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Draft  | Mock Draft | 12/7/2023

MLB Draft: Post-Lottery Mock

Tyler Henninger
Isaiah Burrows
Tyler Kotila
With the Winter Meetings this past week came the MLB Draft Lottery where the Cleveland Guardians came away with the top pick, despite their low chances of picking at the top spot at the start of the night. Naturally the names and order below are going to change come actual draft day, but if we were picking now, here's how we see some things shaking out right now. 
 
1. Cleveland Guardians -  Nick Kurtz, 1B/OF, Wake Forest
Nick Kurtz already has the track record of being one of the more productive bats in the country, showing a refined approach, advanced bat-to-ball skills, and very real over-the-fence type power already. Given the left-handed bat and, the fact he’s also a plus defender at first base, and the potential for some gaudy numbers at “Rake Forest” this spring, don’t be surprised if Kurtz is pressing for that top spot to Cleveland come July. - Tyler Kotila

2. Cincinnati Reds - JJ Wetherholt, 2B, West Virginia
Wetherholt comes into 2024 with tons of helium after posting just gaudy numbers over the summer. It’s potential 70-hit and plus power from the left side with the ability to not only stick,  but defend on the dirt long term with sound actions and a capable arm for second base. The exit velocities rank amongst some of the best in the entire class, and the overall profile can make him a 1.01 candidate. Fitting at this spot. - Isaiah Burrows



3. Colorado Rockies - Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Bazzana is another profile that has the potential to be a 1.01 candidate. The offensive numbers throughout his collegiate career have been impressive. Sound bat-to-ball skills and the ability to spray hard contact to all fields stands out from the left side of the plate. Twitchy athleticism should provide quality actions on the dirt and value on the bases. Bazzana is a spark plug that can set the tone of any lineup and has a chance to be a steady producer at the top of the order. - Tyler Henninger

4. Oakland Athletics - Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP, Texas A&M
The Oakland Athletics have a track record for grabbing talent local to them, so rocking with former Standford two-way standout Braden Montgomery could be a possibility at 1.04 in 2024. It’s a true two-way profile that stands out on the mound with a lively arm. He’s got a power fastball in the mix, and that arm strength also translates to the outfield. At the plate, he switch hits with excellent power upside. There’s just a ton of potential here with a ton of room to dream on the tools on both sides of the ball. - TK

5. Chicago White Sox - Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Though it has a track record of diving into the prep ranks, Chicago went with a highly touted college bat last year in Jacob Gonzalez. I have the White Sox going the same route with Honeycutt. The UNC product has five-tool potential and is one of the best defenders in the class roaming center. He’s a 70-runner with potential plus juice, and if the bat-to-ball continues to improve next year, he could be even higher in consideration. - IB

6. Kansas City Royals - Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
The Royals have a chance for a gem to land in their lap here at 1.06 in righthander Chase Burns. The now-Wake Forest ace features some of the loudest stuff in the country. An overpower fastball that can get into the triple digits and a devastating slider that will creep into the low-90’s at times. While there is always risk in selecting an arm, Burns should be a top of the rotation arm if it all clicks. -TH

7. St. Louis Cardinals - PJ Morlando, 1B/OF, Summerville HS (SC)
While it may play out differently by next summer, there’s no way the Cardinals can leave prep standout PJ Morlando on the board. The South Carolina native has been one of the loudest performers with the stick, being the top hitter in the 2024 prep class. The elite bat speed, coupled with immense power upside, all from the left side of the dish. It makes him a downright dangerous addition to the Cardinals system at 1.07 in this group mock. - TK

8. Los Angeles Angels - Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Preparatory HS (MS)
The Angels land a potential game-changing prospect in Griffin at eighth overall. He’s another five-tool potential type with elite athleticism across the board at all of 6-foot-4. A 6.3 runner with big bat speed and plus power potential doesn't come around too often, and with the prep track record that the Angels have, Griffin seems like a steal at this spot. -IB

9. Pittsburgh Pirates - Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Caglianone features a physical frame and loud, physical tools on both sides of the ball. Selected as both a bat and an arm, Caglianone has a chance to do both at the next level. An overpowering fastball can get into the upper-90’s and strike fear into hitters. At the plate, massive power stands out from the left side and can provide middle of the order thump. The upside on both sides of the ball could result in a steal here at 1.09. -TH

10. Washington Nationals - Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Brody Brecht is expected to frontline the Iowa Hawkeyes rotation this year. After dropping football and focusing solely on baseball, he’s been a big piece of the puzzle for the Hawkeyes. A 100+ mph fastball and unreal slider make him an absolutely dangerous arm on the mound. If he can come out in the spring and show that he’s honed in on his command and improved the secondary stuff as much as it seems, he will be lethal in the Big Ten. The Nationals round out our top ten selections with Brecht. - TK

