MLB:
Rainer, Yesavage, maybe Kurtz, or Montgomery, or Griffin.
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-draft-overview-and-scheduleBaseball America predicts:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-mlb-mock-draft-6-0-new-predictions-for-first-39-picks/Nick Kurtz at 10, Earlier picks near Nats draft spot: Rainer, Montgomery, Griffin at 9. Then Caminiti at 11 and Trey Yesavage at 12. If the Nats want a pitcher, it is likely to be Yesavage.
Fangraphs lists familiar names at 8-12.
https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/2024-mlb-draft8-Montgomery, 9-Caglianone (!), 10-Rainer, 11-Seaver King, 12-Konnor Griffin. Kurtz is down at 17, and Yesavage at 19
Keith Law, at The Athletic, has Montgomery going to the former Philadelpia A's at 4, Caglianone going to the White Sox at 5, the Angels taking Christian Moore at 8, and
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep (Flowood, Miss.)
The Pirates were linked to college players all spring, but in the last few days teams behind them have started to think that the Bucs might go prep, with Griffin or Rainer. Griffin would be an interesting fit for their system, as the Pirates have a long history of taking guys who make a lot of contact but fail to develop power, while Griffin has huge power and needs help with contact.
10. Washington Nationals: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
The Nats picked up an extra draft pick and an extra $2.395 million in pool money in Saturday’s trade with Kansas City, which may open up some new possibilities for them with this pick — or just allow them to grab another first-round talent at pick 39 by going a little under slot at 44. I’ve heard they’re on pretty much every player you could imagine at this pick. The top nine are unsettled enough that they could end up with any of at least seven guys I think they’d happily select.
11. Detroit Tigers: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Kurtz’s slide seems real — at least, teams in this range in the draft think he’s approaching them now, and I imagine he stops in the 11-14 range. Teams around Detroit think they’ll go college after passing on Wyatt Langford last year, although scouting director Mark Conner has historically preferred prep guys with the first pick. If they go the latter route, they might be high school lefty Cam Caminiti’s ceiling, although I heard on Saturday he might have a chance to get into the top 10. (Nationals?)
12. Boston Red Sox: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
I’d heard a few weeks ago this was one of Boston’s ideal scenarios, and if the Angels go another route, it becomes much more likely that Yesavage gets here, although he’d have to get past the Nats, who are also candidates to take him (which pushes someone else down). If Yesavage is gone, the Red Sox may go with Jurrangelo Cijntje. I’ve heard Boston previously linked with Christian Moore and Ryan Waldschmidt.
