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Draft  | Story  | 2/29/2024

MLB Draft: Early Season Helium?

Tyler Kotila      Tyler Henninger      Isaiah Burrows     
We are only two weeks into the season, so we can't put too much stock (just yet) into performances one way or the other, but the players below are certainly trending in the right direction come our next board update. Arkansas's Hagen Smith already delivered what will likely go down as one of, if not the best, single pitching performance while Oregon State's Travis Bazzana is playing a real life equivalent of MLB the Show, only it's on rookie mode as he's put himself as an early season favorite for that No. 1 pick.




Hagen Smith, Junior, LHP, Arkansas
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 13

Smith had a rough first outing vs. James Madison but bounced back in resounding fashion during his start against Oregon State. He threw 6.0 innings of shut-out ball, allowing just 3 hits and walking only one. More notably, on 18 outs recorded, Smith punched out 17 opposing hitters, tying a Razorbacks single-game record. Smith’s LHP-1 on our board and for good reason. In his masterful outing, he was into the upper-90s and up to 99 mph with his usual three-pitch mix, using that devilish slider to put away the Beavers hitters. Straight-up dominant stuff from the southpaw.

Kaelen Culpepper, Junior, 3B/SS, Kansas State
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 61

Culpepper was one of the names who stuck out to me as a draft prospect to keep eyes on this spring. He’s come out of the gates and shown some really impressive swings, including a really nice home run that was all over X (formerly Twitter) in their series last weekend. It’s an athletic and strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame. He swings it with a ton of intent and bat speed, being able to get some jump off the barrel. Culpepper has used that bat speed and strength well, clubbing three homers on the year already and a triple. He’s driven in nine runs for Kansas State’s offense, managing 6 walks to 5 punchouts over 29 at-bats.

Zachary MacDonald, Junior, OF, Miami (OH)
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: NR

MacDonald has been a fixture in the RedHawks outfield for the last two seasons after a heralded career on the Michigan prep scene. He kicked things into gear this past weekend against Middle Tennesee, going 5-for-12 on the weekend with 2 homers and 5 runs driven in along the way. He’s a right-handed bat with power upside, utilizing a simple & fluid stroke, with some real loud results when he’s on the barrel. MacDonald is an uber-athletic 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame with tons of range and speed in the outfield. He’s made some eye-popping catches, running down balls in the gap and making the tough plays on the grass.

Tyler Cerny, Sophomore, SS, Indiana
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: NR

Cerny has been seeing beach balls at the plate this year for the Hoosiers offense. The draft-eligible sophomore has stepped into the role as the team's shortstop this year, looking the part defensively to this point, and the bat has been crazy good to this point. Cerny’s hitting .406 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 7 runs driven in through his first 32 at-bats with the Hoosiers. He’s a 6-foot-2 frame who swings it from the right side with a really simple and balanced stroke. He’s shown a really innate feel for the barrel this year, being able to stay short with the swing and get the job done time and time again for the Hoosiers.

Cam Leiter, Sophomore, RHP, Florida State
Draft Eligible: 2025 | Draft Board Rank: 37

Leiter’s another name that has plenty of helium early this spring after transferring in for FSU after beginning his collegiate career with UCF. He’s thrown 10.0 innings this spring, with 5 hits, 5 walks, and 21 punchouts to his credit. He’s been up to 98 mph on the fastball with a hammer of a curve, a tighter slider, and a changeup to make up his four-pitch arsenal. The 6-foot-5, 218-pound frame just leaves a ton of room to dream. While he’s on the 2025 Draft Board, he’s someone that folks should get to know pretty well this season as he pitches for a freshly ranked Seminoles team.

-Tyler Kotila

Travis Bazzana, Junior, 2B, Oregon State
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 3

Bazzana entered the year as a candidate to go 1:1 and has somehow exceeded expectations. Through eight games the Beavers second baseman has posted a .438/.526/1.031 slash line. The continued development of the power has taken the offensive profile to the next level. Bazzana has consistently posted triple digit EVs this year and has launched five homers already after hitting just 11 last spring. At this point, Bazzana is the likely favorite to go first overall. 

