2024 Bowman Draft Top Prospects
Bowman Draft returns for 2024, showcasing an impressive lineup of emerging top prospects. Discover the must-chase names right here!
Written by: Emil Cienik and Jay Grusznski
Note: Players are listed in no particular order.
Travis Bazzana – 2B – Cleveland Guardians
After a sensational junior year at Oregon State that saw Travis Bazzana hit .407 with 28 homers, the Guardians made the Aussie the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. The lefty swinger has a quick compact swing that generates plenty of power, while his plate discipline and quality approach allows him to maximize the damage he can do at the dish. Adding to his offensive package is above average speed, allowing him to take extra bases and rack up steals. He’s solidified on playing second base in the infield, but his speed may lead him to center field in the future. In his professional debut, Bazzana hit .238 with a .369 OBP, with 10 extra base hits while leading the Lake County Captains to a Midwest League championship. We’ll expect to see Bazzana’s numbers to improve during his first full season in pro ball, but with that being said, he was the first overall pick for a reason – and the all-star potential is real.
Nick Kurtz – 1B – Athletics
A prime candidate to go first overall after slugging 39 homers in his first two seasons at Wake Forest, Nick Kurtz had a rough start to his junior season compounded by an injury that caused him to miss some time. He finished the season strong though, slugging 22 home runs and leading the NCAA in walks. Selected 4th overall by the Athletics in the 2024 MLB Draft, the slugging lefty impressed in his 38 at-bat pro debut. The 6’5” first baseman showed off his well-rounded approach – taking plenty of walks leading to a .520 on base percentage, hitting for average at .368, and hitting for power with 4 homers. Look for Kurtz to fly through the Athletics minor league system on his way to the bigs.
Christian Moore – 2B – Los Angeles Angels
One of the most electrifying athletes in college baseball, Christian Moore led NCAA D1 with 111 hits (34 of them home runs) while leading Tennessee to a national title. C-Mo shined the brightest on the biggest stage, hitting for the cycle in the College World Series and homering in the clinching game. The Angels chose him 8th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft and after a 2-game stint in Single A promoted him to Double A. The solidly built 6’1” second baseman got off to a scorching start with Rocket City, hitting .322 with 5 homers before a meniscus injury ended his season. Moore’s high upside and big bat will make him a top chase in Bowman Draft, and it leads us to believe the Angels will continue to promote him quickly.
Konnor Griffin – SS/OF – Pittsburgh Pirates
The top prep prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Pirates drafted Mississippi high schooler Konnor Griffin 9th overall and signed him for an overslot $6.53 million bonus to forgo his commitment to LSU. Already 6’4”, 215 lbs., Griffin is a smooth fielder at short but has the speed to excel in center field. His speed translates on the bases as well, with a nation-leading 87 stolen bases his last year in high school. His size and swing lead to promising power potential and when you combine it with his speed, it’s easy to see Griffin as a perennial 30/30 talent. He’ll make his professional debut in 2025.
Bryce Rainer – SS – Detroit Tigers
A product of the famous Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, Bryce Rainer became the school’s 5th first rounder in the last 12 years when the Tigers selected him 11th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. His lefty swing shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields, and his 6’3” frame should make him a consistent power threat as he develops. A highly regarded prep pitcher as well with a mid-90’s fastball, he does has the defensive chops to handle shortstop. If a move to third is necessary, Rainer has the bat and the arm for it. Already the #4 prospect in the organization, Rainer will be a top prospect that Tigers fans should be pumped to watch develop. He’ll make his professional debut in 2025.
Braden Montgomery – OF – Boston Red Sox
After hitting 35 homers in two years at Stanford, Braden Montgomery took his talents to the SEC and hit 27 bombs for Texas A&M as a junior. Despite a scary broken ankle suffered in the NCAA Super Regionals, the Red Sox grabbed the outfielder (who was regularly in the top 5 conversation) 12th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. He profiles as a classic right fielder with average speed but a cannon for an arm and elite power potential. The 6’2” switch hitter makes more consistent forcible contact from the left side, but hits with power to all fields from both sides. Montgomery has an extremely high floor, and probably could not have landed in a better spot than Boston from a development-perspective. We’ll see how long it takes him to start sharing an outfield in the bigs with Roman Anthony.
Cam Smith – 3B – Chicago Cubs
Florida State had back-to-back draftees in the 2024 MLB Draft, with Cam Smith going to the Cubs at 14th overall, one pick after teammate James Tibbs III was picked by San Francisco. The righty made three stops in the Cubs system, starting at Single A Myrtle Beach, where he hit .313 with 6 homers in just 15 games, and ended up in Double A. Despite the home run barrage with the Pelicans, Smith’s power isn’t his calling card – he does crush the ball consistently when he makes contact, but his swing favors line drives over loft. He’s solid defensively at third, and despite his average speed, his strong arm would allow for a move to RF if needed. Cubs fans should be ecstatic with what they’ve seen from Smith so far and it’s evident that he’ll be a big chase in Bowman Draft.
