MLB Draft prospects 2024: Final big board of top 100 players overall, ranked from Charlie Condon to Nick McLain

The next wave of top baseball players is on the verge of reaching the pros.

The 2024 MLB Draft begins Sunday, when the biggest names in the draft-eligible class of amateurs will officially be selected by teams.

This year doesn't quite match the big names of last year, when LSU's Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews dominated from the start of the season to the end en route to winning a College World Series. Still, because so many of the top prospects in this draft are college players, there are plenty of players likely to be familiar to baseball fans.

Jac Caglianone is arguably the biggest name after earning Shohei Ohtani comparisons and powering Florida to two College World Series appearances. Charlie Condon's home run race with Caglianone in 2024 put him on the map, and the dueling pitching dominance of Chase Burns and Hagen Smith made those two aces bigger names in the class.

But while there are plenty of names with which fans will be familiar, exactly where players rank in the draft class might be a big more uncertain.

Who are the top prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft? Sporting News is taking a look at the 100 best players in this year's class.

MLB MOCK DRAFT: JJ Wetherholt goes No. 1 in SN's final projections

MLB Draft prospects 2024

1. Charlie Condon, 3B/OF, Georgia

Condon has always been a bit of a late bloomer. He was under-recruited out of high school and didn't land in Georgia until a growth spurt in high school. He also red-shirted his true freshman year. Since then, all Condon has done is rake. He mashed 25 homers with a 1.284 OPS as a redshirt freshman, then upped his game to 37 home runs with a 1.565 OPS as a redshirt sophomore en route to winning the Golden Spikes Award. Condon has the most power of any right-handed hitter in the draft, and he couples that discipline and contact skills that have only improved as he's developed. Thought early to be limited to first base, he's shown off impressive defensive versatility in the ability to play first, third or any outfield spot. Even if he's limited to a corner outfield spot, he should be a decent defender out there with a true middle-of-the-order bat.

MORE: Meet Charlie Condon, the slugger who set an NCAA HR record

2. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

It is nearly unheard of for a second-base-only prospect to be this high on a draft big board, but it's also incredibly rare for prospects to have a bat like Bazzana. The Australian left-handed hitter combines an incredibly disciplined approach with explosive raw power that gives him a middle-of-the-order profile as a hitter. He is also quick on the bases, meaning he's apt to do damage even if he's issued a free pass. At best, a team could try him out in a corner outfield spot, but second appears to be his all but certain future home. The bat is still more than enough to land him at or near the top of the 2024 MLB Draft.

3. JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

If not for a hamstring injury, Wetherholt could have had the case for the best prospect in this class. The West Virginia middle infielder makes consistent, hard contact and controls the strike zone well with a discerning eye at the plate. Though not a slugger like Condon or Bazzana, Wetherholt has more than enough power to punish mistakes, and his speed and power combination should allow him to be an extra-base machine. A team that can talk themselves into seeing him play shortstop long-term could easily view him as the best in the class. He could have to move to second in the pros, but his range and arm could make him a plus defender at the keystone.

4. Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

The transfer of Burns from Tennessee to Wake Forest felt like a perfect match with the Demon Deacons' pitching lab, and his subsequent dominant season was hardly a surprise. Burns' stuff is outrageously filthy, with an upper-90s fastball, a filthy upper-80s slider, a hard curve and an above-average changeup. His 17.2 K/9 was topped only in NCAA history by Hagen Smith's 17.3. He sometimes wavers with his command, though he showed drastic improvement in that area since arriving in Winston-Salem. Burns is not the slam-dunk ace like Paul Skenes was in 2023, but he's about as close as it gets.

5. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

Everyone would love to see Jac-tani try being a two-way player in the pros. And why not? He hits the ball as far as anyone and hits triple-digits from the left side. His command as a pitcher has enough concerns that it's unlikely he'll be given the opportunity to pitch at the next level with teams instead wanting to harness him more as a hitter. At the plate, Caglianone answered the biggest question about himself by cutting his strikeout rate from 18.1 percent in 2023 to 8.2 percent in 2024 while hitting .419. The power is absurd and rivals Condon for the best in the class. Defensively, he's all but certainly going to play first, but a team could test his range and rocket arm strength in the outfield if he drops pitching.

6. Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

The battle between Burns and Smith for the NCAA K/9 record in 2023 was the stuff of legends as the two aces came down to the NCAA tournament to decide the record. It wound up being Smith at 17.3, and it's not hard to see why he racked up Ks at a historic rate. Smith runs the fastball up to 100 mph from the left side and has a sweeping slider in the mid-80s that was a true weapon. The splitter showed progressive improvement during the season to give him a second out-pitch and a solid equalizer against right-handed hitters. His funky delivery has occasionally led to command issues, but it also adds deception. Smith has the chance to become a future ace in the big leagues, and should be the first or second pitcher off the board.

7. Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

A broken ankle could cloud the outlook for Montgomery heading into the MLB draft. He dropped pitching when he transferred from Stanford to Texas A&M and the results stood out as he went from 17 homers in 2023 to 27 in 2024 with a 1.187 OPS. The switch-hitting Montgomery has power from both sides and has improved his discipline. He has decent range for a corner outfielder and a cannon for an arm that carries over from his pitching days of throwing in the mid-90s on the mound. The medicals could wind up determining whether he sticks as a top-10 player or falls just outside.

8. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Much like Wetherholt, an injury diminished Kurtz's draft stock early in the season. But when Kurtz returned from his shoulder injury, he mashed, finishing the season with 22 home runs and a .763 slugging percentage. Beyond his power, the left-handed Demon Deacon has drawn praise for his eye at the plate and ability to hit the ball to all fields. As far as pure hitters go, there might not be anyone in the draft that combines his advanced approach and power. Kurtz is a standout defender at first, but he is undoubtedly limited to the position given his arm strength and lack of speed. 

9. Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep (MS)

It's fitting that the first high-school player on the big board also has the highest ceiling of any player in the draft. Griffin stands 6-4, 205 with explosive power and blazing speed. He's also a slick defender at both shortstop and centerfield with a cannon for an arm. That gives him four plus or better tools. As is often the case for prep players, the hit tool requires refinement. He has a long swing that could be exploited by professional pitchers, and might limit the ability for him to fully tap into that upside. It won't be hard for a team to see the sky-high upside in selecting Griffin in the draft.

10. Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (Ca)

The next prep player on the board also brings five-tool upside, though with a higher floor and lower ceiling than Griffin. The left-handed hitting Rainer makes more consistent contact and controls the strike zone with an advanced approach. He punishes mistakes with plus power and brings above-average speed that could make him a possible 20-20 threat in the big leagues. Rainer is a solid defender at shortstop, but can often make up for his more modest defensive prowess with a strong arm. Already 19, Rainer is a bit on the older side of high-school prospects. That won't prevent him from going around the first 10 picks.

MORE: Where is the 2024 MLB All-Star Game?

11. Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest

There is plenty of value in having a super-utility player, and King brings exactly that type of profile. A transfer from Wingate, King logged time at second, short, third and center field, at all of which he showed at least average defensive play. The bat is certainly impressive as he mashed in the Cape Cod Baseball League with wooden bats, then launched 16 homers with a .954 OPS in his lone ACC season. He's a speedy runner with the potential to punish mistakes, giving him 20-20 upside. King often sacrifices power for contact, which has resulted in weaker hits, but his speed allows him to pick up plenty of infield hits. There aren't many weaknesses in the profile of the well-rounded King.

12. Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Yesavage has been the East Carolina ace for the past two seasons, during which he lost only two games. Wins and losses are hardly a metric scouts will examine, but it conveys the dominance he exhibited over the college baseball world for the past two years. He boasts a diverse repertoire that's headlined by a mid-90s fastball and a burrowing splitter, as well as his mid-80s slider that has been a major weapon. Yesavage also mixes in a curveball to give him a well-rounded four-pitch mix. He'll need to continue improving his fastball location at the next level to reach No. 2 starter upside.

13. Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

There aren't many holes in the game of Smith. The 21-year-old Seminole is a slick third baseman who profiles as an above-average defender at the position with a strong arm that give scouts no questions about his ability to stick at the hot corner at the pro level. He answered the biggest question about his game in his draft-eligible sophomore year by cutting down on his chase rates and swing-and-miss rates, which led to a .129 jump in batting average and .162 jump in on-base percentage. The power Smith showed as a freshman also improved as he saw a jump in his slugging percentage with 16 home runs. Though not a burner, Smith has the impressive bat and standout defensive ability give him among the highest floors in this class with a decent ceiling as a hit-over-power batter.

14. Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

It has been an up-and-down road to the draft for Honeycutt. He was viewed as the 2024 top prospect after a sensational freshman season, but strikeouts were viewed as a concern. He then sacrificed power for contact as a sophomore, then brought the power and Ks back as a junior. Honeycutt is a Gold Glove-caliber defender in center field with a strong arm. He is also a blazing runner who swiped 76 stolen bases in his career with explosive power that led to 65 homers. If he can keep the swing-and-misses and chases just enough to maximize his power, there's serious star potential. There's also tremendous risk in the profile that the strikeouts will be too much to overcome at the pro level.

15. James Tibbs, OF, Florida State

The second of a dynamic duo of Seminole hitters, Tibbs is all bat. He slugged .777 with 28 homers in 66 games and walked 58 times to 37 strikeouts in his junior year. Scouts see the hit tool as among the more polished in the class, which helps him maximize his power, which some believe to be only slightly above-average. Unlike Smith, Tibbs' entire draft value will come from his bat as he is limited to left field as a below-average defender with below-average range. A team that trusts his bat enough could find themselves banking on him developing into a standout big-league hitter who produces enough at the plate to overcome the defensive shortcomings.

16. Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro (AZ)

Big-league bloodlines often give players a bit of a leg up in the evaluation process, but Cam Caminiti doesn't need to rely on being the cousin of Ken Caminiti to boost his value. The top high-school pitcher in the class has a diverse arsenal of pitches, particularly for a prep player, starting with his mid-90s fastball, sharp slider and above-average changeup, and rounded out with a decent curveball. At 6-2, 195 pounds, the southpaw has prototypical starting pitcher size and shows a repeated delivery that helps him control his arsenal. High-school pitchers are incredibly risky, but Caminiti combines enough polish and upside to clear him as the top prep pitcher in this class.

17. Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

There isn't much Benge can't do well on the baseball field. The 6-1, left-handed hitting outfielder carried over his impressive discipline numbers as a redshirt freshman into his redshirt sophomore season by walking 49 times to just 51 strikeouts. He had a 1.109 OPS with 18 home runs, and swiped 10 bases just for good measure. Benge has a strong arm with decent range in right field that help him profile as an average to above-average defender. That profile helps the Cowboy stand out as one of the more well-rounded players in the class, who offers a high floor with some upside at the plate.

18. Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

On any given outing, Brecht could look like the best college arm in the country. On another, he might walk six batters. Most often, Brecht would fan double-digits and walk two to three hitters. He hits triple digits with regularity with his fastball with an unhittable, upper-80s to low-90s slider. He's also mixed in a low-90s splitter that could develop further into another quality out-pitch. The biggest issue with Brecht has been that his control has been consistently wild over his three years at Iowa. Though that profile leads to both reliever risk and potential strike-throwing issues that could limit his ability to rise in the minors, Brecht also comes with the most upside of any collegiate pitcher outside of Burns and Smith in this class.

19. William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic (LA)

It helps to have the best pitch of any of your peers. That's the case for Schmidt, whose curveball stands out as the best bender in the 2024 high-school class. The pitch is in the low-80s with tons of movement that already stands out as a pro-caliber offering. Schmidt pairs that with a fastball that can get ramped up to the upper-90s, giving him a dangerous one-two punch. Schmidt needs to continue developing his changeup, but his strike-throwing ability helps give him a high floor, especially for a prep pitcher. 

* - Schmidt announced on X he will not be going to the 2024 MLB Draft and instead intends to honor his LSU commit

20. Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Moore had begun his collegiate career with two solid seasons at Tennessee, but his big breakout came in 2024, when he blasted 34 homers and posted a 1.248 OPS. The skills back up the numbers as more than just a mirage. He has a lightning-fast bat that helps him generate above-average power, and his patient approach helps him reach base at a high clip. Moore is only an average defender at second and he's not particularly fast, putting pressure on his bat to perform at the next level.

MORE: Tennessee's Christian Moore makes history at College World Series 

21. Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View (AR)

Caldwell is an exciting high-school prospect. He has blazing speed and a similarly quick bat, which helps him produce power in his 5-9 frame. The left-handed hitter has shown an impressive ability to lay off pitches outside the zone, and use all fields to help him rack up hits at high rates. He has a below-average arm, but his range and instincts should keep him in center long-term. There's not as much power from Caldwell, but the leadoff-hitter profile should entice plenty of teams.

22. Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

No, that isn't a typo. Cijntje throws from both sides of the plate. And it's not a gimmick. Though the Bulldog starter is a better pitcher from the right side, he can seriously sling it from the left side. He hits 98 mph from the right side on his fastball with a filthy slider and solid changeup, while pitching in the low-90s with another solid slider from the left side. He pitched most often as a righty in 2024, and the belief is largely that while he can throw from either side, he'll pitch most often from the right side, even if occasionally pitching as a southpaw. At only 5-11, he's smaller than a lot of starters, which does give durability concerns. But overall, he is one of the more intriguing prospects in the draft.

