Major League Baseball’s amateur draft began Sunday night. Cleveland Guardians begin three-day, 20-round program Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazana selected with the first No. 1 pick in franchise history, (The Guardians had previously picked No. 2 on five occasions, most recently in 1992.)
In total, teams made 74 selections on Sunday night. they are spread first and second round, as well as several compensatory and complementary phases. (You can click here to read who we deemed the winners and losers of the first night.)
But, as mentioned above, the draft doesn’t end with Sunday night. There are still two days to go before scouting departments across the league can take a deep breath and start working toward next year’s event.
With that in mind, here are 10 players worth keeping an eye on when the MLB Draft resumes on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET. When applicable, I have included a player who is on my top-50 list. (Note: I’m not including right-hander William Schmidt, who announced Sunday he will attend LSU.)
1. Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State (CBS Sports Rank: No. 28)
Jordan has excellent physical ability which is manifested in above average strength and speed markers. Unfortunately, the usability isn’t there. He struck out in 31% of his trips to the plate during SEC competition, and my research revealed just one other player who struck out that many times and had a notable MLB career — and that was Edouard Julien, who was originally ranked 18th. Was a player of the era. He featured more than a few worth of plates in his name throughout the season. If Jordan’s employer can help him maximize his qualities, there will be star-level advancement. Looks like he’ll have to wait longer than I expected to hear his name called.
2. Joey Oakie, RHP, Ankeny Centennial (IA) (No. 42)
Oki found himself ranked behind several of the more interesting preparation weapons. He was selected in the same manner on Sunday night also. Don’t get it confused: This Iowa commit has a quality fastball-slider duo that he delivers from a flat release point. Unless he takes himself out of the equation, he feels like a candidate for an early departure the next day.
3. Dax Whitney, RHP, Blackfoot HS (ID) (No. 45)
Whitney is another interesting preparation branch. He is a big right-hander who has shown improved velocity with a full arsenal this year. Whitney did not play against top level competition in Idaho, making him a bit riskier than many of his teammates. He has an outstanding commitment to Oregon State that could be honored if he goes too far.
4. Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern (No. 47)
Sirota has drawn comparisons to Chase DeLoutyer, the 16th pick in the 2022 draft. It was lazy and sensual at the same time, as both were small school outfielders with unusual swings. While Deloutre recovered from a poor start and a season-ending injury to land the first in the middle of the season, Sirota struggled for much of the season and slipped to second. He’s a good athlete who drew more walks than he averaged this season. They also performed well in last summer’s Cape Cod League, although it only consisted of one week of games. Someone will take action.
5. Drew Beam, RHP, Tennessee (No. 49)
Beam entered my top 30 in the spring thanks to contact management skills that allowed him to be more consistent than previous rotation mates Chase Burns and Chase Dolander. However, his performance took a step back in 2024, and it’s not going to lead to a higher selection when the pitcher’s arsenal is filled with 50 and 55-grade offers. The beam should still come off the board a little early on the second day.
6. Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
Hartl burst into my top 30 in the spring, atoning for a simply OK arsenal with his track record and competitiveness. (One veteran scout listed him as the collegiate pitcher he wanted on the mound in a must-win game.) Alas, Hartley had a poor season for a loaded Demon Deacons team. In 15 games, he accrued a 5.79 ERA and all of his per-nine rate statistics went in the wrong direction. Given that Hartl doesn’t have top-flight upside, you can understand why teams might put him at a lower level on their boards.
7. Tristan Smith, LHP, Clemson
Smith was an interesting prepster who chose Clemson over turning pro a few years ago. He held his own while issuing more than six walks per nine innings during two seasons with the Tigers. He has a solid starting arsenal, and if his future employer can help him improve his command to a tolerable level, he could prove to be a valuable pick.
8. Kevin Bazzell, C, Texas Tech
In addition to pitching as a catcher at the next level, Bazzell was an accomplished collegiate hitter. In two seasons with the Red Raiders, he batted .330/.431/.530 with 16 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. Their sense of connection and territory are equally their strongest selling points, and they should reach somewhere as early as day two. (It’s worth noting that he missed much of the early spring season while recovering from mono.)
9. Peyton Stovall, 2B, Arkansas
Stovall is not the most explosive athlete, nor is he likely to move across the defensive spectrum or clean up bats at the next level. Still, teams are always eager to have players who can post numbers in the SEC. Stovall did just that, showing a mature approach and a sense of contact while hitting .315/.390/.532 in conference play. Due to his lack of secondary skills he has to force his way onto The Show. Any team betting on Monday he’ll do just that.
10. Carson DeMartini, 3B, Virginia Tech
DeMartini homered 21 times for the Hokies this season, but there is so much risk associated with his hit tool that it’s understandable how he survived another day. He struck out in about 28% of his trips to the plate this season, although only around 26% during conference play. It’s also likely that DeMartini will have to move to third base, which will put more pressure on his bat to port him to the next level.
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