The Cleveland Guardians have astonished many fans by rising to a top spot in the American League Central division after only winning 76 games in 2023.
And their future looks as promising as the present, as they have the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft. However, the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel has the team passing on the top-ranked prospect, Charlie Condon, and instead choosing Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana.
“I am hearing Bazzana and Jac Caglianone are the leading options here, more than Charlie Condon, but due to team preference, not early price shopping; prices aren’t floated until much later,” McDaniel wrote.
Cleveland Guardians' Surprising Choice in MLB Draft: Travis Bazzana Over Charlie Condon
Bazzana is an outstanding college player and appears set for a lengthy and successful MLB career. However, Condon has emerged as the top talent on the board, not only in McDaniel’s view but according to MLB.com’s rankings as well, making the Guardians' projection a bit unexpected.
“Condon has a slight edge as the overall best player in the draft class with similarities to Kris Bryant or Alec Bohm as a tall, right-handed hitting third baseman (or perhaps outfielder, depending on circumstances) with significant raw power and a formidable spring,” McDaniel wrote. “Oh, and a very polished swing.”
Condon profiles with elite power and exceptional hitting. Despite being relatively unnoticed before college, he has risen to the top of many rankings.
“Scouts and college recruiters paid little attention to Condon when he was a physically underdeveloped high schooler in Georgia, and he eventually joined Georgia as a preferred walk-on,” MLB.com noted. “He redshirted in 2022 while continuing to gain strength, then earned national Freshman of the Year honors last spring. He slashed .386/.484/.800 with a Southeastern Conference freshman-record 25 homers and led college baseball’s top league in slugging, and has put up even better numbers while establishing himself as the likely No. 1 overall pick in 2024.”
Travis Bazzana May Become the Cleveland Guardians’ Key Infielder in the Future
Despite this likelihood, McDaniel anticipates Condon to drop to the Cincinnati Reds with the second pick. And he explained why the Guardians might favor Bazzana instead.
“The Australian-born Bazzana is no slouch, with both great running ability and power, and a remarkable spring but with a different body type than Condon,” he wrote. “He is hitting well over .400 and set the Oregon State single-season home run record.”
Bazzana is seen as a more well-rounded prospect, though not possessing the same power as Condon.
“The left-handed-hitting infielder is compact and strong with a lot of bat speed,” according to MLB.com’s scouting report. “He has an advanced approach at the plate with a lot of raw power he taps into.”
Completing the remainder of the initial selections, McDaniel forecasted that the Colorado Rockies would choose infielder/outfielder Jac Caglianone, the Oakland Athletics would choose first baseman Nick Kurtz, the Chicago White Sox would opt for pitcher Hagen Smith, the Kansas City Royals would select dual-player Konnor Griffin and the St. Louis Cardinals would take outfielder Braden Montgomery.