Braden Montgomery, Junior, OF/RHP, Texas A&M
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 5

Montgomery began his Aggie career with a bang, launching a home run in his first at-bat. He has continued that torrid start through seven games, posting a .393/.514/.857 slash line with more walks than strikeouts. The power has been shown from both sides of the plate, posting big time EVs regularly. Montgomery’s ability to generate massive power while staying balanced and showing patience is what makes him a potential Top-5 selection this summer. Montgomery jumped on the mound for the first time this week and cruised through a clean inning while showing a fastball in the upper-90’s to go along with a potential plus fading changeup. 

Charlie Condon, RS-Sophomore, OF/CIF, Georgia
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 8

Condon has put up video game numbers through his first seven games this year. The slugger has posted a .625 average with ten extra-base hits and more walks than strikeouts. Condon has posted some of the highest EVs early in the season, including multiple balls over 115 mph, while showing plus bat to ball skills. The power is some of the best in the country and will continue to carry the profile, but Condon has also flashed solid defense both in the outfield and at the corner spots on the infield. Continuing to answer the questions on the defensive side could result in an easy Top-10 selection this summer. 

Jonathan Santucci, Junior, LHP, Duke
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 21

Santucci has yet to surrender a run this season, posting 11 shutout innings while striking out 17 total hitters. The left-hander features a prototypical starter profile that can dominate lineups with a quality three pitch mix. The fastball works in the mid-90’s with big carry that explodes through the zone. The slider flashes as a plus pitch at times and can generate tons of whiffs when it is working well, while a plus changeup consistently has late tumbling action. The athleticism, pitch mix, and ability to start at the next level should allow Santucci to be one of the first arms off the board this summer. 

Caleb Lomavita, Junior, C, California 
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 47

Lomavita entered the year a Top-50 prospect and has continued to make the case as the best college backstop in the class. An explosive swing has tons of torque and generates 70-grade power to the pull side. Lomavita has posted a .788 slugging percentage so far this season, including four homers. The middle of the order bat stands out, but Lomavita has shown strong tools on the defensive side and should stick behind the plate long term. 

Isaiah Jackson, Sophomore, OF, Arizona State
Draft Eligible: 2025 | Draft Board Rank: 23

Jackson’s loud tools drew significant interest as a prep out of Arizona, but stuck to his commitment to Arizona State and has continued to show development throughout his game. The young slugger is seemingly putting it all together this year, posting a .364/.450/.788 slash line through eight games. The power stands out from the left side of the plate and can leave the yard at any moment. On the defensive side, Jackson has tons of range into both gaps and has made a habit of robbing home runs regularly. If the hit tool continues to make strides, Jackson could wind up a Top-10 selection in next year’s class. 
 
-Tyler Henninger

Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 4

Honeycutt is slashing .310/.487/.828 with five homers already in eight games. This was 5-tool potential if the hit tool progressed, and it’s done that thus far as the swing decisions have tightened. The power output has been more than present now, and the plus defender he is in center already gives this profile so much to like in a Day 1 pick.

Ryan Johnson, RHP, Dallas Baptist
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 82

Johnson has logged some good innings and the strikeout stuff coming into 2024 has been on display.  He’s racked up 20 strikeouts to just one walk over 12-plus innings. The fastball has been settling more mid-90s to start but his plus slider is one of the better put away pitches in the class with viscous action and bite.

Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
Draft Eligible: 2025 | Draft Board Rank: 1

LaViolette is off to video game numbers this year. He’s slashing .433/.514/1.167 with six home runs already. He’s No. 1 on our upcoming 2025 board for good reason, as the array of tools are clearly high end and his left-handed bat has real hit/power upside at the highest level.

-Isaiah Burrows
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