PHOENIX — The fourth annual MLB Draft concludes this weekend at Chase Field, with players undergoing their final physical evaluations and conducting last-minute interviews with teams. In just over four weeks, the Cleveland Guardians will be on the clock with the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, with 20 rounds of picks to follow over the next two days.
Here are 10 players who caught my attention this week in Phoenix, either in conversations or through their performances on the field.
SS JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia
Perhaps it was a coincidence that, for the first time all season, Wetherholt was projected to go first overall in two different mock drafts this week (Baseball America and ESPN). But it seemed like Wetherholt’s presence in Phoenix, especially as the only member of the elite group of eight college players in attendance, helped refocus him as a legitimate candidate to hear his name called first on the 14th. July.
It was fascinating to hear Wetherholt talk about his confidence in his ability to play shortstop at the next level, as it’s a crucial part of his profile that could help set him apart from other players vying for first choice. While we still have a long way to go until draft night and plenty of factors to consider beyond a handful of interviews and television appearances at the Combine, it seems clear that Wetherholt is indeed in the mix to upgrade to 1.1 – as we planned. Six months ago.
RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa
Brecht also stood out among our conversations with potential first-round picks as a player who believes he’s only scratching the surface of his potential – quite an idea for a pitcher who has racked up 282 strikeouts. batting during his 178 innings as a Hawkeye. I was particularly struck by Brecht’s comments about the adjustments he made midway through this season, including discussions with a mental skills coach outside of the Iowa program, which helped him finishing so strong in the final stretch and re-establishing himself as a candidate to hear his name called. called in the top half of the first round. If Brecht is right, and there is indeed another level he can reach in pro ball, he has the potential to be the best pitcher in this draft.
You can listen to our conversation with Brecht in the latest edition of Baseball Bar-B-Cast:
1B Jared Jones, LSU
1B Hunter Hines, Mississippi State
After watching these two towering sluggers crush so many memorable dingers in SEC ballparks over the past two seasons, it was a lot of fun to see them showcase their juice in a big league ballpark at the Combine. Jones had the highest single exit velocity of the week, with a 183.4 mph, 423-foot home run to left, while Hines launched a number of memorable moonshots to right field, including a 442-foot rocket that landed near the top of the field. seats.
Although Hines, a left-handed hitter, has the preferred hand, Jones, a draft-eligible sophomore, is the top prospect. He improved markedly across the board in his second season in Baton Rouge, reducing his strikeouts by nearly 10 percentage points while continuing to walk at an exceptionally high rate, further allowing him to consistently exploit its epic raw power (0.747 SLG%, 28 hours). Meanwhile, Hines has been pretty much the same player for three years in Starkville. Look for Jones to move up from the third to fifth round, while Hines could wait until later on day two.
3B Chase Harlan, Central Bucks East HS, Doylestown, PA
Prior to the Combine, I had named Nebraska third baseman Kale Fountain as the strongest candidate among the high school class to stand out during the Trackman-monitored BP sessions. While Fountain showed up well, hitting seven balls with an exit velocity of at least 107 mph, Harlan, another prep third baseman, stole the show with a couple of particularly prodigious blasts. His best shot – a 112.4 mph, 453.4 foot home run – gave Harlan the second-highest exit velocity (behind only Jones) and longest projected distance on a batted ball at the Combine.
A Clemson commit from Eastern Pennsylvania, Harlan isn’t as tall as Fountain, but he brings an equally impactful right-handed swing, although it comes with concerns about making enough contact . In a BP context, however, Harlan could really let loose and focus on throwing balls. We’ll find out next month if he’s increased his stock enough this spring to begin his professional career or if he’ll instead terrorize ACC pitchers over the next three years.
OF Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
While Brecht’s transition away from the playing field is well-documented, Boettcher — a Ducks linebacker who was only a part-time player on the baseball team before this year — has gone almost completely unnoticed. But that could be about to change. Boettcher participated fully in the Combine’s on-field activities, taking BP on Wednesday before going through the litany of strength and conditioning evaluations on Thursday.
Previously a late-inning defensive replacement in the outfield, Boettcher played in more games this spring (55) than in his first three seasons in Eugene (53) and had by far his best campaign overall. He took a huge step forward offensively (.872 OPS, 12 HR, 15 SB), and the stellar centerfield defense he was already known for was recognized earlier this week with a Rawlings Gold Glove Award as as one of the best defenders in Division I baseball.
