2024 MLB Draft Preview: College Pitchers

We’re excited to ratchet up 2024 MLB Draft content in the coming weeks. We’ll start with a series of articles detailing each positional demographic. These pieces aren’t meant to be an exhaustive list, rather, an overview of the caliber of talent at the position. For each player, we'll run down some basic information, in addition to some strengths and weaknesses. You’ll also find their current position on the Consensus MLB Draft Board in parentheses next to their name. 

The college pitching corps is headlined by two arms that will get scooped up quickly. There is one other arm likely to go in the Top 15. And then it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens next. Today we’re going to look at some college arms that aren’t necessarily ranked at the top of the board, but ones that might pay dividends later.

Jurrangelo Cijntje, S/S P, Mississippi State (36)
Jurrangelo could be the fifth Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle both because his name fits and also because he’s sort of a mutant. Cijntje was drafted by the Brewers in 2022 as a switch-pitcher. Yes, that’s right. He’s a left-handed pitcher… and also a right-handed pitcher.

That’s likely to change as he’s more effective as a right-handed pitcher, where the fastball sits in the 93-95mph range and has touched 97mph with good carry. There's an above average slider with hood bite and an average changeup. From the left/natural side, it's less velocity and more of a fastball slider combination.

While Cijntje doesn't have an ideal frame, he's stocky and strong and has made a good deal of progress with his control in 2024, although through command of his pitches could still improve.

An incredibly unique profile it'll be fascinating to see what a drafting organization does here. My bet is a starting role from the right side to begin. At any rate, he will be a prospect worth watching after likely being selected on the first day of the draft.

Ryan Johnson, S/R P, Dallas Baptist (47)
Johnson is one of the most fascinating pitchers in all of college baseball, and has carried over some impressive results from the tail end of 2023 into an eye-popping 2024.

At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, he's quite a presence on the mound. Johnson leverages a quick pitching motion with more of a drifting step than a leg kick, and wastes little time between pitches, operating efficiently and quickly. He throws from a lower arm slot. It's definitely an unusual look, with some deception present. While some evaluators might not love the effortful delivery, it hasn't prevented him from filling up the strike zone.

Johnson has a fastball that's flirted with 100 mph. It sits 93-95 mph, with arm-side run. The heater is not a bat-misser, but Johnson has a repertoire that doesn't require it to be. He throws his sweeping slider close to half the time. It has plenty of lateral movement and late bite, and Johnson commands it extremely well. Johnson also throws a cutter as a bridge pitch between his fastball and slider, and a changeup with good fade that's more of an emerging offering.

Johnson finished his junior year with an 11-3 record, a 2.21 ERA and 151 strikeouts, with only 14 walks over 106 innings. He offers some unique traits and a lot of features of interest to teams considering taking him.

Ryan Prager, L/L P, Texas A&M (68)
Prager had plenty of interest as a high schooler in 2021, before getting to campus at Texas A&M. He had Tommy John surgery his freshman year, sat out all of 2023, and is a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024, after a phenomenal season in which he's currently 9-1, with 118 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings.

Prager has an effortful delivery, with an over-the-top arm slot. In spite of this, he gets a ton of ride on his fastball (91-93 mph), averaging north of 20 inches of IVB on the pitch, likely to induce plenty of whiffs when he can command it more consistently at the top of the zone. He also has an above-average slider that replaced his curveball from high school, and which has been an effective pitch, in addition to a changeup with plenty of horizontal movement.

Coming into the season, there were some questions about whether Prager profiled as a starter or reliever. He may have answered those with an extremely impressive 2024 season as the Aggies' Friday night starter.

Ryan Forcucci, R/R P, UC San Diego (82)
Forcucci is a right-handed starting pitcher for UC San Diego with a ton of interesting traits and a track record of success, albeit against lesser competition than some of his counterparts in the 2024 draft class.

At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Forcucci has an athletic frame and clean, easy mechanics, making his delivery repeatable and efficient. On the mound, the selling point is a plus run and ride fastball. It sits 93-95 mph, and has been up to 97 mph with over 20 inches of ride and 9 inches of run, making it a nightmare at the top of the strike zone when combined with Forcucci's low release height.

For secondary pitches, Forcucci throws a slider that's above-average. It features some bite and sweep and has proved to be a bat-misser. Forcucci also throws a slower curveball and has started using a changeup, though it's far from being a weapon against pro hitters right now.

The combination of a plus fastball with unusual traits, clean mechanics, good athleticism on the mound, and a solid college track record make Forcucci great clay to mold at the pro level. As of mid-March, he looked like a top 50-60 selection come July. However, Forcucci hasn’t made an appearance since then because of injury, and there is speculation that he will be having Tommy John surgery.

Daniel Eagen, R/R P, Presbyterian (129)
Eagen is a right-handed pitcher with a stereotypical starting pitcher's frame, having an outstanding 2024 campaign for little Presbyterian College. In 14 games, Eagen struck out 122 in 77 2/3 innings, sporting a sub-1.00 WHIP.

Eagen's fastball saw a velocity jump this spring, after he moved into the rotation full-time. It sits 93-94 mph, but can get up to 96 mph with some carry, thrown from a high slot. Eagen throws a pair of breakers: a downer curveball in the low 80s, and a slider, both of which have been good bat-missers in 2024. There's also a changeup in the arsenal, but it's seldom been used and needs more velocity separation from his fastball.

Already, he's taken a step forward in strike-throwing in 2024. The combination of size, a little projection left from added strength, and the current arsenal give him a good chance to stick as a starter at the next level.

Konner Eaton, R/L P, George Mason (234)
Eaton put himself on the map with his raw stuff, though he’s still more projection than final product.

After throwing only one inning as a freshman, Eaton had a wild sophomore year, walking 25 in 42 1/3 innings (while striking out 47) before heading to the Cape, where he teased some more. He was better as a junior (walk rate dropped from 5.3 to 4.9 per 9, and strikeout rate improved from 10 to 11.9 per 9), but still failed to put it all together.

Now we head into the draft, where Eaton continues to flash a 94-mph fastball and above-average slider. There will be a team (or teams) out there who thinks they can develop him professionally into a starter and will likely be able to get him late on Day Two or on Day Three.

Who excites you from the college pitching class in 2024? Who are you higher on than other prospects? Jump into the draft conversation in the comments below.

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Find more draft coverage here:

2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: First Basemen

2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Second Basemen

2024 MLB Draft Preview: Midwest Highlights

2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Third Basemen

2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Shortstops

2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Catcher

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