When the Guardians won the 2024 draft lottery, they not only got the first overall pick, but also more spending power than any team has ever enjoyed before.
Cleveland had only the ninth-best lottery odds to get the first pick and the record value of $10,570,600 that came with it. Their bonus for the first 10 rounds is an unprecedented $18,334,000, and they can increase it to $19,250,700 without losing any future first-round picks due to a penalty.
The Guardians could give $150,000 to each of their picks from Rounds 11-20 without any of that bonus counting toward their pool, bringing their potential total to $20,750,700. To put that in perspective, the 2015 Astros set the spending standard with $19,103,000 in bonuses for a class that included Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Myles Straw, Patrick Sandoval and a key piece of their first trade in Justin Verlander (Daz Cameron).
Given the No. 1 pick and the expense it could entail, it’s no surprise that, at first glance, Cleveland had the best haul of the draft that just ended. With the usual caveat that we won’t know how the picks will actually play out for several years, and assuming every player selected in the first 10 rounds turns pro, here are the six teams that fared best:
1. Guardians
The Guardians opened the draft with Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana, the best pure hitter available, and never gave up. California Prep right-hander Braylon Doughty was the second-best high school pitcher in the draft for some clubs, and Cleveland moved him down to the first extra round before ending the first day with North Carolina State’s Jacob Cozart, one of the best defensive catchers, in the second round. On Day 2, the draft loaded up with high school right-handers who should have been much higher in the draft: Joey Oakie (third round vs. No. 46 in our Top 250 Draft), Cameron Sullivan (seventh vs. No. 118) and Chase Mobley (10th vs. No. 80). Miami left-hander Rafe Schlesinger (fourth) and West Virginia right-hander Aidan Major (fifth) are likely relievers, and Major is scheduled for elbow surgery.
2. Pirates
Despite their ninth pick, the Pirates got the highest ceiling in the draft in Mississippi high school outfielder Konnor Griffin, whose swing has some clubs concerned. Right-hander Levi Sterling (supplemental first round) was one of the youngest, most polished and most projectable prep pitchers in the draft, while Wyatt Sanford (second) was arguably the best defensive shortstop among high schoolers. Wake Forest left-hander Josh Hartle (third), Clemson outfielder Will Taylor (fifth) and UC Santa Barbara right-hander Matt Ager (sixth) showed first-round promise in the past before the 2024 seasons torpedoed their stock. Wisconsin prep Eddie Rynders (fourth) and UCLA’s Duce Gourson (ninth) are offensive-oriented shortstops who should transition to less challenging positions.
3. The reds
Each of the Reds’ first six selections ranked 77th or better in the draft’s Top 250, starting with Wake Forest right-hander Chase Burns and the best all-around players available at No. 2. Nebraska high schooler Tyson Lewis (second round) is an athletic shortstop with 20-homer potential and Louisiana State right-hander Luke Holman (extra second round) is a high-level starter. Northeastern outfielder Mike Sirota (third) was projected as a mid-first-rounder before falling off the board early this season, but he still offers the upside of a center fielder with more power and speed. Arkansas second baseman Peyton Stovall (fourth) and Clemson left-hander Tristan Smith (fifth) turned down first-round money in high school before up-and-down college careers.
4. Athletics
The A’s have the No. 1 player on their board with the No. 4 pick, and some clubs thought Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz offered the best combination of swing decisions, contact and exit velocity in the entire draft. Two Louisiana State teammates, slugging third baseman Tommy White (second round) and efficient left-hander Gage Jump (second supplemental pick), were steals who lasted 20 picks longer than they should have. Rutgers shortstop Joshua Kuroda-Garner (third) finished second in the NCAA Division I batting race with a .428 batting average. Oakland also signed five other top-250 prospects in California outfielder Rodney Green (fourth), Portland right-hander Sam Stuhr (fifth), Canadian prep right-hander Josiah Romeo (sixth), Texas Tech right-hander Kyle Robinson (11th) and Texas A&M shortstop Ali Camarillo (12th).
5. The Diamondbacks
The D-backs’ first three picks came earlier than anyone else’s — at Nos. 29, 31 and 35 — and they scored with each one. Slade Caldwell, the two-time Gatorade Arkansas High School Player of the Year, is a spark plug with hitting ability, well-above-average speed and center-field chops. Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt impresses scouts with his tools and analysts with his measurements, and he has 20/20 potential. Wisconsin prep shortstop JD Dix is an ambidextrous hitter who has been compared to a more athletic version of DJ LeMahieu. Puerto Rican catcher Ivan Luciano (second round) and Missouri shortstop Tytus Cissell (fourth) are raw high schoolers who will need time to develop. Right-handers Daniel Eagen (Presbyterian, third) and Connor Foley (Indiana, fifth) stood out in the 2024 select group of college pitchers and should have been selected earlier in the draft.
6. Marlins
Although the Marlins had only the 16th-largest bonus pool, they landed more Top 250 players in the first 10 rounds with nine, one more than the Guardians and Pirates. When Florida State third baseman Cam Smith and Wake Forest third baseman/outfielder Seaver King didn’t go before the 16th overall pick, Miami turned to South Carolina prep outfielder P.J. Morlando because they believed in his power and athleticism more than most clubs. While he wasn’t a consensus first-round pick, taking Morlando saved money to spend later. Alabama high school shortstop Carter Johnson drew some interest in the first round, but the Marlins were able to slide him to the middle of the second round. They added a third starter in Colorado right-hander Grant Shephardson (fifth round) but also accumulated players from the top 250 of the draft in Oregon State right-hander Aiden May (second extra pick), Alabama infielder Gage Miller (third), Georgia Tech shortstop Payton Green (sixth), Portland right-hander Nick Brink (seventh), East Carolina outfielder Jacob Jenkins-Cowart (eighth) and UC Irvine third baseman Dub Gleed (ninth).
Best draft without additional picks: Royals
Invariably, the teams that have the most success right after the draft is over are the teams that have extra picks, so let’s name a team that didn’t. The Royals actually had an extra first-rounder before they traded it to the Nationals along with third base prospect Cayden Wallace to acquire Hunter Harvey the day before the draft. Kansas City started by taking the biggest hitter in the draft, Florida first baseman/left-hander Jac Caglianone, at No. 6. It was no secret that the Royals coveted Pennsylvania left-hander David Shields with the 39th overall pick they traded, but they still got him two picks later in the early second round. Tennessee right-hander Drew Beam has talent and a track record of success, and he shouldn’t have lasted until the third round. Other college righties: LP Langevin (Louisiana-Lafayette, fourth round) and AJ Causey (Tennessee, fifth) have crazy pitching stats, while Dennis Colleran (Northeastern, seventh) can hit 100 mph with his fastball. Louisiana high school outfielder Corey Cousin (18th) is a quality deep player and athlete.