Welcome back to the final installment as we finish breaking down all 30 picks in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. In the previous articles, we have broken down the first ten picks highlighting the massive upside of picks like Chase Burns and Travis Bazzana. Then most recently breaking down picks 11-20 highlighting some of the draft’s best high school talents and finishing with the ECU hurler Trey Yesavage. This time we will finish off the series by breaking down picks 21-30 a part in the draft that we see some of the most successful teams year in and out get great values and at times become stars on the diamond. Names like Anthony Volpe, Nico Hoerner, Michael Busch, and Jackson Merrill were some of the makes selected in this range. Without further to do let’s dive into picks 21-30 from the 2024 MLB Draft.
2024 MLB Draft: Picks 21-30 Prospect Breakdowns
Minnesota Twins- Kaelen Culpepper, SS Kansas State
(61 GP, .328/.419/.574, 11 HR, 50 R, 59 RBI, 17 SB)
The Minnesota Twins drafted Kaelen Culpepper out of Kansas State but might be getting more than just a shortstop. Culpepper has an amazing work ethic and has proven to improve since he got to Kansas State. Originally a third baseman Culpepper took to shortstop at Kansas State and quickly became one of the best in College baseball this past season. In 61 games played Culpepper slashed .328/.419/.574 with 11 home runs, 50 runs scored, 59 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. Power is not a main focus for Culpepper as he is at his best hitting the ball to all fields.
For dynasty managers, this might not be the most flashy prospect taken on day one but could be one that could move quickly up the organizational ladder. Culpepper pairs solid defense with above-average bat-to-ball skills similar to former first-round draft pick Brooks Lee who has made his Major League debut this season.
Baltimore Orioles- Vance Honeycutt, OF North Carolina
(62 GP, .318/.410/.714, 28 HR, 88 R, 70 RBI, 28 SB)
One of my favorite college bats to watch this season and one that might be a massive steal this late in the draft is Vance Honeycutt out of the University of North Carolina. Honeycutt had a solid three seasons at North Carolina with his best coming as a bounce-back season this year. In 62 games played with the Tar Heels Honeycutt slashed .318/.410/.714 with 28 home runs, 88 runs scored, 70 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases. This is a perfect blend of solid bat-to-ball skills paired with potential plus power and speed on the basepaths for the stacked Orioles to use at their disposal.
💪📝UNC OF Vance Honeycutt is poised for a massive bounce back season. He looks to duplicate his freshman season of a 25 HR/ 29 SB prospect leading to the 24’ Draft. In 50 GP in 23’ he hit
•.257 AVG
•.418 OBP
•12 HR
• 19 SBOne to 👀 for the Heels @Fantrax @HoneycuttVance https://t.co/EldYVw6XMx
— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) February 13, 2024
For dynasty managers Honeycutt comes at a solid discount and I had him projected to go in the first 15 picks prior to the draft. The blend of power and speed is intriguing from a dynasty perspective and should be considered when selecting your first draft pick in FYPDs this off-season.
Los Angeles Dodgers- Kellon Lindsey, SS High School
(25 GP, .328/.500/.493, 1 HR, 28 R, 15 RBI, 23 SB)
High School prospects started flying off the board from picks 11-20 and the Dodgers continued the trend by selecting Kellon Lindsey a shortstop out of High School in Florida. The 18-year-old Lindsey stands 6’2” and 175 pounds and bats from the left side possessing some of the best prep speed in the draft class grading out at a 75 out of 80. When it comes to power Lindsey doesn’t have much right now but the Dodgers want to try and get at least average power out of him as he bulks up. In 25 games played his senior season Lindsey slashed .328/.500/.493 with one home run, 28 runs scored, 15 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. Some scouts project the bat as an above-average bat long term making him a prime lead-off hitter if things break right.