Boettcher, who turns 22 next month, is a bit older than the average college prospect, but his relatively short track record on the diamond and obvious athleticism seem to suggest some untapped potential if baseball is indeed on the verge of become his full-time goal. For a player who was barely on any industry draft boards during the season, this would be a real step up, even as a later round pick. Keep an eye out for this one.
C/RHP Grant Knipp, Campbell
If not for a disappointing season for the Fighting Camels that saw them miss the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2017 and lingering injuries that cost him most of April and May, Knipp likely would have been more under the national college baseball spotlight. throughout the section. The ultra-strong catcher and occasional closer had a ridiculous start to his senior campaign, hitting 18 homers in just 29 games with a laugh-out-loud 1.576 OPS.
Well, whatever was bothering him physically in the second half seemed to have dissipated, as Knipp reemerged in Phoenix to deliver the loudest two-way performance of any player in attendance, with a BP session including a 111.5 home run mph and 404 feet. and a bullpen in which his four-seam fastball averaged 96.8 mph. Knipp will turn 23 in November, so he won’t have much leverage in negotiations with big league clubs. But his performance at the Combine was a stark reminder of the pure tools at his disposal, and I can’t wait to see which team gives him the chance to further establish his prospect stock in pro ball — and, of course, how they choose to use it. .
RHP Trey Gregory-Alford, Coronado High School, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ten years ago, a high school as dynamic as Gregory-Alford would have attracted more public attention. But exceptional speed has become so commonplace that the novelty of a teenager throwing 100 mph has worn off somewhat. Still, it was cool to see the huge right-hander from Colorado confirm his reputation as one of the hardest throwers in this year’s class. Gregory-Alford was the only pitcher to throw off the mound at Chase Field this week and hit 100 mph, with his four-seamer averaging 96.5 mph during his session on the mound.
Although this year’s group of high school players is considerably worse than in recent drafts, a sneaky strength of this year’s class is the wealth of high school weapons that could realistically earn seven-figure signing bonuses . Gregory-Alford, a University of Virginia commit, sits right in the heart of this demographic, with most media outlets pegging him in the third-round range, with a slim chance of sneaking into the end of day one .
RHP Dennis Colleran, Northeast
Among college weapons, it was Colleran whose high-end heat stood out during this week’s bullpen sessions. One of the top pitchers in Massachusetts’ high school class of 2021, Colleran enrolled at Northeastern, where he enjoyed some success out of the bullpen as a freshman before an elbow injury required Tommy John surgery, wiping out his entire sophomore year.
Returning to the mound for his junior year, Colleran struggled to a 7.97 ERA in 20 appearances for the Huskies this spring, but things always looked better than the results. That’s not to say he wasn’t lucky; there is some serious development that needs to take place with his mastery and the depth of his arsenal as he enters the professional ranks, even if he has to be a reliever.
But Colleran unsurprisingly shined as part of the Combine showcase. He threw both a four-seamer and a sinker, each touching 99 mph, as well as a low-velocity sharp knife from the 90s. With the right adjustments and organization, it’s not hard to imagine Colleran pitching in a big league bullpen in the not-so-distant future.
C Nathan Flewelling, St. Joseph Secondary School, Red Deer, Alberta
Over the past few years, Canada has consistently produced a handful of first-round draft picks, and some of this year’s top amateur prospects from north of the border were on hand this week in Phoenix. Among them is Flewelling, whose impressive spring and strong performance at the Combine have made him a late entrant into the top tier of this year’s class of talented Canadian prepsters.
A well-built left-handed catcher who won three innings of the high school exhibition game Tuesday, Flewelling also showed well in batting practice, with a line drive that left the bat at 112.4 mph, at tied with Harlan for second highest. mark of any batter who took BP. What makes Flewelling’s overall skillset particularly impressive is the fact that he is one of the youngest players in the entire 2024 draft, as he won’t turn 18 until November. We’ve seen a fair number of potential players come from Ontario and Quebec, but Flewelling’s roots in Alberta make him even more unique. If he doesn’t turn professional later this summer, he is committed to playing collegiately at Gonzaga.