The 2024 MLB Draft has officially wrapped up. After an exciting 1st round live from Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, which included Travis Bazanna going with the first overall pick, MLB teams flew through 19 more rounds picking the future generation of their clubs.
This year’s draft was showcased by future stars of the game from seniors in college to those grinding in JUCO and even stars from the high school level. It’s also a reminder of the impact technology like Rapsodo is having on the next generation of baseball.
Before we dive into some of the actual picks from this year’s draft, let’s take a look at the numbers:
By the Numbers
- 3 Days, 20 Rounds
- 615 Players Taken
- 474 College Players
- 26 JUCO Players
- 115 High School Players
- 90% of 1st Round Picks Used Rapsodo
Rapsodo NIL Athletes All Go in the 1st Round
This year, 90% of first-round picks have one thing in common: Rapsodo. Our industry-leading player development tools have been pivotal in helping these athletes fine-tune their skills.
By providing unparalleled insights into their pitching and hitting mechanics, Rapsodo has helped these players climb to the top of draft boards. The result? A first round packed with athletes ready to make an immediate impact in the majors.
Chase Burns – RHP (1st Round, 2nd Pick)
Burns was the first of Rapsodo’s NIL athletes to be drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft and it didn’t take long. The Wake Forest pitcher was picked up by the Cincinnati Reds with the 2nd overall pick of the draft.
Chase was originally projected as the 6th best prospect by MLB Pipeline, so the jump to No. 2 was a pleasant surprise. The 6’4” right-handed pitcher led all of D1 Baseball with 191 strikeouts, 30 K’s more than the next closet pitcher.
With his signature fastball that tops out at 101 MPH and a spin rate of 2,700 RPMs, he also mixes in a slider, curveball, and circle changeup into his pitch arsenal.
Jac Caglianone – TWP (1st Round, 6th Pick)
Drawing comparisons to Shohei Ohtani as the next great two-way player, Jac Caglianone was the 6th overall pick of the draft, getting picked by the Kansas City Royals.
The LHP/1B combo can touch 100 MPH on the mound and 115+ MPH off the bat. He hit 68 home runs over his last two seasons at Florida which included a stretch of hitting a home run in nine-straight games, tying an NCAA record.
As a pitcher the lefty struck out 170 through 34 appearances (148 1/3 innings) across his three years in Gainesville.
The Royals will allow him to start his MLB career as a two-way player.
Vance Honeycutt – OF (1st Round, 22nd Pick)
Honeycutt is a five-tool player out of North Carolina and was taken by the Baltimore Orioles with their first-round selection.
As one of the best defensive outfielders in this year’s draft, the former Tarheel helped lead his team to the College World Series, including a walk-off hit in the opening game against Virginia.
Vance finished his career in Chapel Hill with 65 HRs and 76 stolen bases. Honeycutt slashed .318/.410/.714 this season with 28 HRs and 28 stolen bases, ranking 1st and 3rd in the ACC.
Blake Burke – 1B (CB-A, 34th Pick)
The biggest jump made by a Rapsodo athlete in the MLB Draft was Blake Burke. The first baseman, originally projected 66th by the MLB, was taken with the 34th overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.
The power hitter was part of the College World Series champions Tennessee Volunteers, hitting 50 home runs in his time at Knoxville, which ranks second all-time.
Burke made a huge contribution to the Volunteers championship season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. He batted .379 with 108 hits, 20 home runs and 61 RBIs - all of which were career bests.
Brody Brecht – RHP (CB-A, 36th Pick)
As a two-sport athlete playing for Iowa baseball and football, Brecht decided to focus on baseball this season. A decision that paid off for the Ankeny native after getting picked by the Colorado Rockies.
His pitch arsenal consists of a four-seam fastball that reached 104 MPH this year. He also has a sweeper and a slider that is potentially his best pitch, getting up to 91 MPH.