For dynasty managers, this is an interesting prospect to ponder come FYPDs in the off-season. There is plus speed here from the short-stop position reminiscent of Trey Turner but I have questions on whether Lindsey will be able to hit enough or play a solid enough defensive shortstop to stick long-term. Likely Lindsey could head to center field where his speed could play up and could fit the Jackson Merrill route to the Major leagues.
Atlanta Braves- Cam Caminiti, LHP High School
(10 GP, 52.2 IP, 119 K, 14 BB, 0.93 ERA)
Selected as the top High School arm in this year’s draft by the Atlanta Braves, Cam Caminiti has some intriguing upside. The Braves have gone with several High School arms in recent drafts and have seen successful results to this point so Caminiti could be following soon. Standing at 6’2” and 195 pounds Caminiti throws from the left side featuring a four-seam fastball that sits between 93-95 but touches 98mph. The slider and change-up sit just behind the fastball as above-average offerings, whereas the curveball is profiled as a slightly below-average offering currently. In 10 games pitched in his Senior season, Caminiti struck out 119 batters across 52.2 innings pitched, walking 14 and finishing the season with a solid 0.93 ERA.
For dynasty managers, there is a lot to like here with Caminiti based on natural talent to this point as well as the organizational philosophy that has done well developing this type of pitching prospect. The build profiles as a solid mid-rotation arm and if the curveball can improve or be scrapped altogether we could see Caminiti’s stock rise with a solid showing in Rookie ball.
San Deigo Padres- Kash Mayfield, LHP High School
(9 GS, 44 IP, 115 K, 8 BB, 0.16 ERA)
San Deigo really got a steal snagging Kash Mayfield this late in the first round. The 19-year-old left-hander out of high school stands 6’4” and 200 pounds with a mid 90’s fastball that reaches 98 mph paired with the best change-up in the class working in an 82 with solid fade and tumble. The curveball needs some improvements to it or to be reworked into a slider as it comes in as a slurve at 78 mph but has minimal shape. As for command and control, Mayfield has the potential to stand out with plus control right away. In nine starts his Senior season Mayfield struck out 115 batters over 44 innings pitched, walking just eight batters and finishing with a 0.16 ERA.
For dynasty managers, this is a prep arm to watch and snag in your FYPDs this off-season. The starters build at 6’4” paired with the advanced feel for the change-up, something prep arms tend to be late to develop. As well as the high 90’s fastball with riding life makes this so intriguing as he gets started in an organization that has had success developing prospects like this.
New York Yankees- Ben Hess, RHP Alabama
(15 GS, 68.1 IP, 106 K, 14 K/9, 5.80 ERA)
One of the solid college arms this season was Ben Hess despite dealing with forearm strains midway through the season. Standing at 6’5” and 255 pounds Hess has the true workhorse starters built on the mound and with a solid four-pitch mix of his fastball, curveball, slider, and change-up the Yankees could have gotten solid value. In 15 games pitched for the Crimson Tide Hess struck out 106 batters in 68.1 innings pitched, good for a 14 K/9 with 4.6 walks per nine, and finished the season with a 5.80 ERA in the SEC. Hess was dominant for the first two months before a forearm strain kept him out for two weeks, after returning the command was clearly off as the walks started to mount and the home runs as well.
🔥⛽️Alabama RHP Ben Hess has everything you’re looking for in a high floor starter with high upside. 4 pitch mix with excellent control. In 4 GS this year he has
•17 IP
•28 K
•14.8 K/9
•3.2 BB/9
•2.65 ERADraft eligible and fun to watch @Fantrax @BenHess02 @AlabamaBSB https://t.co/5R3neqR0As
— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) March 15, 2024
As stated before this looks to be a solid value pick for the Yankees despite the high ERA, walks, and home runs given up in the last two months of the College season. For dynasty managers, this could be a solid SP2-SP3 and I would suspect if he is healthy he could move quickly up the Yankees farm system. Even if he misses a season due to Tommy John in the future the upside is still here for a workhorse starter who can top out 100 mph with the fastball.
