MLB Draft

Demilio: My 2024 Pirates MLB Draft Big Board

Published

6 months ago

July 12, 2024

JJ Wetherholt, MLB Draft, PIttsburgh Pirates

The first round of the 2024 MLB Draft is two days away.

A year after selecting Paul Skenes with the first pick in 2023, the Pittsburgh Pirates hold the ninth pick in this year’s draft.

The top of this year’s draft board is heavy on two demographics — college players and hitting prospects. The general consensus is that there isn’t clear-cut No. 1 pick as we have sometimes seen in other years. There are several options in play for the Cleveland Guardians to take with the first-overall pick this year.

With that being said, here are my top 10 MLB Draft prospects for the Pirates during this year’s first round, and no, they won’t all be there when Ben Cherington is on the clock.

1. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

To me, Bazzana has solidified himself as the top prospect in this year’s draft after an excellent season at Oregon State. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter slashed .407/.568/.911 with 28 home runs, 66 RBIs and 16 steals.

Of all the impressive numbers Bazzana posted this season, I was most impressed by his limited strikeout totals and his ability to draw walks at an exceptionally high clip. Bazzana struck out in 12.5% of his plate appearances and drew a walk 25% of the time, showing good bat-to-ball skills and a keen eye. He was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year.

In addition to a strong hit tool, Bazzana has plus-power and speed and should be an adequate defender at second base.

2. Charlie Condon, 3B/OF, Georgia

While I believe Condon has more upside at the plate than Bazanna, the latter has the edge on the basepaths and defensively, in addition to having a higher floor.

But like my top prospect in this year’s draft, Condon put up video-game like numbers in his junior year. The 21-year-old hit .433/.546/.1.009 with a whopping 37 home runs and 78 RBIs in 60 games in the mighty SEC en route to winning the Golden Spikes Award.

Though the bat will play, Condon is a player without a position. He could theoretically handle one of the corners in either the infield or outfield but the question is how capable of a defender he will be. Regardless, it’s his bat that has him ranked at this spot.

3. JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia

A local product, Wetherholt graduated from Mars Area High School and played collegiately at West Virginia University.

Wetherholt missed some of the season with hamstring issues but still produced for the Mountaineers, though his season wasn’t up to par with what he did last year. In 36 games in 2024, Wetherholt hit .331 with a .472 on-base percentage, eight doubles, eight home runs and 30 RBIs.

The 21-year-old might have the best pure hitting ability in this year’s draft. I also believe he has a chance to stick at short professionally. The only real knock on him is that he was injured for a good portion of the year.

4. Jac Caglianone. 1B/LHP, Florida

The top two-way player available in this year’s MLB Draft, his bat currently stands out more than his arm but there is a lot to like in both aspects of his game.

Caglianone played in 66 games with the Florida Gators this year and hit .419 with a 1.419 OPS and 35 home runs. On the mound, he went 5-2 with a 4.76 ERA and struck out 83 in 73.2 innings.

At the plate, Caglianone’s best tool is his power. 35 home runs in 66 games will lead to that, I suppose. On the mound, he’s capable of hitting triple-digits with his fastball.

5. Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Finally, the top pitcher on my board in the 2024 MLB Draft. Burns is one of two pitcher-only prospects I have in my top 10 but he’s the top arm available this year in my eyes.

Burns transferred from Tennessee to Wake Forrest before the start of this year and thrived with the Demon Deacons. The right-hander went 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts. He totaled exactly 100 innings, allowed 62 hits, walked 30 and struck out 191 as the ACC Pitcher of the Year.

Burns has plus-pitches throughout his four-pitch mix, led by a sharp slider. He also features a fastball, slider and changeup.

6. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Kurtz, a teammate of Burns, is one spot behind him in my rankings. If the Pirates were to break protocol and draft for need, Kurtz would be the most logical pick.

The 21-year-old from Lancaster, Penn., is a big body, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 240 pounds. In 54 games this year, he slashed .306/.531/.763 with 22 homers, 57 RBIs and a 30% walk rate.

Kurtz took a step back in batting average this season but still has plenty of upside from the left-side of the plate. He’s also a strong defender at first base.

7. Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

The second of two pitchers in my top 10 for the MLB Draft, Smith is the top left-hander available.

Smith went 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA in 16 starts and yielded just 41 hits in 84 innings pitched. He struck out nearly half the batters he faced — 161 of the 331 — and was recognized as the National Pitcher of the year by ABCA/Rawlings, Perfect Game and the Collegiate Baseball Foundation.

The southpaw already has two outstanding pitches — both a high-90s fastball and a good-looking slider. If he can develop a third pitch further, he has the chance to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.

8. James Tibbs, OF, Florida State

I’m admittedly higher on Tibbs than most, but I love that bat — especially the bat speed — and feel like he has the chance to be an impact player at the next level.

Tibbs slashed .363/.488/.777 with 18 doubles, 28 home runs and 95 RBIs in 66 games with Florida State in 2024.

Tibbs profiles as a corner outfielder and could find a home at first base if needed. I think his bat will play anywhere.

9. Christian Moore, 2B Tennessee

Like Tibbs, Moore is another player I’m probably a bit higher on than some others but I really love his skillset.

Moore raked at Tennessee during his junior year. He hit .375 with a 1.248 OPS, slugged 34 home runs and helped lead the Volunteers to a 60-13 record and the College World Series championship.

He’s an above-average hitter with obvious plus-power. He could end up at second base, though has the athletic ability and a strong enough arm to roam the outfield.

10. Bryce Rainer, SS, California (High School)

Finally, a prep player makes an appearance on my list to round out my top 10.

Though he’s young, Rainer already has some advanced tools in all areas of his game. His bat is already above-average both in terms of contact and power. He’s a good runner, has a strong arm and projects to be able to handle shortstop long-term

Under Cherington, the Pirates have gone the prep route only once (Termarr Johnson in 2022). Rainer is committed to play collegiately at Texas.