We will do some draft reviews to fill time during lulls in Hot Stove League action. The draft occurs so late in the season now many of the new professional players do not see game action until the following season. The ones who do see action do not accumulate a large enough sample size to draw any conclusions. We'll therefore start our reviews with the 2024 draft which was heavy on college hitters. Everybody loves rankings and grades. We will assign grades to each pick just for fun. Note that grades are based on performance to date only, not to future value or prospect rankings.
1. Guardians: Travis Bazzana 2B, College.
2025(AA): .256/.364/.426, 5 HR, 9 SB, 12.7 BB%, 24.1 K%, 228 PA.
2025(AAA): .225/.420/.438, 4 HR, 2 SB, 24.2 BB%, 26.7 K%, 120 PA.
Although multiple 2024 first rounders already made their MLB debuts, making it to AAA in a player's first full pro season is still impressive. Numbers suggest
Bazzana may be too passive at the plate and needs to sacrifice a few walks to bring his K rate down and his BA up.
Fangraphs scouting report says he is not a good defender. Grade B.
2. Reds: Chase Burns RHP, College.
2025(MiLB): 7-3, 1.77, 66 IP, 12.14 K/9, 1.77 BB/9, 1.30 GB/FB.
2025(MLB): 0-3, 4.57, 43.1 IP, 13.9 K/9, 3.32 BB/9, 0.86 GB/FB, 2.65 FIP.
Numbers suggest he'll be an ace. Scouting report says
triple digit FB with a grade 70 slider. Missed time with a
grade 1 flexor strain and used as a reliever after he came back on Sept 11. Injury risk something to watch going forward. Grade A.
2025(A+): .312/.431/.420, 3 HR, 15.6 BB%, 21.0 K%, 167 PA.
2025(AA): .235/.342/.465, 11 HR, 10.5 BB%, 28.3 K%, 237 PA.
Power hitter who looks like he's going to be a
3-true outcomes kind of hitter. Those guys can be a little slower to develop. AA in first full pro season is still nothing to be ashamed of. Grade B.
2025(AAA): .321/.385/.655, 7 HR, 10.3 BB%, 26.8 K%, 97 PA.
2025(MLB): .290/.383/.619, 8 HR, 12.9 BB%, 30.9 K%, 489 PA.
The K rate may give some pause but it's pretty darn hard to top that for a first full pro season. Grade A.
5. White Sox: Hagen Smith LHP, College.
2025(AA): 3-3, 3.57, 75.2 IP, 12.85 K/9, 6.66 BB/9.
Missed some time with elbow soreness with MRI showing no structural damage. Worked on mechanical issues while on the IL. AA is a strong placement for first full season. Has been described as having a "killer" FB/slider combo. Grade B.
6. Royals: Jac Caglionone OF, College.
2025(AA): .322/.394/.553, 9 HR, 10.9 BB%, 21.1 K%, 175 PA.
2025(AAA): .357/.426/.705, 11 HR, 9.3 BB%, 15.5 K%, 129 PA.
2025(MLB): .157/.237/.295, 7 HR, 7.8 BB%, 22.4 K%, 232 PA.
Fast riser who destroyed AA and AAA pitching before struggling to make the adjustment to MLB. Impressive first full pro season with expectations for improvement with experience in the league. Grade A
7. Cardinals: J. J. Wetherholt SS, College.
2025(AA): .300/.425/.466, 7 HR, 14 SB, 16.0 BB%, 14.5 K%, 275 PA.
2025(AAA): .314/.416/.562, 10 HR, 9 SB, 12.7 BB%, 14.9 K%, 221 PA.
All signs point to
Wetherholt being an elite,
5-tool middle infielder as soon as Opening Day 2026. Although scouting reports have him doing just fine at SS, the Cardinals may prefer to keep
Masyn Winn there and put
J. J. at 2B since his bat plays more than well there too. Grade A.
8. Angels: Christian Moore 2B, College.
2025(AA): .234/.342/.323, HR, 5 SB, 14.4 BB%, 27.4 K%, 146 PA.
