The Cleveland Guardians will select 1st overall in the 2024 MLB draft after winning the second ever Draft Lottery on Tuesday.
The Washington Nationals actually won the right to draft 1st overall in the first run through, however due to collective bargaining rules, were ineligible to receive a top six pick after selecting Dylan Crews 2nd overall in 2023. On the second run through, Cleveland leap frogged 8 teams with better odds to emerge with the top pick when all was said and done.
Despite having picked second overall 5 times previously in the amateur draft, Cleveland has never selected 1st overall in franchise history. With former top prospects Gavin Williams, Bo Naylor, Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen, Gabriel Arias and Will Brennan graduating to the MLB ranks, the Guardians once highly regarded farm system fell to the middle of the pack (15th overall) in MLB Pipeline’s 2023 midseason rankings this year. Those promotions have left the cupboards barren compared to seasons past, but a top draft pick will add a true blue chip prospect back to the club’s system.
Cleveland finished 3rd in the AL Central this past season with a 76-86 record, 11 games back of the Minnesota Twins. Their anaemic offense was a big part of why they struggled in 2023 as their 662 runs scored ranked 27th in Major League Baseball, leading many to believe they’re likely to select a hitter next July.
2024 MLB Draft Projected Order
| 1. Cleveland Guardians |
| 2. Cincinnati Reds |
| 3. Colorado Rockies |
| 4. Oakland As’ |
| 5. Chicago White Sox |
| 6. Kansas City Royals |
| 7. St. Louis Cardinals |
| 8. Los Angeles Angels |
| 9. Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 10. Washington Nationals |
| 11. Detroit Tigers |
| 12. Boston Red Sox |
| 13. San Francisco Giants |
| 14. Chicago Cubs |
| 15. Seattle Mariners |
| 16. Miami Marlins |
| 17. Milwaukee Brewers |
| 18. Tampa Bay Rays |
| 19. New York Mets |
| 20. Toronto Blue Jays |
| 21. Minnesota Twins |
| 22. Baltimore Orioles |
| 23. Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 24. San Diego Padres |
| 25. New York Yankees |
| 26. Atlanta Braves |
| 27. Philadelphia Phillies |
| 28. Houston Astros |
| 29. Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 30. Texas Rangers |
Cleveland will have the ability to go in any direction they choose next summer, but most experts agree, the top prospects are likely to be one of several high profile infielders from the college ranks. Amongst those in consideration for the 1st overall pick are:
JJ Wetherholt, INF, West Virginia
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, Georgia
Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
PJ Morlando, Summerville (NC) HS, OF
Tommy White, 3B, LSU
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