2024 MLB Draft Top Names To Know

The MLB Draft Combine starts Tuesday in Phoenix but you can put together your top picks for the mid-July draft without dissecting the festivities.

The top of the draft is filled with elite college batters and two superb college hurlers. There's also a probable high school position player in the top 10.

Of course, no matter how impressive the prospect, there's no guarantee the player will pan out.

After all, it was easy to tell Stephen Strasburg should be the No. 1 overall pick in 2009 but Mike Trout wasn't selected until No. 25. Guys named Donavan Tate, Tony Sanchez and Matt Hobgood went 3, 4 and 5 overall.

Here's a half-dozen players to know and another on the rise:

Oregon State 2B Travis Bazzana

The left-handed hitter is viewed as the favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Guardians. The Australian-born Bazzana batted .407 this season and smacked a school-record 28 homers, while also setting Beavers' career marks of 45 long balls and 251 hits. He won't need much minor league seasoning.

Georgia OF Charlie Condon

The Dick Howser Trophy winner leads the nation in batting average (.443) and homers (37) and could push Bazzana for the No. 1 slot. He also can play third base and first base and has a superb throwing arm. Condon wasn't selected after his high school career but he's highly regarded now.

Florida 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone

The left-handed-hitting slugger could go No. 3 overall to the Colorado Rockies and someday play in the Mile High air. He smacked a homer in nine consecutive games earlier this season and his 33 blasts share the school record he set last season. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and his arm has bounced back well but his bat is his ticket to the majors.

Wake Forest RHP Chase Burns

He transferred from Tennessee after last season and flourished in 2024 with 191 strikeouts in 100 innings. Burns went 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA and held opposing batters to a .175 average. His pitching arsenal has always stood out and his command has improved.

Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith

The other top-flight starter, his stock rose in February after he struck out 17 in six innings against Oregon State. Overall, he fanned 161 in just 84 innings while limiting hitters to a .144 average. Smith also fools batters by dropping to a three-quarters delivery.

Jackson Prep (Flowood, Miss.) SS Konnor Griffin

Considered a potential five-tool prospect with his combination of power, strength and speed. Griffin turned 18 and already stands 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and figures to get even stronger. Some team will be just fine with waiting until 2027 to see Griffin in the majors but he will have leverage due to the college offer he accepted from LSU.

Tennessee 2B Christian Moore

A player pegged for the middle of the first round, Moore has picked a great time to make an impact. Moore became the second player in Men's College World Series history to hit for the cycle in the Volunteers' first game and then made a stunning defensive play in which he displayed range, athleticism and arm strength in the second game. He is batting .384 with a school-record 33 homers and everything about him says "future major leaguer."