The MLB Draft Lottery is set to take place on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, with 17 teams vying for the chance to land the first pick in the 2024 Draft. The lottery, to be aired live on the MLB Network at 5:30 p.m. ET, will see six teams awarded the top six picks, shaping the rest of the first round.
Questions are arising as to which players these lottery winners will be interested in selecting. On a recent episode of the MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo broke down their top 20 college and top 20 high school player rankings and took their shot at predicting the first 10 picks of the 2024 Draft.
At the top of the list is JJ Wetherholt, an infielder from West Virginia. Callis and Mayo both agree that Wetherholt’s hitting ability and potential to play shortstop give him the edge over other top college prospects. Following Wetherholt are first baseman Nick Kurtz from Wake Forest, second baseman Travis Bazzana from Oregon State, and right-handed pitcher Chase Burns, also from Wake Forest.
The list also includes two-way player Jac Caglianone from Florida, first baseman/outfielder Charlie Condon from Georgia, and right-handed pitcher Brody Brecht from Iowa. Rounding out the top 10 are outfielder Vance Honeycutt from North Carolina, high school outfielder PJ Morlando from Summerville, North Carolina, and third baseman Tommy White from LSU.
The uncertainty around who the top prospects will be in the 2024 Draft is notable. With the absence of a clear-cut No. 1 pick, the upcoming Draft is set to be an interesting one as teams weigh their options and consider a range of college and high school talent.
The MLB Draft Lottery will serve as a starting point for the journey towards the 2024 MLB Draft, offering teams the opportunity to secure top picks and potentially set the stage for future success.