 

11. Detroit Tigers - Michael Sirota, OF Northeastern
Tigers dive back into a deep college class with Sirota. He’s a well-rounded athlete with top-of-the-clas swing decisions. The bat-to-ball skills and overall polish at the dish is impressive. He projects as a plus defender in center field with a twitchy first step and the ability to steal bags at the next level. Sirota’s bat took a huge step last year and the hit tool and athleticism give him a pretty safe floor at this spot. He impacts the game in several facets with his well-rounded tools. -IB

12. Boston Red Sox - Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
Selecting Moore here would be the second straight year the Red Sox go the collegiate catcher route. But despite selecting Kyle Teel a year ago, the offensive potential of Moore is too good to pass up. A draft-eligible sophomore, Moore possesses massive raw power with run-producing capabilities. The power stood out as a prep bat and resulted in 15 homers as a freshman last year. It is one of the best bats on the west coast. -TH

13. San Francisco Giants - Noah Franco, OF/LHP, IMG Academy (FL)
While Noah Franco may be playing for IMG in Florida, the California native has likely been in the Giants' backyard for his early years on the prep circuits. Franco’s a standout two-way talent with 5-tool potential as a position player. There’s a ton to like with tons of bat-to-ball, being able to work on the barrel and do damage. He’s an athletic mover working laterally in the field and can handle the outfield or first base. Not to mention, he’s up to 93 mph on the mound, with good bite to the breaker and feel for a three-pitch mix. - TK

14. Chicago Cubs - Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Georgia
Chicago grabs one of the best bats left in the class in Condon. The Georgia product is as mature and polished a hitter as you can find at this spot. He’s all of a long, wiry 6-foot-5 with a big hit/power projection. The hit tool is well advanced with an eye-opening 2023 at the SEC level, and the power jumps off the page at points with some of the loudest contact in college baseball. He’s a corner/first base profile with a bat that’s hard to pass up. -IB

15. Seattle Mariners - Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
The Mariners have used three of their last four first round picks on prep shortstops. Here, they stay at shortstop but jump up to the college route, where they select one of the best middle infielders in the country. A D2 transfer to Wake Forest, King showcased a hit tool in the Cape and for the collegiate national team this summer. Quick bat speed can hammer balls at times and hints at some power upside. Explosive athleticism with twitch and a potential 70-grade run tool round out an enticing profile. -TH



16. Miami Marlins - Hunter Carns, C, First Coast HS (FL)
One of the loudest performers at Jupiter this fall was Hunter Carns. The prep backstop was barreling up balls left and right, including a 115 mph home run. He’s shown budding power upside with very hitter-ish actions overall. The FSU commit made some noise this fall, and another loud spring could see him grabbing even more attention, which is why we’ve got the Marlins grabbing the in-state standout at 16th overall. - TK

17. Milwaukee Brewers - Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)
The Brewers grab our top prep arm in Caminiti. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native is an uber-athletic lefty with some of the best stuff and command in his ranks. He can run it up to 96 mph, living mostly 91-94 mph with life. The slider and curve both have great action and shape for secondaries, while the changeup shows plus traits with some heavy arm-side fade. Caminiti’s athleticism and feel is advanced, and would be an interesting project for Milwaukee at No. 17. -IB

18. Tampa Bay Rays - Anthony Silva, SS, TCU
The Rays used their first-round selection on a TCU shortstop this past summer and could do so yet again here. Silva is a draft-eligible sophomore with a high floor and upside to get excited about. The actions on the defensive side stand out. Smooth, fluid feet allow for range in both directions. Silva should stick at shortstop long-term. Offensively, the profile is more hit-over-power. There are sound bat-to-ball skills present with on-base ability. -TH

19. New York Mets - Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
The New York Mets grab Hagen Smith at 19th overall, getting a premier college arm with a full & unique pitch mix. He’s up into the low- to mid-90s from the left side on the heater, with life. He also has a cutter and slider that bridge the arsenal together well, with a splitter in the mix as well. Smith can attack hitters with four pitches, making him a solid option to add to the Mets organization here. - TK

20. Toronto Blue Jays- 
Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
20. Toronto Blue Jays - Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
Now back-to-back college lefties off the board with Santucci at No. 20 to the Jays. He has an upward arrow next to his name for this spring. He simply pounds the zone with a fastball that gets into the mid-to-upper-90s and a plus mid-80s slider with great spin and metrics, also flashes a fringe low-80s depthy curveball. He has big stuff from the left side combined with a good feel to pitch. -IB

