Mock Draft v.3.0 (Dual Edition): Brewers Pair Hitter and Pitcher

1. Cleveland Guardians - JJ Wetherholt, 2B, West Virginia 
There have been murmuring the Guardians are exploring a haircut with Wetherholt and Griffin in the mix (JC)

2. Cincinnati Reds - Charlie Condon, OF/1B, Georgia
Whoa, I think the Reds will stay true to their board and it is a toss up for me whether that would be Condon or Bazzana. Works great for Cincinnati, who get their pick of the litter. (JN)

3. Colorado Rockies - Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
The Rockies would have to weigh Bazzana here, but I think given their pitching development struggles, Burns is too enticing to pass up (JC)

4. Oakland Athletics - Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
The A’s need all the help they can get and this would have to be close to the ideal scenario. A Wilson/Bazzana middle infield would be a solid roll of the dice. See what I did there? (JN)

5. Chicago White Sox - Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
Lots of mock drafts have the Sox taking Cags. I think Montgomery is a safer and, in their case, better pick as they will pick at ten in 2025 despite their record (JC)

6. Kansas City Royals - Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Prep HS, (MS)
The Royals could go in a few directions, but here they pop the top prep on the board. (JN)

7. St. Louis Cardinals - Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
This is a great outcome for the Cardinals, who have done well with pitching development and nab arguably the top arm in the class, a lefty to boot. (JC)

8. Los Angeles Angels - Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Doesn’t fit the profile that I try to match with the Angels - first guy to the bigs! But Cags in L.A. makes sense. And if there’s a team that knows a thing or two about a two-way player… (JN)

9. Pittsburgh Pirates - James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State
There’s all kinds of steam on Tibbs in the top ten. It’s a little rich for me with the lack of other strong tools to accrue value outside the bat. (JC)

10. Washington Nationals - Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
It’s possible Kurtz falling this far makes nine teams look bad. But in a draft where it’s a ton of college hitters, it’s whatever flavor of the day for every team. (JN)

11. Detroit Tigers - Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard Westlake HS (CA)
I can see Detroit going a number of directions here. They made out from the prep class in 2023, and Rainer at 11 feels like good value. (JC)

12. Boston Red Sox - Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
He’s doing things in the College World Series that have put him on this meteoric rise, which makes sense. Too bad for lower teams hoping he’d fall. (JN)

13. San Francisco Giants - Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)
Caminiti has plenty of suitors, some inside the top ten. I don’t think he’s getting past the teens. (JC)

14. Chicago Cubs - Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
The Cubs would probably feel pretty fortunate to have the third best college pitcher still available when they come on the clock. (JN)

15. Seattle Mariners - Seaver King, INF, Wake Forest
This feels like ‘no man’s land’ for Seattle. They leaned prep early last year, but I’m not sure there are prep bats that make sense here, so we’re blending production and upside with King. (JC)

16. Miami Marlins - Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky
Marlins seem connected to college hitters and Waldschmidt is one of the best left. (JN) 

17. Milwaukee Brewers - Cameron Smith, 3B, Florida State
Smith feels like he fits the Brewers bat traits well. Some positional value, the most improved bat in college baseball, and a good blend of hit and power is good value at 17. (JC)

18. Tampa Bay Rays - Carson Benge, OF, Tampa Bay
Considered a number of names here, but Benge is the best on the board. (JN)

19. New York Mets - Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
The Mets have strengthened their farm significantly recently, and are leaning into athletic traits. That fits Jordan perfectly (JC)

20. Toronto Blue Jays - Tommy White, 3B, LSU
There are about twenty names that make sense in this area, so Toronto is getting the most well-known position prospect on the lot. (JN)

21. Minnesota Twins - William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (LA)
I haven’t seen a ton of steam connecting the Twins and Schmidt, but they work quietly. Drafting a prep arm at 21 is definitely a possibility and there’s precedent with Chase Petty a few years ago. Schmidt is up to 98 mph and has the best curveball in the class. (JC)