Hagen Smith – LHP – Chicago White Sox
The ace of the Arkansas staff, Hagen Smith, set an NCAA D1 record by averaging over 17 strikeouts per nine innings during a 9-2 record junior season. Smith’s dominance was enough to earn him the SEC pitcher of the year award and got him drafted 5th overall by the Chicago White Sox in the 2024 MLB Draft. The 6’3” southpaw got a taste of pro ball after signing, throwing 7 ⅔ innings at High A Winston Salem, striking out 7. Smith has deception in his delivery, which makes his 94-97 mph fastball and wicked slider play up, but can lead to bouts of wildness that have become less frequent. Smith has a high floor, massive upside, and all signs point to him flying quickly through the minors.
Chase Burns – RHP – Cincinnati Reds
Chase Burns showed great promise as a freshman and sophomore at Tennessee, winning 13 games and striking out 217 batters in 152.1 innings as a starter/reliever while helping the Volunteers reach the College World Series in 2023. He transferred to Wake Forest in hopes that their famous pitching lab could maximize his pitch arsenal highlighted by a fastball that can reach 100 mph and a wicked slider. The righty then dominated and went 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA and struck out 191 batters in 100 innings during his one season with the Demon Deacons. The Cincinnati Reds chose him 2nd overall in the 2024 MLB Draft and gave him a record tying signing bonus of $9.25 million. Burns is the top pitcher in this class, the top prospect in the Reds organization, and he deserves all the hype coming his way.
Theo Gillen (Rays, Pick 18)
A highly regarded Texas prep product, Theo Gillen fought through a couple major injuries in high school to prove himself worthy of a top pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. The Rays liked what they saw in his mainly healthy senior season enough to make him the 18th overall selection. A shortstop as a prep, Gillen’s throwing arm hasn’t looked the same since labrum surgery, so Tampa Bay has moved him to center field to take advantage of his speed. The 6’2” lefty batter makes heavy contact to all fields and should provide even more power as he gains strength. He got a taste of pro ball at the end of the 2024 season, getting 26 at bats in A Ball with a .353 OBP. Look for the Rays organization to unlock his huge hitting potential as he develops.
Jac Caglianone – 1B/LHP – Kansas City Royals
The John Olerud Award winner as the top two-way player in college baseball, Jac Caglianone hit 68 homers over the last two seasons while also being a mainstay in the Florida Gators rotation. The Kansas City Royals snagged him with the 6th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, with a plan to let him continue hitting and pitching. The 6’5” lefty’s calling card both on the mound and at the plate is power, throwing in the upper 90’s and launching balls deep into the night. He didn’t pitch after signing, but did hit his first two professional homers with High A Quad Cities. The 6’5” uber-athletic Caglianone will easily be one of the top chases in Bowman Draft.
Kellon Lindsey – SS – Los Angeles Dodgers
One of the fastest players in the MLB Draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Kellon Lindsey with the 23rd pick and gave him their largest signing bonus since 2010 to convince him to turn pro. The slight frame on the 6’2” 175-pound righty doesn’t show much power yet, but he makes enough contact to get on base where his speed is a game changer. The Florida native will start out at shortstop, but he could easily shift to center field to maximize his quickness. All facets of Lindey’s game projects well, and at only 19 years old, he has time to develop into a potential superstar. Lindsey will make his professional debut in 2025.
Braylon Payne – OF – Milwaukee Brewers
One of the youngest players in the 2024 MLB Draft, Braylon Payne was only 17 years old when the Brewers chose him, ironically, 17th overall. He made his professional debut with the Class A Carolina Mudcats not long after his 18th birthday and in just his third game, reached base six times by going 4 for 4 with two walks and four stolen bases. Speed is the calling card for the Texas native, as the lefty slap hitter uses it to get on base, to leave first base at the first opportunity he gets, and to cover plenty of ground in center field. Don’t let the underslot signing bonus scare you away – Payne is a guy with a high floor and the Brewers could not be more excited to have him in their system.
Carson Benge – OF – New York Mets
Carson Benge missed his freshman year at Oklahoma State due to Tommy John surgery but came back strong in 2023, hitting .345 with 17 doubles and 7 homers. As a junior with the Cowboys, he hit for roughly the same average, but did far more damage, doubling 24 times with 18 homers as he worked his way into the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft at pick 19. He played 15 games for the St. Lucie Mets and hit his first two professional home runs while hitting .273. The lefty has a great approach at the plate and should hit for a solid average with power and with his strong arm which was used to pitch at OSU he makes for a prototypical right fielder. The sky is the limit for Benge – the Mets got a good one here.
