MLB Draft 2024: Scouting Reports for Top Prospects Available After Day 1 Results

The first day of the 2024 MLB draft is in the books, and while 74 players heard their names called on Sunday night, there is still a wealth of talent to be mined over the final two days and 18 rounds of this year's draft.

As part of our predraft preparation, I wrote up a number of scouting profiles to be used in our live grades article. That preparation serves as a way to stay ahead of the curve timing-wise while still providing in-depth analysis about each player who gets selected.

There are inevitably a handful of those profiles that go unused, and they've been included here to provide a closer look at some of the best talent still on the board entering Day 2 of the 2024 MLB draft.

CATCHERS

Kevin Bazzell, C, Texas Tech

After playing third base as a redshirt freshman in 2023, Bazzell moved behind the plate this spring and made a smooth transition defensively while hitting .307/.401/.473 with six home runs and 32 RBI in 49 games. His 6'1", 205-pound frame offers minimal physical projection, so he may never be much of a power threat, but his bat-to-ball skills are among the best in the college class.

Cole Messina, C, South Carolina

Messina put together a strong track record of production while playing in the SEC, posting a 1.043 OPS with 17 home runs as a sophomore before hitting .326/.465/.701 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs and 71 RBI this spring. He has a burly 6'0", 230-pound frame, but he is a solid athlete with the potential to be an above-average defender behind the plate.

Hunter Carns, C, First Coast HS (FL)

Carns is a great athlete for a catcher and has drawn comparisons to Seattle Mariners prospect Harry Ford, though the prep catcher demographic always comes with significant risk. He performed well on the showcase circuit last summer, showing loud raw power and quick hands, though there is some swing-and-miss. He turned 19 in April, so he's on the older side of the prep prospect demographic.

CORNER INFIELDERS

Carson DeMartini, 3B, Virginia Tech

With a power-over-contact profile and a pull-heavy approach, DeMartini hit .269/.400/.672 with 21 home runs this spring, and he had a 1.077 OPS and 46 home runs in 165 games during his three years at Virginia Tech. His raw power is for real, but he also struck out 71 times at a 27.7 percent clip this spring, and he is an average defender at the hot corner.

Gage Miller, 3B, Alabama

Miller spent two seasons at Bishop State Community College before transferring to Alabama and hitting .381/.474/.702 with 18 home runs this spring. The 6'0", 200-pound slugger is a bat-first prospect who fits a similar defensive profile to Max Muncy, and while most of his power comes to the pull side, he can crush good velocity and holds his own against off-speed stuff.

Chase Harlan, 3B, Central Bucks East HS (PA)

Raw power is always an attractive carrying tool, and with a strong 6'3", 205-pound frame, Harlan has some of the best pop among this year's prep class. The question is whether he will hit enough to fully tap into it, and frequent tinkering with his swing mechanics raises further questions about his hit tool. He has the arm to play third base, but he will need to prove he has the range after bulking up.

MIDDLE INFIELDERS

Sawyer Farr, SS, Boswell HS (TX)

With a lanky 6'5", 195-pound frame that offers significant physical projection, good present speed and terrific all-around athleticism, Farr is a developmental prospect with considerable upside. He will need to shorten his swing to consistently produce against elite velocity. The Texas prep turned 19 years old on June 30 and will be draft-eligible as a sophomore if he honors his commitment to Texas A&M, so he could be a tough sign.

Colby Shelton, SS, Florida

Shelton posted a 1.149 OPS with 25 home runs as a true freshman at Alabama while playing third base and then transferred to Florida ahead of his draft-eligible sophomore season for a chance to prove himself at shortstop. He hit .254/.374/.551 with 20 home runs this spring but also struck out 82 times at a 26.4 percent clip. Scouts are still skeptical on whether he can stick at shortstop, but his plus power and strong arm works back at the hot corner.

Peyton Stovall, 2B, Arkansas

One of the top prep bats in the 2021 draft class and the No. 33 prospect in the Baseball America Top 500 that year, Stovall did not boost his stock during his time on campus. After back-to-back seasons with a sub-.800 OPS, he hit .340/.409/.535 with 21 extra-base hits this spring. With a limited defensive profile and middling power, his solid hit tool will have to drive his value as an offensive-minded second baseman.

Josh Kuroda-Grauer, SS, Rutgers

Kuroda-Grauer hit .428/.492/.590 with 95 hits in 53 games this spring, finishing second only to Golden Spikes winner Charlie Condon (.433 BA) in the NCAA batting title race. He was a three-year starter at Rutgers and the team's starting shortstop the last two years, though he has also seen time at second base and in the outfield. His contact skills, plus speed and playable defense give him a high floor, even if there's not much raw power in the tank.

OUTFIELDERS

Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

A tooled-up prep standout who was also a 3-star football recruit, Jordan hit .307/.397/.575 with 10 home runs as a true freshman after turning his full attention to baseball. The 6'0", 220-pound outfielder followed that up by batting .354/.459/.671 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI this spring, though he also whiffed 84 times at a 29 percent rate. His physical tools and untapped upside give him one of the highest ceilings in the 2024 class.

Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern

Sirota looked like a potential top-10 pick heading into the spring after hitting .346/.472/.678 with 18 home runs as a sophomore and then turning in a strong showing in the Cape Cod League last summer. However, he regressed significantly as a junior, with his OPS dropping from 1.149 to .986 while playing against mid-major competition. No doubt his stock has dropped, but his past production still makes him an intriguing buy-low target.

Garrett Shull, OF, Enid HS (OK)

A switch-hitter with a strong 6'1", 205-pound frame and some of the better playable power from this year's prep class, Shull turned heads on the showcase circuit last summer with big exit velocity numbers. He was not quite as impressive this spring, and he turned 19 years old on draft day, but his offensive upside could make him one of the early standouts from the second tier of high school bats.

Kavares Tears, OF, Tennessee

After redshirting in 2022 and then tallying just 66 plate appearances in 2023, Tears made the most of an expanded opportunity this spring, hitting .324/.427/.643 with 16 doubles, 20 home runs and 62 RBI for a Volunteers team that won the national championship. He has a strong 6'0", 200-pound frame, and while there are questions about his hit tool, his power and athleticism give him intriguing upside.

Austin Overn, OF, USC

Overn began his college career as a two-sport athlete, also playing wide receiver for the USC football team, but he turned his full attention to baseball following his freshman year. Not surprisingly, he is one of the best all-around athletes in the draft class, and he posted an .810 OPS with 25 extra-base hits and 17 steals this spring before giving scouts an extra look in the Cape Cod League where he hit .342/.425/.579 in 20 games.

RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS

Joey Oakie, RHP, Ankeny Centennial (IA)

Oakie won 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Iowa, and his mid-90s fastball and high-spin slider give him some of the best present stuff in this year's prep class. He will need to refine his changeup as a viable third offering and his mechanics are somewhat inconsistent out of a low arm slot, but his 6'3", 200-pound frame and potential three-pitch mix give him middle-of-the-rotation upside with a high reliever floor.

Dax Whitney, RHP, Blackfoot HS (ID)

Scouts were flocking to Idaho this spring to see Whitney after an uptick in fastball velocity and improved secondary stuff gave him a ton of helium. The 6'5", 195-pound right-hander did not participate much on the showcase circuit, but he is trending up in a big way. With a projectable frame and potential four-pitch mix, he checks all the boxes to be a future MLB starter if he continues on his current developmental path.

Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee

Beam won 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year honors when he finished 8-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 76 innings, and he was Tennessee's most effective starter during the team's College World Series title run in 2023. With a 6'4", 208-pound frame, advanced pitchability and good command, he is more floor than ceiling, but he looks like a safe bet to be at least a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Gettysburg Area HS (PA)

An inconsistent spring slid Kuhns down the prep pitcher rankings a bit, but he showed well enough on the showcase circuit and in international competition with Team USA last summer to believe in his upside. He has an extremely projectable 6'4", 181-pound frame and solid present stuff with a mid-90s fastball, good feel for his breaking ball and a splitter that has shown promise. He could be a tough sign away from a Tennessee commitment.

Carson Wiggins, RHP, Roland HS (OK)

Wiggins has some of the easiest velocity in the high school class, dialing his fastball up to 99 mph with minimal effort. He can also spin a good slider and there is projection in his athletic 6'5", 210-pound frame. He can absolutely overpower hitters when he's going well, but his command has been inconsistent to the point that there is some reliever risk. He is already 19 years old and will be draft-eligible as a sophomore if he makes it to Arkansas.

Ryan Forcucci, RHP, UC San Diego

After two productive years in the Aztecs rotation, Forcucci was one of the early breakout stars of the 2024 season, posting a 2.16 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and a 37-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 25 innings over his first five starts. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his season from there and he didn't pitch the rest of the way. That kept him from proving he can pitch deep into games, and durability concerns make him one of the biggest wild cards in the draft.

LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS

Ryan Prager, LHP, Texas A&M

After missing the entire 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, Prager returned as the ace of the staff for a Texas A&M squad that reached the College World Series final this spring. The 6'3", 200-pound southpaw finished 9-1 with a 2.95 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 97.2 innings. He doesn't have overpowering stuff with a fastball in the low 90s, but his pitchability and command give him an extremely high floor.

Josh Hartle, LHP, Vanderbilt

Hartle would have been a Day 1 pick out of high school, but he removed his name from draft consideration to attend Vanderbilt. The 6'5", 210-pound southpaw was trending up after going 11-2 with a 2.81 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 102.1 innings as a sophomore, but his stuff and results regressed significantly this spring. He finished with a 5.79 ERA in 74.2 innings while his strikeout rate and walk rate both moved in the wrong direction. He has gone from potential No. 2 starter to reclamation project.

Tristan Smith, LHP, Clemson

Smith turned heads in the Cape Cod League last summer with a 1.57 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 23 innings on the heels of an inconsistent freshman season. The 6'2", 195-pound lefty has had plus stuff dating back to his days as a highly-regarded prep prospect, but command issues led to him going undrafted in 2022. He finished with a 4.47 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 50.1 innings this spring, but his 13.7 percent walk rate is an obvious red flag.