JJ WetherholtPatrick Mulligan/Getty Images
1. Cleveland Guardians: 2B/SS JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia
It’s the time of year when rumors start to swirl about the team that holds the No. 1 overall pick potentially cutting a below-slot deal to maximize its draft pool.
Travis Bazzana and Charlie Condon have long been viewed as the top two players in this draft class, but that’s no guarantee either of them will be the first pick.
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN recently provided an in-depth explanation into the logic behind targeting Wetherholt, and it makes a ton of sense.
The quick summary is that with his expected bonus range, the Guardians could end up with as much as $6 million to spend on the No. 36 overall pick without pulling any money from their other slot values, and he is not that far behind the consensus top two.
He missed some time with a hamstring strain this spring and didn’t face the same grueling conference schedule playing in the Big 12, but his 70-grade hit tool makes him, arguably, the best pure hitter in the 2024 class. He batted .370/.468/.625 in 145 games at West Virginia and could fly through the minor leagues.
2. Cincinnati Reds: OF Charlie Condon, Georgia
The Reds have long been expected to take whoever is left between Charlie Condon and Travis Bazzana.
In this scenario, they have their pick of the two elite college bats, and it’s easy to envision Condon launching balls out of Great American Ball Park at a prolific rate just a few years from now.
The 2024 Golden Spikes winner hit .433/.556/1.009 with 20 doubles, 37 home runs and 78 RBI in 304 plate appearances this spring, logging more walks (57) than strikeouts (41) while showcasing more than enough hit tool to consistently get to his plus power.
Condon will likely be limited to an outfield corner defensively, but he has superstar upside at the plate.