Griffin Burkholder – OF – Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies gave an overslot $2.5 million bonus to Griffin Burkholder to convince their second-round pick to skip out on his commitment to West Virginia and turn pro. The righthander has a strong build at 6’2”, 195 lbs. and should hit for some power as he develops. Burkholder’s speed is his top trait, allowing him to cover plenty of ground in center field and be aggressive on the base paths. The Virginia native showed off his wheels in his professional debut with Single A Clearwater, legging out a triple for his first hit. If you’re looking for high-upside, potential 5-tool guys that may be in the “sleeper” category since they weren’t drafted in the first round – Burkholder is your guy.
Seaver King – SS – Washington Nationals
Seaver King spent two seasons at Division II Wingate before transferring to Wake Forest for his junior year. He hit .308 with 16 homers and became the 3rd Demon Deacon drafted in the top ten of the 2024 MLB Draft when the Nationals made him their 1st round selection. A versatile defender, King saw action at four different spots for Wake Forest, playing 2B, 3B, SS, and CF, and Washington is going to start him out at shortstop. He got into 20 games with Single A Fredericksburg, hitting .295 and stealing 10 bases. His excellent speed plays well with his bat to ball skills and line drive producing swings, resulting in three triples for the F-Nats. King is a guy you’ve got to love – from his unlikely path to a top 10 pick to his new comparisons to a young Mookie Betts, he’s got a chip on his shoulder and has performed every step of the way.
Cole Mathis – 3B – Chicago Cubs
After mainly being a reliever as a freshman to splitting time between the mound and the field as a sophomore with really good results, Cole Mathis could only be a position player as a junior while recovering from Tommy John surgery. This switch led to a huge season for him at the College of Charleston, seeing Mathis hit .335 with 14 homers and had him catch the eyes of MLB scouts. The Cubs liked his bat and selected him in the 2nd round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The 6’1” righty was announced as a third baseman, a position he only played once in college, but he’s likely to end up across the diamond at first if his bat progresses faster than his glove. He’ll make his professional debut in 2025 and we’ll look for that power to translate to bombs in the minor league.
JD Dix – SS – Arizona Diamondbacks
JD Dix had a shoulder injury that later required labrum surgery which hampered him on the high school showcase circuit and his senior year, but it didn’t stop the Diamondbacks from selecting him 35th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. This alone shows the upside potential that Dix has. The Wisconsin native is a switch hitter that makes solid contact from both sides of the plate. If his arm strength returns as he gets fully healthy, he has the hands and movement to handle shortstop. We’ll see just how he looks during his professional debut in 2025, but he may just be a sleeper you want to get in on early.
Tyson Lewis – SS – Cincinnati Reds
The Nebraska High School Player of the Year in 2024, Tyson Lewis became the first prep player from the Cornhusker State drafted since 2019. The Reds gave him over $3 million to forgo his commitment to Arkansas and join the professional ranks. The lefty batter can get a little pull happy, but it’s also how he taps into his power. Cincinnati is starting him out at shortstop, but he isn’t a lock to stay there and could move over to second if needed. He’ll make his professional debut in 2025 with an outside shot to take the title of the best prep shortstop in this class.
James Tibbs III – OF – San Francisco Giants
James Tibbs III made consistent improvements during his time at Florida State, raising his batting average, home run total, and walk rate while lowering his strikeout rate in each of his three years with the Seminoles. Wrapping up his final season as the ACC Player of the Year, San Francisco then made Tibbs the 13th overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. The 6’0” lefty’s best trait may be his swing decisions, which leads to few strikeouts, many walks, and consistent barrels when he does swing. He hit a scorching .415 in a nine-game stretch with Class A San Jose during his professional debut. He’s only played RF so far for the Giants in the Minors, but he profiles more as a LF or 1B in the future. He has a high floor, projects well, and will be a big asset in the Giants prospect pool.
Billy Amick (MIN)
Following a standout sophomore season at 1B for Clemson where he hit .413, Billy Amick looked for an opportunity to play 3B and found it at Tennessee. He also found a National Championship with the Volunteers and hit .306 with 14 doubles and 23 home runs along the way. The Twins selected him in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft and gave him some looks at third, but he also played across the diamond at first as well, so it remains to be seen what his pro position will ultimately be. The 6’1” righty knocked three homers with Class A Fort Myers in his 63 at bat professional debut. Amick is a well-rounded hitter that has a chance to project deeper as a big power bat.