Top High School Picks - Rapsodo Exit Velocities
Among the highlights of the 2024 Draft were the selections of the top high school players. These young stars have been using Rapsodo to track progress and boost their exit velocities, showcasing exceptional power and precision at the plate.
| PLAYER/POSITION | TEAM | PICK | HIGH SCHOOL | TOP EXIT VELO |
| Konnor Griffin (SS) | PIT | 9th | Jackson Prep HS | 113.1 MPH |
| Bryce Rainer (SS) | DET | 11th | Harvard-Westlake | 107.84 MPH |
| P.J. Morlando (OF) | MIA | 16th | Summerville HS | 117 MPH |
| Braylon Payne (OF) | MIL | 17th | Elkins HS | 110.75 MPH |
| Theo Gillen (OF) | TB | 18th | Westlake HS | 119.4 MPH |
| Kellon Lindsey (SS) | LAD | 23rd | Hardee HS | 112.66 MPH |
| Dante Nori (OF) | PHI | 27th | Northville HS | 98.37 MPH |
| Slade Caldwell (OF) | ARI | 29th | Valley View HS | 109 MPH |
| JD Dix (SS) | ARI | 35th | Whitefish Bay HS | 103.15 MPH |
| Caleb Bonemer | CWS | 43rd | Okemos HS | 111.71 MPH |
Other 1st Round Highlights
In addition to the NIL athletes and high school talent headlining this year’s draft, there was plenty of other exciting talent selected in the first round that will shape the future of the game.
Hagen Smith
Arkansas left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith goes No. 5 overall in the #MLBDraft to the @whitesox.
— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 14, 2024
Here's a look at the southpaw's pitch arsenal. pic.twitter.com/mn0UPHFYW1
Smith was the other top ranked pitcher in this year’s draft next to Chase Burns. The lefty had the second most strikeouts in D1 Baseball next to Burns with 161 Ks. Here’s a look at the pitch arsenal for the White Sox 1st round pick.
Braden Montgomery
Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore is heading to the @Angels with the 8th overall pick of the MLB Draft.
— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 14, 2024
The recent College World Series champion is now a big leaguer. pic.twitter.com/X7vYU8qw7Z
The Red Sox took Montgomery with the 12th overall pick of this year’s draft. Originally ranked No. 8 by MLB Pipeline, Montgomery may have dropped a few picks due to a broken ankle during the College World Series. In addition to his power at the plate, the Stanford/Texas A&M product made 27 appearances on the mound in his collegiate career.
Trey Yesavage
Trey Yesavage is now part of the @BlueJays after getting selected as the 20th pick of the #MLBDraft.
— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 15, 2024
The 6'4" right-hander brings a four-pitch arsenal that consists of fastball, slider, cutter, and changeup.
Here's a look at his pitch tunneling. pic.twitter.com/JdPYktZVjo
The East Carolina product was seen by many as the third-best available pitcher in the 2024 MLB Draft. Yesavage had a top five finish among D1 pitchers in ERA (2.02), strikeouts (145), and opponent average (.154). Here’s a look at the pitch arsenal for the one of the Blue Jays newest additions.
Ben Hess
Trey Yesavage is now part of the @BlueJays after getting selected as the 20th pick of the #MLBDraft.
— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 15, 2024
The 6'4" right-hander brings a four-pitch arsenal that consists of fastball, slider, cutter, and changeup.
Here's a look at his pitch tunneling. pic.twitter.com/JdPYktZVjo
With the 26th overall pick of the MLB Draft, the Yankees went with RHP from Alabama Ben Hess. Here’s a spin comparison of Hess’ fastball vs curveball.
Cam Caminiti
Drafted outta high school straight into the pros.
— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 15, 2024
Cam Caminiti, cousin of former MLB All-Star Ken Caminiti, get picked 24th overall by the @Braves.
The 17-year-old pitcher touches 96 MPH with his fastball and has a curveball/slider that pairs well with his changeup. pic.twitter.com/vnKtPfqPM3
The 17-year-old cousin of former MLB All-Star Ken Caminiti was the 24th pick of the draft taken by the Atlanta Braves. His fastball touches 96 MPH on the radar and has a curveball/slider that pairs well with his changeup.
Get Drafted With Rapsodo
At Rapsodo, our mission is to give athletes everywhere the tools they need to play like never before. By delivering precise, real-time data, we enable players and coaches to make informed decisions that lead to significant improvements. The 2024 MLB Draft is a testament to the power of our technology.
For pitchers and hitters alike, Rapsodo’s advanced analytics provide the data, data visualization, video replay and more to help develop players, create a more competitive environment, and advance recruiting / getting the next level. Join the ranks of the next generation of baseball and get drafted with Rapsodo.
If you're interested in learning more, email playerdevelopment@rapsodo.com and let our team of experts walk you through our products.
