MLB draft: 10 names to know and where they'll go

The 2024 MLB Draft starts July 14. Here are the names you need to know before the event gets underway, why you need to know them, and projections on when we might hear their names called.

Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Age: 21
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 199 lbs
B/T: L/R

Reason to know him: The No. 1 prospect on MLB Pipeline.

Bazzana can make history as the first-ever Australian to go in the first round of the draft - and nobody would blink twice if his name gets called to start the event. The 21-year-old tore the cover off the ball after joining OSU this season, posting a 1.479 OPS with 28 homers and 16 steals over 60 games. While his most likely landing spot in the majors is second base, he could have the defensive ability to manage center field.

Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Georgia

Age: 21
Height: 6-6
Weight: 216 lbs
B/T: R/R

Reason to know him: Firmly one of the big four of the class. Elite power.

After being undersized out of high school and going undrafted, Condon took his talents to Georgia. He's since grown to a towering 6-foot-6 and bloomed into an elite slugger, hitting 33 homers over 47 games. While he's gotten regular reps both at third base and in center field, he likely projects as a corner outfielder or first baseman in the majors.

Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

Age: 21
Height: 6-5
Weight: 250 lbs
B/T: L/L

Reason to know him: Prolific slugger, Gators' all-time homer leader. Arguably the most MLB-ready of the class.

As it stands, there's very little that Caglianone would have to prove in the minors as a slugger. He's the most MLB-ready prospect in the class. However, some see him as a potential two-way star and, if he's going to get developed as a left-handed pitcher as well, he'll need time. It'll be fascinating to see how early his name gets called, analyze how quickly he could progress through that particular system, and hear what position(s) he gets drafted under.

JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia

Age: 21
Height: 5-10
Weight: 190 lbs
B/T: L/R

Reason to know him: Might go first overall. Most well-rounded skill set of big four.

Wetherholt is a highly polished hitter who won the D1 batting title and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year. His chance to go first overall largely depends on what the Guardians want to do in this year's draft. In what might be called an underwhelming class, Wetherholt poses an interesting under-slot option while playing a premium defensive position.

Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

Age: 20
Height: 6-3
Weight: 225 lbs
B/T: L/L

Reason to know him: Top pitcher on the board.

Smith's fastball tops out at 100mph, and the lefty is what scouts dream of. He's improved his control and posted a very impressive 161-to-34 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 84 innings pitched this past year.

Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Age: 21
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210 lbs
B/T: R/R

Reason to know him: Top right-hander on the board.

Burns and Smith are head and shoulders above the rest of this year's pitching class. Any team targeting pitching early will leap to the podium to call their names. While Smith is rated slightly higher, Burns' 191-to-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 100 innings is better than the lefty's.

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Age: 21
Height: 6-5
Weight: 240 lbs
B/T: L/L

Reason to know him: Might be the most MLB-ready.

If Caglianone does get drafted as a two-way player or winds up in an organization that's in no rush to get him to the big leagues (as many early picks are), Kurtz is the most likely slugger to make a quick jump to MLB. Because he plays first base, he has less to work on defensively than he would at other premium position and posted a 1.235 OPS with 61 homers throughout college without ever really faltering.

Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

Age: 17
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195 lbs
B/T: L/L

Reason to know him: Ken Caminiti's cousin. Very polished high-school arm.

Caminiti is an exceptional prospect beyond being the cousin of former NL MVP and three-time All-Star Ken Caminiti. A prep lefty with elite strikeout acumen entering the draft a year earlier than expected, the 17-year-old could hear his name called very early in a pitching class that's not especially exciting.

Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

Age: 21
Height: 5-11
Weight: 200 lbs
B/T: S/S

Reason to know him: 🚨 Ambidextrous pitcher 🚨

An ambidextrous pitcher hasn't reached MLB since reliever Pat Venditte, who made his most recent big-league appearance in 2020. Cijntje will look to make a more lasting impression than Venditte, though, as he has the stamina and stuff to handle a starter's workload.

Noah Franco, LHP/OF, IMG Academy (Fla.)

Age: 18
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205 lbs
B/T: L/L

Reason to know him: Top-rated legitimate two-way prospect.

While Caglianone might be considered a two-way prospect, he'll most likely make his way to the majors as a slugger. That leaves Franco, No. 92 on MLB Pipeline, as the top-rated legitimate two-way prospect. Like Caminiti, he reclassified to be eligible for the draft one year earlier than expected, and a team looking to create the next Ohtani will jump at the opportunity to select a player like Franco and give him an extra year in its system to develop him to meet the organization's needs.

Where he'll go:

theScore: 116th overall (SF)
MLB Pipeline: 2nd round or later
ESPN: 2nd round or later
The Athletic: 2nd round or later
Baseball America: 2nd round or later