For players on eight college baseball teams, their final games played before going to the pros will be played in Omaha.
Most collegiate players have had their final moments to sway evaluators ahead of the 2024 MLB Draft, but there are others who will have the largest stage in college baseball to make their case.
The 2024 College World Series field is set, and there is no shortage of star prospects lined up to play in Nebraska to determine the Division I college baseball champion. Florida's Jac Caglianone, one of the sport's biggest stars at any level, leads the way, but several players are bound to make waves in Omaha before eventually getting their shot in the majors.
As fans are watching the final college baseball games of the season, they'll undoubtedly want to know who to watch. Sporting News is taking a look at the 10 best MLB draft prospects who will play in Omaha. As a note, though Texas A&M is still competing, Braden Montgomery is not included on the list as he will miss the CWS due to a season-ending injury — he would rank second behind Caglianone.
Here's a look at the top 10 MLB draft prospects playing in this year's College World Series.
MLB MOCK DRAFT: Where Florida's Jac Caglianone, UNC's Vance Honeycutt land in 2024 projections
Best MLB Draft prospects in College World Series 2024
1. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
There was a point Jac Caglianone was earning comparisons to Shohei Ohtani. He's a left-handed pitcher firing triple-digit fastballs to the plate and launching pitches from the left side 400-plus feet with regularity to all fields. Caglianone had a down year on the mound, confirming for many his future is limited just to batting at the next level.
Still, his raw pitching tools are explosive between his high-octane fastball, steady cutter, and wipeout slider, but walks have consistently been an issue for him. The 6-5 lefty is a better hitter, showing drastic improvements in 2024. He went from 17 walks and 58 strikeouts in 2023 to 52 walks and 25 strikeouts in 2024 while not sacrificing any power. Some swings and misses highlight the raw aspect of his hit tool, but the power is explosive and the progress in 2024 offers a glimpse of the upside if he focuses on batting full-time. He's a strong defender at first, even if he is limited to the corner spot. Few batters have the upside Caglianone does as a hitter, and it will likely lead to him getting drafted in the top 10 in July's draft.
2. Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
The two Florida State batters could be battling it out for the highest-drafted Seminole this year. We're giving a slight edge to Cam Smith. Draft-eligible sophomores always have some added value for the combination of polish that comes with playing collegiately and the upside of being younger than most other college players. And there's no mistaking it: Smith mashes.
Smith turned an impressive run at the Cape Cod League in 2023 into a stellar sophomore year with the Seminoles, posting a .402/.497/.677 slash with 16 homers, 39 walks, and 44 strikeouts. The 6-3, right-handed slugger has a well-rounded approach and some raw power, though there are still some swings and misses to his game. He's a standout defender at the hot corner, leaving few questions about his ability to stick at the position. That type of profile should land him somewhere in the middle of the first round, if not earlier.
3. Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
It appeared Vance Honeycutt was on the Dylan Crews path after his freshman year when he posted a 1.082 OPS with 25 homers and 29 stolen bases. He was then considered the top draft prospect in 2024, assuming he'd improve his strikeouts. The Ks went down as a sophomore, but so did the overall production. As a junior, the production sky-rocketed to a 1.112 OPS, but the strikeouts returned, again casting doubt about whether he can put everything together.
Honeycutt is a stellar defender in center field, and he brings plenty of speed. Those are traits that give him a high floor. He has plenty of raw power and can be a five-tool star at his best, but 80 strikeouts to 35 walks is among the worst of the early draft prospects and highlights the risk involved with taking him. There aren't many players with his floor of defense and speed, which are both valuable assets. Even a below-average hit tool could get him to the big leagues. A modest hit tool gives him star potential.
4. James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State
James Tibbs III is a hitter, pure and simple. The 6-foot, left-handed outfielder has hit at least .300 with double-digit homers each season he's been in Tallahassee. This year, he walked 54 times to 31 strikeouts and launched a career-best 28 homers.
