Day one of the draft consists of the first two rounds, including all the compensatory, competitive balance and Prospect Promotion Incentive picks following those rounds.
This year, a total of 74 picks were made during the top two rounds of the draft.
Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt and Virginia shortstop Griff O’Ferrall, drafted 31st and 32nd overall by the D-backs and Orioles, were the second- and third-ever PPI draft picks. Arizona and Baltimore added the picks when Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson won Rookie of the Year awards in 2023.
A RECORD EIGHT STRAIGHT COLLEGE PLAYERS KICK THINGS OFF
We expected this year’s first round to lean heavily on college players, and that wound up being the case on a record-setting night.
This draft was the first in history to feature college players taken off the board with the top eight picks, and it also set a record with nine collegians drafted among the first 10 picks of the draft. The 2024 draft was the 60th ever conducted.
1. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
2. Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
3. Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
4. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
5. Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
6. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
7. JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
8. Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
10. Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
Previously, the high-water mark for college players selected in the first 10 picks was six, which happened in 1985, 2018 and 2019.
In the first 30 overall picks, 20 college players were drafted. That tracks with the overall BA draft prospect ranking, which featured 21 collegians ranked among the top 30 players.
This story is from the August/September 2024 edition of Baseball America.
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This story is from the August/September 2024 edition of Baseball America.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.
ROAD BLOCK?
Scholarship expansion puts mid-majors at a major disadvantage on the road to Omaha
ROYALS REVIVAL
A revamped and rejuvenated farm system has Kansas City ready to rebound
SUMMER STANDOUTS
The top prospects in summer college leagues are poised to impact the 2025 draft
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Last year’s Florida Complex League prospect crop has been beset by lengthy injuries to many of its top players, including Yankees pitchers Henry Lalane and Carlos Lagrange, Mets infielder Marco Vargas and Red Sox catcher Johanfran Garcia.
IN WITH THE NEW
The 2024 draft is in the books. The trade deadline is history.
WALCOTT BLASTS OFF
It took some time for Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott to find his footing at High-A Hickory.
A RECORD NIGHT FOR COLLEGIANS
Four key takeaways from the 2024 draft
K.C.MASTERPIECE
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. wins games for the Royals with his bat, glove, speed and baseball IQ. He might be the most tooled-up player in the game.
HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
When negotiating the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the MLB Players Association prioritized the earning power of young major league players, especially young stars.