2025(AAA): .292/.370/.483, 5 HR, 4 SB, 10.1 BB%, 29.0 K%, 138 PA.
2025(MLB): .198/.284/.370, 7 HR, 3 SB, 10.3 BB%, 33.7 K%, 184 PA.
The Angels have a history of drafting college hitters and rushing them to the majors. Moore may have jumped a bridge too far but now he knows what adjustments he needs to make. K rate was high even in the minors so that is an area that needs work. Grade B.
9. Pirates: Konnor Griffin SS, HS.
2025(A): .338/.396/.536, 9 HR, 26 SB, 6.5 BB%, 22.9 K%, 231 PA.
2025(A+): .325/.432/.510, 7 HR, 33 SB, 12.0 BB%, 19.7 K%, 234 PA.
2025(AA): .337/.418/.542, 5 HR, 6 SB, 7.1 BB%, 21.7 K%, 98 PA.
First HS player drafted. Griffin had a fantastic first full season. Making AA and performing well there is almost unheard of for the first full season for a player drafted out of HS. Word is the Pirates are considering giving him a chance to win the starting SS job out of spring training. Looks ike a special player. Grade A.
10. Nationals: Seaver King SS, College.
2025(A+): .263/.307/.380, 3 HR, 12 SB, 4.6 BB%, 21.6 K%, 194 PA.
2025(AA): .233/.287/.313, 3 HR, 18 SB, 6.4 BB%, 20.7 K%, 357 PA.
Free swinger who doesn't make up for an extremely low walk rate with low enough K rate or hard contact. AA is an aggressive placement even for a player drafted out of college, but he obviously needs some work on his approach at the plate. Grade C.
11. Tigers: Bryce Rainer SS, HS.
2025(A): .288/.383/.448, 5 HR, 9 SB, 13.4 BB%, 22.1 K%, 149 PA.
Was coming along just fine in A ball when he dislocated his right shoulder and underwent season-ending surgery which is not good for any player, let alone a shortstop. Grade C.
12. Red Sox: Braden Montgomery OF, College.
2025(A): .304/.393/.493, 3 HR, 6 SB, 11.9 BB%, 22.6 K%, 84 PA.
2025(A+): .260/.348/.445, 8 HR,5 SB, 11.0 BB%, 24.1 K%, 290 PA.
2025(AA): .272/.364/.416, HR, 3 SB, 10.5 BB%, 28.7 K%, 143 PA.
Toolsy switch-hitter whose college career ended with a right ankle fracture which required surgery. He worked his way through 3 levels in his first pro season which ended a little early with a right foot fracture from a foul ball. He seemed healthy in the
Arizona Fall League so hopefully no residual effects. Giants might want to file that ankle surgery history away in case they ever want to trade for him or sign him as a free agent in the future(only a hint of sarcasm here). Grade C.
13. Giants: James Tibbs III OF, College.
2025(A+): .246/.379/.478, 12 HR, 3 SB, 16.4 BB%, 17.6 K%, 256 PA.
2025(AA-Red Sox): .207/.319/.267, HR, 2 SB, 13.8 BB%, 28.3 K%, 138 PA.
2025(AA- Dodgers): .269/.407/.493, 7 HR, 5 SB, 17.3 BB%, 21.4 K%, 168 PA.
Tibbs showed elite plate discipline and some power at A+ level in the Giants organization. He was traded to the Red Sox in the
Rafael Devers deal who were unimpressed by his performance with their AA club. He was shortly flipped to.....the Dodgers?! Yikes! His numbers with the Dodgers AA affiliate were more similar to his Giants A+ numbers. He's reputed to be defensively challenged and does not hit lefties well. Fangraphs projects him as a platoon outfielder. Grade C(But hey! If he helped land
Devers, we may be undervaluing his selection for the Giants).
