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The 2024 MLB Draft is right around the corner, and it should prove to be a good one. There are plenty of exciting prospects who have the talent to change the course of a franchise.
Between players like Charlie Cordon and Chase Burns, there are plenty of names that would be excellent picks. However, we are focusing on the top five pitching prospects for this one.
Top 5 pitching prospects entering 2024 MLB Draft
#5. William Schmidt
William Schmidt comes in as MLB.com's fifth-rated pitching prospect. He is currently a senior in high school but has been making a name for himself over the last handful of years.
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As a senior, Schmidt led his Catholic high school baseball team to a state Division I championship. He racked up a one-hit shutout in the title game and has a huge ceiling.
#4. Trey Yesavage
Trey Yesavage comes in ranked as the 11th overall prospect, according to MLB.com. He currently pitches for East Carolina University, which has seen multiple pitchers taken in the first two rounds the last few years.
Yesavage came into East Carolina as a reliever but since transitioned to being a starter last year. He has greatly improved his fastball command this season and will be a solid choice for a team looking for a hard-throwing starter.
#3. Hagen Smith
Hagen Smith is another college pitcher that could see his name called early in the MLB Draft. After getting Tommy John surgery as a sophomore in high school, Smith bounced back to throw seven no-hitters his senior year.
Smith is considered the best lefty in the class by many and has been nothing short of dominant this season. He can touch 100 mph, making him an easy first-round target.
#2. Chase Burns
Chase Burns is ranked the fifth overall draft prospect according to MLB.com. He was Tennessee University's newest flamethrower after Ben Joyce was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels.
However, Burns transferred to Wake Forest and became the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year. Teams looking for a consistent hard-throwing starter are going to be fighting over this arm.
#1 Jac Caglianone
Jac Caglianone has been turning heads over the last few seasons. The University of Florida slugger has been deemed the "next Shohei Ohtani" given his two-way nature as a first baseman and pitcher.
Not only can Caglianone get it done on the mound, but he also has an impressive amount of power at the plate. He led all Division I hitters with 33 home runs in 2023 and could be a player the Colorado Rockies or Oakland Athletics target.
