5 collegiate prospects to follow for the Cleveland Guardians at the top of the MLB Draft

2. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

If there is a player that couldn't threaten Bazzana in the eyes of the Cleveland Guardians, look no further than Nick Kurtz at Wake Forest. Kurtz is just as impressive as Bazzana, but may be a better long-term fit with Cleveland's needs in mind.

Between Josh Naylor and Kyle Manzardo, it would seem like the first base and designated hitter spots could be locked up for the Guardians, but adding Kurtz to the mix would bring similar "concerns" as adding Bazzana to the middle infield. With All-American honors on his resume and the 2024 Preseason Player of the Year by Perfect Game, Cleveland needs to do their homework on Kurtz at the top of the draft.

While power is a big thing for a first baseman, Kurtz does more than just that. Over 146 games with Wake Forest, he's hit 55 home runs, including 18 in 37 games this year. The RBI production is high as well, bringing in 165 over his three years. What could hurt Kurtz is that his average has dropped this year. After hitting .338 in 2022 and .349 in 2023, he's down to .307 this year. That's not ideal for someone at the top of the draft when picking the "best player available."

The argument between Bazanna and Kurtz on the surface level is fit. Both are top prospects that would work in Cleveland, but what does Cleveland view as the best long-term fit for the organization? I could make the case for either, and both are strong prospects with very different profiles to consider. 

3. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

There might not be a more well known name in college baseball than Jac Caglianone. A 6-foot-5, two-way player for Florida, the possibilities are endless for what Caglianone could bring to any organization, especially the Cleveland Guardians at the top of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Caglianone is an interesting candidate to consider here. Given the pitching factory that is the Cleveland organization and Caglianone's already-established ability to play both sides of the game, it's hard to not imagine a Shohei Ohtani-type opportunity here.

The list of accolades for Caglianone is far from short. In 2023, he was a unanimous First Team All-American and was named the ABCA National Position Player of the Year. Before the 2024 campaign, Perfect Game listed him as their Preseason Two-Way Player of the Year. So far, he's lived up to the hype.

Starting on the mound, Caglianone has been nothing but impressive. In 10 starts, he's posted a 10-0 record for the Gators, striking out 58 batters over 48.1 innings of work with just four home runs allowed. He's improved his control, bringing his walks down from last year, so far, and over two seasons has held opposing batters to an average of just .200. His ERA this year is posted at 4.10 after a 4.34 mark a season ago. While baseball purists will wince at those numbers, trust me when I say that's pretty good for college baseball. How we used to view a 3.00 ERA in baseball is now how most view a 5.00 in college baseball, so a 4.10 ERA is solid.

Moving to the plate, this is Caglianone's strength. Literally. Over the last two seasons, he's hit 59 home runs over 115 games while racking up 143 RBI. On top of that, he's added 16 doubles and a pair of triples while drawing 46 walks and being hit by a pitch 23 times. He's improved his strikeout numbers as well, striking out just 16 times so far this year while raising his batting average to .402.

It's rather difficult to find flaws in Caglianone's game. He doesn't have speed, just five career stolen bases at Florida, but the power bat combined with the ability on the mound is definitely intriguing. To me, he's more of a first baseman than a pitcher at the Major League level, but there is clearly the possibility to do both.

4. JJ Wetherholt, 2B, West Virginia

It's interesting that two middle infielders, let alone second basemen, made this list, but there is good reason for it. While Travis Bazzana is the hot name on the market, JJ Wetherholt is right there with him, maybe even in front.

Wetherholt has been a name at the top of draft boards for months now, and there is a good reason why. As a sophomore in 2023, Wetherholt was named the Big 12 Player of the Year and was a unanimous First Team All-American selection while also earning Academic All-American honors as well. Leading up to the season, he was often listed as the potential top pick in the draft, but there has been a dip this year due to a reported hamstring injury that caused him to miss 24 games.

In 2023, Wetherholt was nearly unstoppable at the plate. He hit .449 with 24 doubles, two triples, and 16 home runs. He scored 67 times, logged 60 RBI, and walked 26 times for the Mountaineers. On the basepaths, he was just as dangerous, swiping 36 bases on the year. Perhaps the most impressive stat? He struck out just 22 times in 225 at-bats. 

This year has been different for Wertherholt. He missed time due to the injury and has appeared in just 19 games. Like any player, he's slowly made his way back. The speed isn't here right now, just three steals and no triples, but there is still his eye. In just 19 games, he's drawn 20 walks and has maintained a .339 batting average and .506 on-base percentage.

The interesting thing with Wetherholt is the "what could have been" questions. Had he not started the year injured, he would be getting more traction.For a team like Cleveland, Wetherholt should still be deep in the mix for the top pick. The potential is clearly there, and the 2023 stats make him seem like the ideal candidate. His eye and plate discipline are intriguing. But is it enough to overcome the hype that Bazzana has drawn?

5. Charlie Condon, 1B/3B/OF, Georgia

If you go look at the top MLB Draft prospects for 2024 on the MLB website, the first name on the list is Charlie Condon. Oddly enough, he might be the player getting the least amount of attention on this list for the first overall pick.

Condon is an interesting prospect for sure. He utilized a redshirt in 2022, so at this point, he only has one and a half college baseball seasons to go off of. On top of that, it's hard to pinpoint what position he is. Some view him as a first baseman, some see a third baseman, andsome say outfield. For the Cleveland Guardians, this could be an intriguing aspect of his game, or it could scare them away.

The 2023 National Freshman of the Year, Condon was ridiculously impressive for his first season in SEC baseball. He slashed .386/.484/.800 and belted 25 home runs to go along with 20 doubles and a triple. He walked 33 times and struck out 45 times in 210 at-bats, not too shabby. More impressively, he has been even better this year.

Through 44 games for Georgia, Condon is hitting an incredible .456 to go along with a complete slash line of .456/.563/1.088. Yeah, it's an impressive season. He's already launched 30 home runs while adding 16 doubles and a triple. His walk numbers are up (37), and he's nearly matched his RBI total from last year with 63. He's even added some speed with three stolen bases.

The issue for Condon is the rest of the field. His stats are similar to Caglianone, but he doesn't pitch. His bat is insane, but he lacks a true position. Of the five, he's the most mysterious of where he could land. The tools are obviously there, and the potential is high, but where is the floor? Don't get me wrong, the idea of molding him into where a need arises is exciting, but is it worth the first pick when more finely-tuned players are available?