Sean McCormack's 2024 MLB mock draft

Sean McCormack · July 10, 2024

Predicting the first 39 selections of the draft, from the first round through Competitive Balance Round A.

The 2024 MLB Draft gets underway this Sunday. As previously written here, I have the Marlins selecting Oklahoma State outfielder Carson Benge with the 16th overall pick, which would be a great selection.

Benge has flown up the draft boards moving into his redshirt sophomore year of college. Benge missed his freshman year of college after undergoing Tommy John surgery and since then has focused on hitting. He is a good outfield defender with a solid arm. He projects to be a corner outfielder moving forward, but can fill in at center field if needed.

Where Benge pops is in his bat. Benge this last season had 18 home runs and posted a .335/.444/.665 slash line, giving him a 1.109 OPS on the season. He nearly walked as much as he struck out with 51 K's and 49 walks. His under-the-hood data is even more promising than his counting stats. He posted elite max exit velocities in the top 1% of college baseball. He combines this wicked power with a great plate approach, which is something Peter Bendix and staff covets in players. With a great zone contact rate of 84% and low chase rates, this is a recipe that should continue leading him to success in the pros.

My one knock on Benge would be that there are many moving components to his swing. As competition gets tougher, he may want to ease out his swing so higher velos don't catch up on him. Even with that being said, scouts have Benge listed with a 55-hit tool, which is above average for the big leagues.

See below for my full mock draft:

Color	39 Picks
GOOD	14 Good	35%
FINE	12 Fine	30%
LOVE	7 Love	18%
DISLIKE	6 Dislike	15%

Team	Pick	Player	Position	C/HS

Guardians	1	T.Bazzana	2B/SS	College
Reds	2	C.Condon	OF	College
Rockies	3	J.Caglianone	1B/OF	College
Athletics	4	J.Wetherholt	2B	College
White Sox	5	K.Griffin	OF	HS
Royals	6	H.Smith	LHP	College
Cardinals	7	C.Burns	RHP	College
Angels	8	B.Montgomery	OF	College
Pirates	9	N.Kurtz	1B	College
Nationals	10	B.Rainer	SS	HS
Tigers	11	J.Tibbs	OF	College
Red Sox	12	T.Yesavage	RHP	College
Giants	13	J.Cijntje	RHP/LHP	College
Cubs	14	C.Moore	INF	College
Mariners	15	C.Smith	3B	College
Marlins	16	C.Benge	OF	College
Brewers	17	M.Moore	C	College
Rays	18	V.Honeycutt	OF	College
Mets	19	C.Caminiti	LHP	HS
Blue Jays	20	B.Brecht	RHP	College
Twins	21	W.Schmidt	RHP	HS
Orioles	22	R.Waldschmidt	OF	College
Dodgers	23	S.King	ULT	College
Braves	24	R.Sloan	RHP	HS
Padres	25	T.Gillen	SS	HS
Yankees	26	K.Mayfield	LHP	HS
Phillies	27	T.White	3B	College
Astros	28	D.Jordan	OF	College
D-backs	29	G.O'Ferrall	SS	College
Rangers	30	B.Doughty	RHP	HS

PPIP
D-backs	31	PJ.Morlando	C	HS
Orioles	32	R.Johnson	RHP	College

FAPP
Twins	33	W.Janek	C	College

Comp A
Brewers	34	C.Johnson	SS	HS
D-backs	35	B.Amick	3B	College
Guardians	36	L.Holman	RHP	College
Pirates	37	K.Lindsey	SS	HS
Rockies	38	B.Hess	RHP	College
Royals	39	K.Culpepper	SS	College