Tibbs has shown progressive improvement in his discipline each year he's been in college, and he had an impressive summer swinging the wooden bats in the Cape Cod League. He still has some swing-and-miss to his game, but he's at least now doing a better job laying off pitches outside the zone. Tibbs has shown plenty of power, but he'll need to have more raw thunder to make up for a lack of defensive value. He's likely limited to first or left field at the professional level. Still, with that bat, there could be teams willing to take him in the first round.
5. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
Ryan Waldschmidt began the year exclusively DHing after he tore his ACL last summer. The result was an offensive explosion that saw him post a 1.107 OPS with 14 homers and 24 stolen bases. Back to playing defense, as well, he's vaulted himself into first-round consideration.
From an offensive perspective, there are few holes in Waldschmidt's game. He makes consistent contact, lays off pitches outside the zone, and has above-average power. He adds above-average speed that makes him a threat to run on the bases. It's the defensive side that's dropped him in the eyes of some evaluators. He has a below-average arm and lacks key instincts in the field. Like with Tibbs, the bat is what will get him drafted.
6. Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Sometimes, prospects just blow up. That's what happened with Christian Moore. The Volunteer second baseman had been a solid hitter with decent power and low strikeout rates as a freshman and sophomore, but he exploded as a junior this season. Moore launched 32 homers to accompany a 1.248 OPS.
The power with Moore is legit, even if it's more above-average power than true, explosive power. He has struggled with swinging and missing, though he still pairs that with a fair amount of walks. Moore is likely limited to second base, where he profiles as a solid defender with respectable range. Evaluators are split on whether his long swing will lead to too many issues in the pros, but if everything clicks, he could be an above-average offensive contributor at second.
7. Kavares Tears, OF, Tennessee
There's a reason Tennessee is the No. 1 team in the country: a lot of players enjoyed career-best seasons. Kavares Tears had a solid season in 2023 as a role player, but he broke out as a redshirt sophomore, posting a 1.084 OPS, 18 home runs, 64 strikeouts, and 45 walks.
There's five-tool potential in Tears. The defense in right field stands out, as does his powerful arm. Some believe his speed, which plays better in the field than it does on the bases, gives him a shot to play center field. Tears has shown emerging power, and if he continues to display better patience at the plate, the contact should follow. He's still a bit of a raw talent, but he has considerable upside among the players who could go in the top three rounds.
8. Jacob Cozart, C, NC State
College catchers have been a risky demographic to draft of late, particularly taken near the top of the draft. Jacob Cozart is not likely to be an early first-round selection, but he is the clear top catcher in the 2024 class after he posted a 1.033 OPS with 19 homers in his junior year with the Wolfpack.
The 6-3, left-handed swinging catcher makes plenty of contact and has begun to hit the ball with more authority over the past two seasons. His approach has only gotten sharper, as he walked 49 times to just 47 strikeouts in 2024. Despite his height, few question his ability to stick behind the plate defensively. He has an accurate arm and has standout reactions that help him block wild pitches and pop quickly to account for average arm strength. That profile gives him a well-rounded profile for a catcher who will help him land early in the class.
9. Ryan Prager, LHP, Texas A&M
Ryan Prager missed the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery, but he returned to be the ace of the Aggies in 2024. He went from a 5.16 ERA in 2022 to a sterling 3.10 mark in 2024. He has fanned 114 batters and walked only 19 in 87 innings of work, though he has surrendered 12 homers.
Prager doesn't have a blazing fastball, but his quirky, over-the-top delivery gives him deception. That has also helped with his standout changeup and an above-average slider. Despite his wonky delivery, he controls the arsenal well, giving him a high floor. If the 6-3, 200-pound southpaw can add more velocity, there's some added upside for him to develop in the pros.
10. Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
Another Volunteer bat who flourished as a junior, Billy Amick had a career-best campaign in 2024. He increased his career-best home-runHR total from 13 in 2023 to 23 (and counting) in 2024, all while posting an OPS over 1.000 for the second straight year.
The Clemson transfer is all bat, with a quick, powerful swing that generates plenty of power. There are strikeout concerns long-term over his chase rates and swings-and-misses, but nearly any time he makes contact, it's authoritative. Amick faces a lot of pressure for the bat to continue producing, as he's not particularly fleet of foot and is a questionable defender at third, leading some to think he might need to move to first.
