Burns went 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA, named ACC Pitcher of the Year
Cincinnati Reds preparing for 2024 MLB Draft with second overall pick
Condon hit .433/.556/1.009 with 37 home runs in 60 games
Reds will consider potential impact and signing bonus demands when making selection
Two top prospects: Charlie Condon from Georgia and Chase Burns from Wake Forest
The 2024 Major League Baseball Draft is approaching, with the event set to take place from July 14th to July 16th during the All-Star break. The Cincinnati Reds, who did not win the draft lottery but landed the second pick instead, are gearing up for an important selection.
The Reds have a rich history of using their high draft picks effectively. For instance, they selected Kurt Stillwell with the second overall pick in 1983 and Nick Senzel and Hunter Greene in consecutive years (2016 and 2017). This year, they will be looking to add another promising prospect to their roster.
Two of the top prospects for the draft are Charlie Condon from Georgia and Chase Burns from Wake Forest. Condon, a walk-on who became the best player in college baseball, hit an impressive .433/.556/1.009 with 20 doubles, a triple, and 37 home runs in just 60 games played.
Burns had an impressive season as well, going 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 100.0 innings at Wake Forest. He had an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3:1 and was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year.
The Reds will have to weigh various factors when making their selection, including each player's potential impact on their team and signing bonus demands. The draft order for rounds 3 through 10 is determined by teams' records from the previous season, so the Reds will have an opportunity to add more talent later in the draft as well.
The MLB Draft is a crucial event for baseball teams, as it provides them with an opportunity to build their future rosters. The Reds are no exception and will be looking to make a smart and impactful selection with their second overall pick.
Cincinnati has had the #2 pick several times before, including in 1983 when they selected Kurt Stillwell and in back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017 when they picked Nick Senzel and Hunter Greene.
Charlie Condon hit .433/.556/1.009 with 20 doubles, a triple, and 37 home runs in 60 games played for Georgia.
Chase Burns went 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 100.0 innings at Wake Forest, where he had 30 walks and 191 strikeouts.
The College World Series has ended and the MLB draft is upcoming on July 14 during All-Star festivities.
JJ Wetherholt from West Virginia is a potential top pick for the Cleveland Guardians due to his expected bonus range allowing them to maximize their draft pool.
Accuracy
Cleveland Guardians will have the first pick in the draft.
JJ Wetherholt from West Virginia is a potential top pick for the Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians have not revealed their intentions for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft.
Cleveland is considering four players for the top pick: Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana, Georgia outfielder/third baseman Charlie Condon, Florida first baseman/left-hander Jac Caglianone and West Virginia middle infielder JJ Wetherholt.
Bazzana might be more amenable to accepting a bonus in the $8.5 million-to-8.75 million range from Cleveland.
Condon and Caglianone are expected to go to the Reds and Rockies respectively with their current asking prices.
Wetherholt, MLB Pipeline’s top-rated prospect entering the year, missed half the season due to a recurring hamstring injury.
Bazzana is considered one of the best pure hitters available and is more athletic than Wetherholt but offers less power.
Caglianone is in play with the Guardians more than realized, while Condon is fourth in their pecking order if he wants full slot.