Philadelphia Phillies- Dante Nori, OF High School
(39 GP, .469 AVG,2 HR, 22 RBI, 20 SB)
This selection caught me a little off guard when it was announced but the Phillies look to be happy with the pick. Dante Nori is a 19-year-old outfielder from the Michigan High School ranks that looks to be one of the most advanced bats on day one due to his age at the time of the draft. The bat-to-ball skills are solid and there is potential for average to plus speed long-term. Standing at 5’9” and 190 pounds his body is pretty well maxed out so power will not be a major focus for the Phillies as he moves up the organizational ladder. In 39 games played in his Senior season, Nori hit .469 with two home runs, 22 RBIs, and stole 20 bases.
For dynasty managers, this is a profile the Phillies have gone after several times in the past with mixed results so time will tell how this plays for dynasty purposes. The appeal of 20-plus stolen bases and solid bat-the-ball skills with the calling card going forward should be considered during FYPDs this off-season.
Houston Astros- Walker Janek, C Sam Houston
(58 GP, .364/.476/.709, 17 HR, 55 R, 58 RBI, 13 SB)
The top-catching prospect went off the board to the Houston Astros who didn’t need to look far for their catcher of the future. Walker Janek was fantastic in his three seasons at Sam Houston State never batting below .300 while showing year-over-year improvements in power and speed. In 58 games played in 2024, Janek slashed .364/.476/.709 with 17 home runs, 55 runs scored, 58 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases with a solid 4.8% strikeout rate across 220 at-bats.
For dynasty managers, Janek has the tools to be an impactful contributor from the catcher position long-term. There might be still some room on the 6’ and 190-pound frame for 20-plus home run power with 10-15 stolen bases early on in his career. The bat-to-ball skills and the lack of strikeouts should propel Janek up the organizational ladder as we see how he works behind the plate with professional pitchers on the defensive side.
Arizona Diamondbacks- Slade Caldwell, OF High School
(33 GP, .485 AVG,.708 OBP, 3 HR, 58 R, 18 RBI, 51 SB)
Arizona looks like they drafted a real game-changer on the field in Slade Caldwell. Standing at 5’9” and 182 pounds Caldwell has a similar skillset and size to former first-round draft pick Corbin Carroll. In 33 games played Caldwell hit .485 with a .708 OBP while hitting three home runs, with 58 runs scored and 51 stolen bases. The advanced bat-to-ball skills paired with the elite speed on the basepaths could make Slade Caldwell an interesting prospect once he gets to Rookie ball.
For dynasty managers, it’s hard not to fall in love with the Corbin Carrol similarities when it comes to Slade Caldwell and despite Carroll’s fast rise to the Major Leagues, he was the exception to the rule. For Caldwell he will need to gain muscle to get to at least average pop at the Major League level and the arm in the outfield is not great how he will stick in center field or move to left is yet to be seen. Regardless of this, there is a ton of upside here and it wouldn’t surprise me if Slade Caldwell emerges as the best selection in this portion of the draft.
Texas Rangers- Malcolm Moore, C Sandford
(54 GP, .255/.414/.553, 16 HR, 42 R, 36 RBI)
The champion Texas Rangers took a catcher of the future with their first-round draft pick hailing from Sandford. Malcolm Moore entered the season as one of the College’s top-rated catchers. The 2024 season was a mixed bag when you look at the numbers. In 54 games played Moore slashed .255/.414/.553 with 16 home runs, 42 runs scored, and 36 RBIs. As a draft-eligible Sophomore Moore still has time to improve and the increase in his OBP is a welcome sight. What will need to improve is the bat-to-ball approach at the plate and getting more power out of his 6’2” and 216-pound frame.
For dynasty managers Malcolm Moore is going to take some time to develop in the Rangers organization the bat needs some work if he makes it to the major league level. As said before the power is about average and should be a focus as we saw the extra bases dip from 35 as a Freshman to 24 this past season. This is a real-life baseball selection with other options standing out in the comp rounds and early second for FYPDs.