2024 MLB Draft: Travis Bazzana as a strong favorite for the Guardians at No. 1 leaves value on the field
The Cleveland Guardians have the top pick in the MLB Draft Sunday evening, and though there appears to be a consensus on who the top prospect is, there isn’t as much certainty on whether that’s the player Cleveland will actually take.
As baseball fans know, the MLB Draft differs from other leagues in that each team has a predetermined allotment of money they’re allowed to spend on picks, and some may opt to spend less on earlier picks in order to have more money to spend later in the draft.
So, though Oklahoma State second baseman Travis Bazzana is the top prospect and -200 favorite to go No. 1 at BetMGM, Cleveland could go in another direction in order to save on the record $10.5 million they can offer the No. 1 pick.
2024 MLB Draft No. 1 pick odds (BetMGM)
- Travis Bazzana (-200)
- JJ Wetherholt (+240)
- Charlie Condon (+500)
- Jac Caglianone (+2500)
- Chase Burns (+3000)
- Hagen Smith (+6000)
That’s exactly what some mock drafts are predicting, with West Virginia middle infielder JJ Wetherholt another popular pick to go No. 1 as someone at the same position with a similar skillset.
Florida first baseman and lefty pitcher Jac Caglianone is still in the mix too, according to MLB Pipeline. And Georgia slugger Charlie Condon is maybe the second best player in the field.
With it seemingly a strong possibility that Bazzana isn’t the pick, there remains some surprisingly strong value in the field.