14. Cubs: Cam Smith OF, College.
2025(MLB): .236/.312/358, 9 HR, 8 SB, 8.7 BB%, 27.8 K%, 493 PA.
Traded to the Astros in the deal for Kyle Tucker, Smith had Giants fans grinding their teeth when he opened the season in an Astros uniform and got off to a hot start. It was like "hey! How did the Giants draft Tibbs ahead of this guy?" Well, the honeymoon didn't last long for Smith and just a few days ago Astros GM Dana Brown said Smith could begin next season in AAA "if he hasn't turned the corner."(Per Fangraphs). Tough to grade this one but we'll give him a C.
15. Mariners: Jurrangelo Cijntje P, College.
2025(A+): 4-7, 4.58, 74.2 IP, 10.00 K/9, 4.22 BB/9.
2025(AA): 1-0, 2.67, 33.2 IP, 9.89 K/9, 4.28 BB/9.
Switch pitcher who Fangraphs scouting report says has a starter's mix from the right side and a lefty specialist mix from the left. Walk rate needs to come down a notch. Grade C.
16. Marlins: P. J. Morlando OF, HS.
2025(A): .226/.361/.353, 5 HR, 6 SB, 15.5 BB%, 26.6 K%, 233 PA.
Strong walk rate but high K rate suppresses BA and usable power. Grade D.
17. Brewers: Braylon Payne OF, HS.
2025(A): .240/.354/.382, 8 HR, 31 SB, 15.2 BB%, 30.1 K%, 342 PA.
Almost identical numbers as Morlando. Impressive SB's. Grade D.
18. Rays: Theo Gillen OF, HS.
.267/.433/.387, 5 HR, 36 SB, 19.8 BB%, 23.1 K%, 324 PA.
Managed to keep K rate in manageable range despite an extreme walk rate. Able to turn walks into doubles with SB's. Grade C.
19. Mets: Carson Benge OF, College.
2025(A+): .302/.417/.480, 4 HR, 15 SB, 15.1 BB%, 18.5 K%, 271 PA.
2025(AA): .317/.407/.571, 8 HR, 4 SB, 12.4 BB%, 15.9 K%, 145 PA.
2025(AAA): .178/.272/.311, 3 HR, 3 SB, 8.7 BB%, 18.4 K%, 103 PA.
Ran out of gas at the AAA level. Per
Fangraphs,
David Stearns says Benge has an opportunity to win a starting OF job at the MLB level in spring training. Grade B.
20. Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage RHP, College.
2025(A): 3-0, 2.43, 33.1 IP, 14.85 K/9, 2.16 BB/9.
2025(A+): 1-0, 1.56, 17.1 IP, 17.13 K/9, 5.71 BB/9.
2025(AA): 1-1, 4.50, 30 IP, 13.80 K/9, 3.30 BB/9.
2025(AAA): .0-0, 3.63, 17.1 IP, 13.50 K/9, 5.71 BB/9.
2025(MLB Regular Season): 1-0, 3.21, 14 IP, 10.29 K/9, 4.50 BB/9.
2025(MLB Postseason): 3-1, 3.58, 27.2 IP, 12.69 K/9, 3.58 BB/9.
Whirlwind season capped by pitching well in the
World Series. It doesn't much better than that. Grade A.
21. Twins: Kaelen Culpepper SS, College.
2025(A+): .293/.385/.479, 9 HR, 15 SB, 10.5 BB%, 16.2 K%, 247 PA.
2025(AA): .285/.367/.460, 11 HR, 10 SB, 8.9 BB%, 18.5 K%, 270 PA.
This is why I do these reviews.
