Evaluating MLB Draft talents can be a nearly impossible task on the night of the first and second rounds. It’s arguably an impossible task days, weeks, months, and even years after the draft.
Unlike the NFL, NBA, and NHL, fans won’t see the players their teams draft for several seasons. They might not see some of the players at all.
The best prospects can wind up failing when reaching the pros and some unheralded players can turn into stars.
LIVE: MLB Draft 2024 picks, results for Rounds 1-20
However, by the time the first night of the draft ends, everyone wants to know who came out looking the best in the draft and who could have wound up better. These are based largely on perceived value and fits after the first day.
Sporting News is taking a look at the biggest winners and losers from the first two rounds of the 2024 MLB Draft.
GRADES: Analysis and results from every MLB Draft Day 1 pick
Winner: Rockies
The Rockies have taken a lot of flack over the years and have struggled to draft star talents. The baseball gods appeared to try and give Colorado a hand in the 2024 draft.
Charlie Condon, considered by many to be the best player in the draft, somehow slid all the way to third. A player with light-tower power going to play in Coors Field? That sounds like a match made in heaven.
As if that wasn’t enough, a player whose raw stuff has earned comparisons to Paul Skenes fell to them at No. 38 in Brody Brecht. The control might need some work, but the fastball/slider combination could develop well in Coors Field.
Just to get a little nicer, the Rockies added Texas outfielder Jared Thomas, who offers some power/speed upside. His solid hit tool gives him a high floor, and the power could get a nice boost in Coors. This wound up being a nice haul for Colorado.
Loser: Brewers
This is probably already calling for a future Cold Takes Exposed screenshot here. The Brewers are among the smartest organizations in baseball and always find a way to maximize their talents selected.
Still, this was a bit of an odd day for Milwaukee. The team’s No. 17 selection of Braylon Payne is a prototypical Brewers pick of a player with plenty of speed and some upside with the bat, but it was also a bit earlier than many expected out of Payne and appeared to hint at some bonus pool saving later on.
The Brewers then took a power-only first baseman in Tennessee’s Blake Burke, who struggled with chase rates and is a poor defender with limited mobility. Prep hurlers Bryce Meccage and Chris Levonas have intriguing upsides, but high-school pitchers who struggle with control are extra risky. Both require extensive polishing.
Again, it would not be surprising to see the Brewers turn this into a haul as they so often do, but this draft still appeared to lack that clear star talent that might have been expected with several opportunities to draft falling standouts.
Winner: Nationals
Make it back-to-back years the Nationals find themselves with a winner’s tag next to their name.
The Nats kicked off the draft by selecting a high-floor, super-utility bat in Seaver King, who can play just about any position with the profile of a leadoff batter. He even comes with some potential power to go along with a well-rounded hit tool and speed.
They used the pick acquired from the Royals for Hunter Harvey to draft maybe the best offensive catcher, Caleb Lomavita. Should the Nats want to rush him to the majors, he could move to first, third, or the outfield. If they pace him, he could be an offensive-minded catcher. They then wrapped it up by taking Luke Dickerson, a major riser in the prep ranks with five-tool upside.
Overall, this is a balanced class for the Nationals that features high floors and high ceilings. Another strong start to the draft for Washington.
Loser: Dakota Jordan
There aren’t typically many stunning names left on the big board at the end of the first day of the MLB Draft. After all, it’s usually more than 70 players selected.
But for Dakota Jordan to have to wait until Monday to hear his name called by a team is nothing short of a stunner. Jordan is loaded with tools, possessing a power/speed combination at the college ranks that might even top a certain North Carolina outfielder who will be discussed soon. Sure, there are questions about his hit tool, but that upside is tantalizing enough that it should have merited a look at a Day 1 pick.
Perhaps Jordan is a difficult sign for teams, as he’s headed back to Mississippi State. In that case, consider the Bulldogs a winner. Perhaps a team is just waiting until the proper spot to draft Jordan. In that case, consider that team a winner whenever they select him on Monday. For now, he remains by far the biggest undrafted name.
Winner: Vance Honeycutt
Players want to develop and improve. It’s how they make their livelihood. Vance Honeycutt undoubtedly knows his strengths and weaknesses and knows that the strengths are plenty and the weakness is singular: strikeouts. He both swings and misses, and he chases too often at the plate, a combination that has derailed the careers of many star prospects.
What better system to land in than the Orioles? Has anyone been better at developing hitters in recent years than Baltimore? Probably not.
Honeycutt landing with the Orioles gets him into a system flush with batters who will allow them to be patient with his development. It also should give him the best chance of improving the few flaws in his game and reach his full potential. Considering he already has plus power, elite speed, and Gold Glove defense, unlocking the hit tool could turn him into an elite talent.
Loser: Trey Yesavage
There was at one point talk Trey Yesavage could be a top-10 pick. It seemed there would be little question he’d land somewhere in the teens. Instead, he slid all the way to No. 20, where his drop was finally halted by the Blue Jays.
How much more could Yesavage have done to land higher in the class? He boasts arguably the most well-rounded arsenal with three above-average to plus pitches, and he shows excellent command. He dominated in college and earned plenty of recognition throughout his collegiate career.
So, what led to the fall? That’s something we might not know until much later in the draft, but unless he was able to earn a high signing bonus from Toronto at No. 20, this was a tough fall for the East Carolina ace.
Winner: Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons entered the 2024 season as the preseason favorite to win the national championship. They underperformed, ultimately exiting the NCAA Tournament before reaching the super regionals, but the talent was undeniable, as was evidenced by Sunday’s draft.
Chase Burns went second overall to the Reds in a bit of a surprising move. Nick Kurtz went two picks later to the A’s in another higher-than-expected selection. Seaver King to the Nationals at No. 10 was again an early pick for the versatile player.
Though it was clear all three would be first-round picks, the manner in which the three went was notable. Wake Forest became only the second team in MLB Draft history to have three players selected in the top 10, joining Rice in 2004. The Demon Deacons would obviously have preferred for the season to last longer, but showing off that impressive track record will only help in the long term.
Loser: Oakland fans
The Athletics’ first round sure was great. The Athletics landed Nick Kurtz and Tommy White, a pair of college stars who battled in one of the most thrilling College World Series games to date a year ago when LSU and Wake Forest squared off. The Athletics also picked up Gage Jump, another LSU starter who has the stuff to rise quickly through the minors.
This is not a critique of the draft class. Far from it. Kurtz and White look like lineup fixtures, and Jump looks like a reliable starting pitcher. So, why are Oakland fans a loser here?
Well, because they’re unlikely to see any of these players in Oakland. The A’s are headed to Sacramento for 2025 before an eventual move to Las Vegas. Kurtz and White could wind up the best A’s corner infield pairing since Matt Olson and Matt Chapman. Unfortunately, Oakland fans are going to have to watch on MLB.TV (unless it’s blacked out).
