MLB Draft 2024: Cleveland selects C Jacob Cozart with the No. 48 pick

A powerful catching prospect is on his way to Cleveland.

The Cleveland Guardians have selected catcher Jacob Cozart out of North Carolina State with the No. 48 overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft. MLB Pipeline had him ranked the No. 42 prospect in the draft.

Here’s what MLB Pipeline had to say about him:

North Carolina State has sent Andrew Knizner and Patrick Bailey to the big leagues in recent years, and Cozart is the next catcher in the Wolfpack pipeline. There are differences of opinion as to whether his offense or defense stands out more, but the consensus is that he’s one of the top catchers in the college class. That alone should put him in the top two rounds, and he could go higher after starring during the Wolfpack’s run to the College World Series.

After struggling offensively as a freshman, Cozart is hitting the ball with more authority. He makes consistent contact and drives the ball in the air on a regular basis. He offers 20-homer potential from the left side of the plate and his pop plays from left-center to the right-field line, though it’s the product more of strength than bat speed.

Though he’s bigger than most catchers at 6-foot-3, Cozart gets the job done as a receiver and has a knack for stealing strikes, but his framing is so pronounced that it may not play as well in pro ball. He has average arm strength but will display solid pop times on occasion. A well-below-average runner, he’ll slow further as he accrues more wear and tear behind the plate.

MLB Pipeline grades Cozart with a 45 hit tool, 50 power, 30 run, 50 arm and 55 field for an overall grade of 50.

Here’s some video of Cozart that I was able to find right after he was drafted:

What are your thoughts on the pick? How would you grade it?