22. Baltimore Orioles - Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Certainly some offensive concerns, but he helped his stock in the College World Series and is worth the risk at this point in the draft. (JN)

23. Los Angeles Dodgers - Kellon Lindsey, Hardee HS (FL)
Lindsey is one of the best athletes in the class having earned Trea Turner comps with double-plus speed. (JC)

24. Atlanta Braves - Jurrangelo Cijntje, SWP, Mississippi State
Wouldn’t be too surprised if they went the prep route here, but feel like they’d be happy if Cijntje fell to them. (JN)

25. San Diego Padres - Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS, (OK)
The Padres have been close to a lock for a prep first rounder for a number of years. They love taking prep arms and Mayfield has the best delivery in the draft class. (JC)

26. New York Yankees - Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
The Yankees can go a few different routes here, but Amick has moved up boards and this seems like a good fit. (JN)

27. Philadelphia Phillies - PJ Morlando, OF/1B, Summerville HS (SC)
Morlando has dropped a little since pre-season but it’s still a potential plus hit, plus power combo. He put on a show at the Combine this week. The Phillies aren’t risk averse. (JC)

28. Houston Astros - Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
The sense is that the Astros go hitter, but you can only let a pitcher like Brecht fall so far before you have to reconsider. (JN)

29. Arizona Diamondbacks - Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (AR)
Caldwell is good value at this spot. The Diamondback have consistently drafted undersized players. Caldwell has tons of tools to make an impact. (JC)

30. Texas Rangers - Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
It’s only a matter of time before the catchers start to go. I feel like this is later than the first one will actually go, but once one comes off the board, I have to think the other two follow relatively quickly. (JN)

31. Arizona Diamondbacks - Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State
Janek is my favorite, and the best defensive catcher in the draft. It’s a chance for average hit, power, and an above average defender behind the plate. That’s a ten year MLB career.(JC)

32. Baltimore Orioles - Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS (CA)
After getting a college hitter with their first pick, the Orioles will back that up with an overslot prep pitcher. (JN)

33. Minnesota Twins - Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Culpepper had a tremendous post-season after making some swing changes, clubbing a three run home run off Hagen Smith and hitting for the cycle. It’s a really solid offensive and athletic profile. I thought about prep shortstops Theo Gillen and Tyson Lewis at this spot (JC)

34. Milwaukee Brewers - Joey Oakie, RHP, Ankeny Centennial HS (IA)
Similar to last year, the Brewers will take a prep pitcher in the comp round.

35. Arizona Diamondbacks - Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS (NE)
The Diamondbacks are known to be in on Lewis. They control this part of the draft with three picks in quick succession. Lewis has a chance for plus speed and power and has been a strong spring riser this year (JC)

36. Cleveland Guardians - Ryan Sloan, RHP, York Community HS (IL)
You don’t cut an underslot deal with Wetherholt and not back that up with an overslot prep pitcher. (JN)

37. Pittsburgh Pirates - Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake HS, (TX)
This is an unbelievable value at this point. Gillen will get consideration in the teens. It’s arguably the third best prep bat. He’s not a shortstop but it’s good hit and power tools from the left side. (JC)

38. Colorado Rockies - Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
I will always believe taking a pitcher is the best option for the Rockies and they can walk away with two of the top five collegiate arms if it falls this way. (JN)

39. Kansas City Royals - Carter Johnson, SS, Oxford HS, (MS)
The Royals need to continue taking shots on upside in a weak farm system. Johnson has a really solid profile with a good hit tool and a strong chance to stick at short. (JC)

---

Find more draft coverage here:

2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: Prep Pitchers

2024 MLB Draft Position Previews: College Pitchers

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

Mock Drafts!

Mock Draft v.2.0 (Cameron Edition): Brewers Take High Octane Arm, Backstop

Mock Draft v. 1.0 (Nygaard Edition): More Slugging Infielders!

Check out our 2025 draft tracker, updated with signing bonsues, scouting reports, news, and much more!