Cleveland Guardians grade out well on first day of 2024 MLB Draft

The Cleveland Guardians made three picks on the first day of the 2024 MLB Draft, and it appears that their selections were well received. Cleveland was the recipient of high grades for all three of their selections on Sunday, according to an instant draft analysis coming from Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter.

1. Travis Bazzana - 2B Oregon State: A

Holding the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Cleveland Guardians decided to select Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana. Reuter gave Cleveland an "A" grade for this pick, praising the pick by the Guardians, but did note some potential concern with who they did not take first overall.

"High floor, high ceiling, should be in the majors in short order. What's not to like? But will we be talking about how they left Charlie Condon on the board years from now?
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Joel Reuter on Travis Bazzana

Yes, Georgia's Charlie Condon was someone the Guardians could have selected with the first pick in the draft, but they clearly feel more confident that Bazzana would be a better fit for the organization at this time. Given Cleveland's recent history with outfield prospects in their farm system and their relatively underwhelming group of middle-infielders not named Andres Gimenez they have trotted out this season, it is hard to argue with their logic here. Taking a "high floor, high ceiling" individual such as Bazzana was an opportunity the Guardians believed they could not afford to pass up.