23. Theo Gillen, 2B/SS, Westlake (TX)

It is all bat with Gillen. The good news for him is that he's got a good one. Gillen is a patient hitter who hits the ball to all fields from the left-handed batter's box and shows off impressive power. He also boasts plenty of speed that make him a constant danger to steal any time he reaches base. Though he played shortstop at high school, his lack of arm strength should necessitate a move off the position either to second or the outfield. But as long as he keeps hitting, the bat and speed should help him hit enough at any position.

24. Tommy White, 3B, LSU

There's a reason he's called "Tommy Tanks." White has oodles of power, and launched 75 home runs over his three seasons in college. Despite having all that power, White makes consistent contact even when swinging out of the zone, which has helped him maintain a high average. White is a slow prospect and is expected by many to need to move to first base at some point in the pros. That bat should still hit enough at the next level, though cutting down on chase rates will be the next step in his development.

25. Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

There's a decent crop of college catchers all with assorted strengths. Janek's biggest strength is his powerful arm and framing ability. He's an average defender overall, though few doubt he'll be able to remain behind the plate long-term. Even if he did, his arm and mobility should allow him to handle right field. Janek blasted a career-best 17 homers in 2024 and walked 40 times to 45 strikeouts, which hints at enough power to help him be a starting catcher in the pros.

26. Ryan Sloan, RHP, York (IL)

Sloan just looks the part of a top-tier pitching prospect. The 6-5, 220-pound right-hander can throw up to 99 mph with plenty of movement, and his changeup is a devastating offering that was unfair for his prep counterparts. The slider has showed continued improvement and profiles at least as above-average, with some believing it could join his other two offerings as a true plus pitch. Like many high-school pitchers, Sloan will need to refine his control on the mound, but he offers everything teams look for in a first-round, high-school pitching prospect.

27. Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

Everything about Jordan is fast. He covers a lot of ground in the outfield and swings the bat from the right side as quick as anyone. But the former wide receiver is still raw in a lot of areas, as he doesn't steal many bases, isn't always making the right read in the outfield and swings and misses too often. The upside is there for him to be a 20-20 threat at the plate and a solid center fielder as well if teams work with him in the pro ranks. The lofty ceiling will entice plenty of teams to take a flier on developing the draft-eligible sophomore further.

28. Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (OK)

A bit of an older high-school player at 19 years old, Mayfield couples that age with an advanced approach to pitching. Mayfield has an easy, repeatable delivery that helps him control his arsenal well. And that arsenal is among the most impressive of the prep ranks. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and features plenty of movement. Mayfield adds in a filthy changeup that is his top out-pitch and offers a curveball that has the makings of being another solid pitch with more time to develop it. As with many high-school prospects at 19, Mayfield will face added scrutiny from teams for being on the older side, but he still has plenty of upside to offer.

29. Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

It has been back-to-back years of standout play from Culpepper at Kansas State. He enjoyed a breakout campaign as a sophomore with a .999 OPS with 10 homers, then had a .993 OPS with 11 home runs as a junior. However, his junior campaign saw him show an improved approach at the plate, showing better discipline and taking more walks. Though he isn't a slugger, Culpepper stands out as a solid bet to reach base at a high clip. The biggest question facing Culpepper will be his defensive home. The standout Wildcat could stick at shortstop, but many expect he'll need to move to third base. He has the potential to be a well above-average defender at the hot corner, particularly given his powerful arm.

30. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

Waldschmidt has been one of the biggest risers throughout the 2024 draft process. He saw his OPS spike from .872 in 2023 to 1.079 in 2024. He launched 14 homers and stole 25 bases, while walking 41 times to 45 strikeouts. The entirety of his offensive profile merits praise as scouts see a patient hitter with the power to hit 20 homers and the speed to steal 20-plus bags. Waldschmidt doesn't have a clear defensive home. He has played third base and left field at times, but he's profiled as a below-average defender in left and has all but given up on playing the hot corner. Teams will need to harness his instincts and accept the limited arm strength if he is going to avoid a future as a DH-only slugger.

MORE: Why 2023 No. 1 pick Paul Skenes should start 2024 All-Star Game

Top 100 MLB Draft prospects for 2024