Kaelen Culpepper has never been on my radar screen but wow! It's hard to find anything to quibble with in these numbers. There is some question whether he is SS or 3B. The Twins have
Brooks Lee at SS and
Royce Lewis at 3B so they have time to let
Culpepper polish his game in AAA but I could see him challenging for a starting MLB job as early as spring training 2026. Grade B
22. Orioles: Vance Honeycutt OF, College.
2025(A+): .171/.284/.275, 5 HR, 32 SB, 12.8 BB%, 40.8 K%, 436 PA.
There were always questions about Honeycutt's hit tool and this is ugly. Grade F
23. Dodgers: Kellon Lindsay SS, HS.
2025(A): .274/.379/.400, 3 HR, 11 SB, 14.3 BB%, 31.7 K%, 161 PA.
Lindsey got off to a decent start in the Cal League. I saw him play in May shortly before he went on the IL. He's athletic looking with some speed but his wiry frame may be too light to develop much power. Ended up missing most of the season with a shoulder impingement. Reports say he should be ready to play in the spring but not sure what that is based on. Grade D
24. Braves: Cam Caminiti LHP, HS.
2025(FCL): 0-1, 7.24, 13.2 IP, 9.88 K/9, 1.32 BB/9.
2025(A): 2-3, 2.08, 56.1 IP, 11.98 K/9, 4.15 BB/9.
First HS pitcher drafted. I was kind of hoping the Giants would draft him at #13. He's about where you would expect a HS pitcher to be after first full pro season. Grade C.
25. Padres: Kash Mayfield LHP, HS.
2025(A): 1-5, 2.97, 60.2 IP, 13.05 K/9, 4.15 BB/9.
Padres always go for upside in the draft and it's paid off well over the years. Mayfield is right about where you expect for a HS pitcher's first full pro season. The K/9 is particularly encouraging. The walk rate is a bit higher than ideal but can come down with experience. Grade C
26. Yankees: Ben Hess RHP, College.
2025(A+): 4-3, 3.51, 66.2 IP, 12.69 K/9, 4.46 BB/9.
2025(AA): 3-1, 2.70, 36.2 IP, 11.05 K/9, 3.19 BB/9.
Hess is slightly ahead of the curve after pitching well at AA in his first full pro season. Grade B
27. Phillies: Dante Nori OF, HS.
2025(A): .262/.363/.381, 4 HR, 37 SB, 13.1 BB%, 14.9 K%, 502 PA.
2025(A+): .279/.396/.326, 13 SB, 15.1 BB%, 15.1 K%, 53 PA.
2025(AA): .190/.227/.286, 2 SB, 4.5 BB%, 9.1 K%, 22 PA.
Impressive speed and plate discipline. Grade B
28. Astros: Walker Janek C, College.
2025(A+): .263/.333/.433, 12 HR, 30 SB, 7.5 BB%, 26.6 K%
A+ is an appropriate placement for first full season for a college draftee. Line is significant improvement over .175/.214/.289 from 2024. Grade C
29. D'Backs: Slade Caldwell OF, HS.
2025(A): .294/.460/.454, 3 HR, 13 SB, 20.4 BB%, 28.7 K%, 216 PA.
2025(A+): .238/.370/.311, 12 SB, 15.7 BB%, 25.3 K%, 300 PA.
A+ is aggressive for first full season for HS draftee. Secondary stats look like a 3-true outcomes guy but without the home runs. Compact frame with speed as best tool. Grade C.
30. Rangers: Malcolm Moore C, College.
2025(A+): .195/.300/.276, 2 HR, 4 SB, 8.3 BB%, 19.4 K%, 242 PA.
He's going to have to be a Patrick Bailey level defender to overcome those hitting stats. Grade F.
Comment: I learned a lot from this exercise. The 2024 draft class is generally considered relatively weak, yet I was surprised at how well most of the prospects are doing. It is also clear to me that teams are fast-tracking their first round prospects way more than, say, 10 years ago when it was rare for a drafted player to reach the majors in their first full season. I wish us Giants fans had a first rounder to track to the majors but hopefully the next 3-4 seasons of Rafael Devers makes us forget about James Tibbs III.
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