Alabama baseball 2024 MLB Draft Projections: Predicting landing spots for Crimson Tide players in the MLB

The 2024 MLB Draft will be held on July 14-16 at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. There's tremendous anticipation and excitement regarding who will be picked by the 30 MLB ballclubs in the three-day event.

Alabama has produced former All-Stars Alex Avila and David Robertson and quality players like Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull and Tommy Hunter.

Last year, six prospects who played for the Crimson Tide were picked in various draft rounds. Outfielder Andrew Pinckney was picked 102nd overall by the Washington Nationals in Round 4. Left-handed pitcher Grayson Hitt was picked 112th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Round 4. LHP Hunter Furtado was picked 167th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in Round 6.

Centerfielder Caden Rose was picked 208th overall by the Boston Red Sox in Round 7. Shortstop Jim Jarvis was picked 320th overall by the Detroit Tigers in Round 11. Finally, right-handed pitcher Garrett McMillan was selected 407th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in Round 14.

Alabama has three players who could be selected in this year's MLB draft. Let's look at the draft projections of Ben Hess, Gage Miller and TJ McCants.

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Alabama Crimson Tide 2024 MLB Draft projections

#1. Ben Hess

Projection: Round 2, 44th overall, Washington Nationals

Ben Hess was 5-5 with a 5.80 ERA this past season (Image Source: IMAGN)

Ben Hess started in 15 games for Alabama last season and had a 5-5 record with a 5.80 ERA. This was a far cry from the previous season's 4-0 record and 3.22 ERA in seven starts. However, Hess increased his workload, pitching 68 1/3 innings in 2024. It almost eclipsed his combined innings pitched in the two previous seasons (70 IP).

Hess was a strikeout machine for the Crimson Tide, finishing with 106 Ks. The search for more strikeouts seems to have affected his location and command. His walk numbers have inflated from 27 in 2022 and 2023 to 35 in 2024. Washington can utilize his strikeout-inducing skills, as the Nationals ranked 21st in strikeouts this year and 28th last year.

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#2. Gage Miller

Projection: Round 2, 68th overall, Chicago White Sox

Gage Miller produced 19 home runs and 58 RBIs for Alabama (Image Source: IMAGN)

After playing for two years in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, Gage Miller transferred to Alabama in his junior year. The third baseman appeared in 56 games for the Crimson Tide and hit .381 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs.

Miller had an on-base percentage of .473 and a slugging rate of .709. He doesn't strike out often as he had 27 Ks in 223 at-bats. The Chicago White Sox would welcome him as they need a power-hitting third baseman who can turn their fortunes around in the next few years.

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#3. TJ McCants

Projection: Round 9, 270th overall, San Diego Padres

TJ McCants played centerfielder at Alabama (Image Source: IMAGN)

A transferee out of Ole Miss, TJ McCants was given the role of Alabama's primary centerfielder this season. Defensively, McCants had a perfect showing as he had 156 putouts and two assists, without a single miscue for a 1.000 fielding percentage.

McCants was also great offensively, playing for 57 games, and hit .308 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs. He had a slugging percentage of .604 and an on-base rate of .374. He tallied 49 runs and 14 stolen bases but had 66 strikeouts.

The San Diego Padres might need a defense-minded centerfielder who can play as a reliever for Jackson Merrill. McCants has the speed to run for the baseball on the outfield and occasionally steal some bases to boost the team's chances of winning.