21. Minnesota Twins - Jacob Cozart, C, N.C. State
The Twins don’t have a Top-10 pick like they have had over the last two drafts, but could wind up with another Top-10 talent with Cozart. The NC State backstop is an advanced defender behind the plate with strong catch and throw ability. He has shown barrel feel at the plate with sound bat-to-ball skills at the plate. Twins would be more than happy to get him here at 1.21 -TH

22. Baltimore Orioles - Will Taylor, OF, Clemson
The Baltimore Orioles may be looking to stroke the coals as they continue to bring prospects into their big league lineup. Adding another college bat like Will Taylor will help them accomplish that. Taylor’s a high-end athlete who defends exceptionally well. He’s able to run down balls in the gap and be a premier glove, paired with a solid bat as well. He’s a former two-sport athlete, being a wideout for Clemson his first two years there. - TK

23. Los Angeles Dodgers - Tommy White, 1B, LSU
The Dodgers grab one of the better bats at this point late in the first with White. Though just a limited first baseman, White has a long college track record of elite barreled contact. It’s a thunderous bat with good chance for plus/plus and then some in both hit and power, with double-plus in the raw power category. There’s some violent whip and occasional whiff through the zone. The power plays to all fields, and there’s a ton to like offensively with improved bat-to-ball. He’s performed at some of the highest levels, and the bat has all the chance to play. -IB

24. Atlanta Braves - Caleb Bonemer, SS, Okemos HS (MI)
Very few players helped their draft stock this summer as much as Bonemer. The infielder put together a monster showing at every stop, including an all-time performance at PG National. Big time power can drive balls to the pull side with authority and produce triple digit EVs regularly. Plus speed rounds out a loud offensive skill set and has helped Bonemer post one of the better 60-yard dash times. -TH

25. San Diego Padres - Derek Curiel, OF, Orange Lutheran HS (CA)
Derek Curiel’s been at the top of this prep class for years and is someone that the Padres could pounce on late in the first round, grabbing him with the 25th overall pick. He has a projectable frame, which carries over to his plus-fielding. He moves well and can defend exceptionally well in the outfield with good carry. At the plate, he’s got a pretty left-handed swing with some carry and impact off the barrel. The LSU commit has taken strides in the box, consistently performing on the circuit. - TK

26. New York Yankees - Jonathan Vastine, SS/2B, Vanderbilt
Yankees add another left-handed bat to the system in Vastine. He’s a toolsy middle infielder with strong bat-to-ball skills and polished hit tool. Great approach at the plate and keen hand-eye at the plate, and can really run. Soft hands and good twitch throughout to stick up the middle on the dirt. He may not hit for much power at the highest level, but the tools and defensive ability combined with a left-handed stick makes for a solid grab for New York. -IB

27. Philadelphia Phillies - Dante Nori, OF, Northville HS (MI)
The Phillies have a chance to jump on one of the better athletes in the class and a player with an all-around loud skill set with the selection of Nori. It’s hard to find a more impactful power/speed combination. Nori can fly around the bases and create havoc with his legs. While advanced power allowed him to be the runner-up in the PG All-American HR Derby. Despite being older for the class, the tools are just too loud to pass at this point. -TH

28. Houston Astros - Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee
It’s hard to leave an arm like Drew Beam on the board that late. Beam has a chance to really cement his spot in the Vols’ rotation this spring, and a loud performance could see him being a first-rounder come draft day. The right-hander has been up to 97 mph with a clean arm path. He’s got a real pretty curveball to pair that has taken some strides in its own right and a fading changeup to round things out. The big and physical right-hander has a chance to prove he’s a first-rounder this spring with the Vols. - TK

29. Arizona Diamondbacks - Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (AR)
Arizona swings for the prep ranks in the back end of the first round, going with Caldwell. He is as tooled up as they come in the class as a plus runner with a comfortable prep hit tool. It’s plus bat speed and twitch throughout his 5-foot-9 frame, and his wheels impact the game in multitude of facets, roaming center or stealing bags. It’s a fitting profile in Arizona who has a good history of tooled-up left-handed prep outfielders. -IB

30. Texas Rangers - Thatcher Hurd, RHP, Louisiana State 
The reigning champs tap into the college arm market here and come away with a high-upside arm with the selection of Hurd. The LSU right-hander has shown he can work the fastball into the upper-90’s. A disgusting, 12-6 curveball with spin rates near 3000 rpm has both depth and bite. Hurd will look to establish a more consistent starter role this spring, but could provide an immediate jolt to the Rangers minor league system if he can prove he can handle it. -TH
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