standout like Slade Caldwell. There’s been a ton of buzz around him this spring, and his strength upside, paired with elite strength, makes for an interesting profile to bring into the organization. -TK
Houston Astros
1:28 Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee 

The Astros haven’t picked a high school player in the 1st round since Forrest Whitley in 2016. That does not change here with Houston selecting Billy Amick out of Tennessee. It would be the second time in the last three years the Astros use the 28th overall pick to take a player out of Knoxville, having selected Drew Gilbert in 2022. Amick has continued to climb up draft boards with a strong spring, sneaking into the backend of the 1st round. -TH


Arizona Diamondbacks
1:29 Tommy White, 3B, LSU

The Diamondbacks have a ton of picks and bonus pool money to play with but they’ll grab CWS hero Tommy White after he slides a bit in this mock. White has shown the power recently but can go out to any part of the park and the Diamondbacks get someone they can plug into the middle of their lineup when he gets there. -VC


Texas Rangers
1:30 Theo Gillen, SS/OF, Westlake HS (TX)

The Rangers can go either route here, but we have them taking the top in-state prep prospect in Gillen who has been on an absolute tear this year. He is leaving the yard at a high rate this spring with a pro-type frame, and he’s a good athlete that can move on the dirt or potentially roam out in center.  The hit/power tools are big here with budding power upside in a left-handed stick. -IB


Arizona Diamondbacks
1:31 PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville (SC)

The Arizona Diamondbacks being able to grab PJ Morlando at 31st overall would be a huge win. He’s been someone near the top of the class for a while and a performer on the circuit in his prep days, so buying into the stock here seems on par for them. -TK


Baltimore Orioles
1:32 Wyatt Sanford, SS, Independence (HS)

The Orioles system is loaded with left-handed hitting prospects and they would be adding another one here in Wyatt Sanford. It would make it five straight years that Baltimore has drafted a left-handed hitter in the first round and the second prep shortstop in the past three years. Sanford would add yet another athletic defender that should stick up the middle to their already loaded farm system. -TH


Minnesota Twins
1:33 Caleb Bonemer, SS, Okemos (Mich.)

The Twins would likely have some financial flexibility here and can shoot for a big named high schooler to float down and that would be Bonemer in this mock. He’s a big infielder with big power and an underlying base of impressive athleticism. He’s not a finished product but there’s a very good foundation here. -VC


Milwaukee Brewers
1:34 Malcolm Moore, C/1B, Stanford

Milwaukee has been more prudent on the college side in the earlier rounds. It stays more within its slot value with its first two picks, going for loud left-handed power with Moore in the Comp A round. It’s gaudy exit velocities and plus raw power in the stick. He’s bounced between catcher and first base and some questions remain behind there, but Moore’s offensive skill set can fit in the heart of an order if it all comes together. -IB


Arizona Diamondbacks
1:35 Ryan Sloan, RHP, York (IL)

Doubling down after grabbing PJ Morlando (31st overall) to grab another prep player could be in the cards. Ryan Sloan has been impressive this spring on the prep circuit in Illinois, and a continued loud spring could see teams jumping on him. The Diamondbacks could get him involved with their Player Development group and have a ton of room to dream on this profile. -TK


Cleveland Guardians
1:36 Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern

The Guardians would be taking their second collegiate bat of the draft here with the selection of Mike Sirota. The Northeastern product entered the year as a potential Top-15 pick, but goes in the mid-30’s here. Cleveland has the highest bonus pool to work with and could use the pick to get creative on how to spend it. Sirota’s athleticism, high on-base profile could make for a valuable selection. -TH


Pittsburgh Pirates
1:37 Braylon Payne, OF, Lawrence E. Elkins (Tex.)

The Pirates have liked going after toolsy preps with their picks after the first and Payne fits that to a tee. He’s a plus runner, athlete, and defender in enter with very healthy contact rates from the left side. Pittsburgh’s PD will likely get to some of that strength in the stick and Payne has potential to be a very good everyday player. -VC