The Major League Baseball Entry Draft got underway Sunday night, with the Cleveland Guardians kicking off the three-day, 20-round event in by selecting Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with the first No. 1 overall pick in franchise history(The Guardians had selected No. 2 overall five times before, most recently in 1992.)
In total, teams made 74 picks Sunday night. Those picks took place first and second roundsas well as several compensatory and supplementary phases. (You can click here to read who we judged to be the winners and losers of the first evening.)
But, as mentioned above, the draft doesn’t end Sunday night. There are still two days left before the league’s scouting departments can take a deep breath and start working toward next year’s event.
With that in mind, here are 10 players to watch when the MLB Draft resumes at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Where applicable, I’ve included the player’s ranking in my top 50 list. (Note: I’m not including right-hander William Schmidt, who announced Sunday that he’ll attend LSU.)
1. Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State (CBS Sports ranking: No. 28)
Jordan has an exceptional physique that is evident in his well-above-average strength and speed markers. Unfortunately, the usability isn’t there. He struck out in 31 percent of his at-bats during SEC competition, and my research has uncovered only one other player who struck out so frequently and had a remarkable MLB career — and that was Edouard Julien, originally an 18th-round pick with just over a full season of plate appearances under his belt. There’s star-level potential here if Jordan’s employer can help him maximize his traits. It just seems like he’ll have to wait longer than expected for his name to be called.
2. Joey Oakie, right-handed pitcher, Ankeny Centennial (IA) (No. 42)
Oakie found himself ranked behind several slightly more intriguing prep arms. That’s how they were picked Sunday night, too. Make no mistake: The Iowa commit has a quality fastball and slider pairing that he delivers from a flat release point. Unless he’s written himself out of the equation, he appears to be a candidate to go early on Day 2.
3. Dax Whitney, right-handed pitcher, Blackfoot HS (ID) (No. 45)
Whitney is another intriguing prep arm. He’s a big right-hander who has shown improved velocity this year, plus a well-rounded arsenal. Whitney hasn’t played against top-tier competition in Idaho, making him a bit riskier than many of his peers. He has an outstanding commitment to Oregon State that he could honor if he slips up too much.
4. Mike Sirota, OF, Northeast (No. 47)
Sirota came into the spring drawing comparisons to Chase DeLauter, the 16th pick in the 2022 draft. It was both lazy and sensible, as both were small-school outfielders with unusual swings. While DeLauter overcame a rough start and an untimely season-ending injury to land in the middle of the opening day, Sirota struggled early enough to slide to the second day. He’s a good athlete who has walked more than he’s struck out this season. He also had a good showing in the Cape Cod League last summer, albeit in what amounted to a week of games. Someone will make the move.
5. Drew Beam, right-handed pitcher, Tennessee (No. 49)
Beam entered the spring ranked just inside my top 30 thanks to his contact management skills that allowed him to be more consistent than previous rotation mates Chase Burns and Chase Dollander. His performance has taken a backseat in 2024, however, and that’s simply not going to lead to a high selection when the pitcher’s arsenal is loaded with 50- and 55-rated offerings. Beam should still come off the board a bit early on Day 2, though.
6. Josh Hartle, left-handed pitcher, Wake Forest
Hartle entered the spring ranked in my top 30, with his track record and competitiveness making up for a barely decent arsenal. (One veteran scout named him the college pitcher he’d most want on the mound in a must-win game.) Alas, Hartle had a miserable season for a loaded Demon Deacons team. In 15 games, he racked up a 5.79 ERA and saw all of his per-nine rate stats go in the wrong direction. Given that Hartle doesn’t have any top-tier stuff, you can see why teams might place him lower on their boards.
7. Tristan Smith, left-handed pitcher, Clemson
Smith was an intriguing freshman who opted to join Clemson instead of turning pro a few years ago. He struggled with his command over two seasons with the Tigers, allowing more than six walks per nine innings. He has the arsenal of a starter and could prove to be a valuable pick if his future employer can help him improve his command to tolerable levels.
8. Kevin Bazzell, C, Texas Tech
In addition to projecting as a catcher at the next level, Bazzell was an accomplished college hitter. In two seasons with the Red Raiders, he hit .330/.431/.530 with 16 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. His sense of contact and zone are his best assets, and should earn him a spot in the second-day starting lineup. (It’s worth noting that he missed some time early in the spring while recovering from mononucleosis.)
9. Peyton Stovall, 2B, Arkansas
Stovall isn’t the most explosive athlete, and he’s unlikely to climb the defensive spectrum or be the best hitter at the next level. Still, teams are always intrigued by players who can put up numbers in the SEC. Stovall has done just that, hitting .315/.390/.532 in conference play while showing a mature approach and sense of contact. The lack of secondary skills requires him to hit his way to the Show. Some teams will bet Monday that he’ll do just that.
10. Carson DeMartini, 3B, Virginia Tech
DeMartini has 21 home runs this season for the Hokies, but there’s enough risk associated with his hitting tool to understand why he held out until Day 2. He’s struck out in nearly 28 percent of his at-bats this season, though only about 26 percent during conference play. There’s also a chance DeMartini will have to move from third base, which will put more pressure on his bat to get to the next level.