2024 MLB Draft Report: 64 Players to follow during NCAA Regionals

Today marks the start of NCAA postseason play with the Regional round, and one of my favorite draft reports to write is highlighting players to follow from each of the 64 schools. It's an opportunity to highlight players the Chicago White Sox could target within the first three rounds and see which high-performing college seniors are worth taking in the first 10 rounds. Those players are taken advantage of when it comes to signing bonuses as they have minimal leverage, but those bonus savings allow teams to get more creative in earlier rounds. With how 2024 is going for the White Sox, they need to be creative with this upcoming draft. 

The Tennessee Volunteers are the No. 1 overall seed, which has been a kiss of death in college baseball. It's been 25 years since the last No. 1 overall postseason seed won the National Championship (Miami Hurricanes), and in 2023, Wake Forest suffered heartbreak when Tommy White hit a walk-off home run, powering LSU to the title. Unlike past Volunteer teams, this year's squad is led by their offense, leading the nation in home runs with 147 in 61 games. 

Opposite the Knoxville Regional is the Greenville Regional, where the No. 16 overall seed, East Carolina, will host. The Pirates suffered concerning news when their ace, RHP Trey Yesavage, sustained a collapsed lung that required a hospital stay. East Carolina coach Cliff Godwin is confident that Yesavage will be able to make his next start in Regionals. The big question will be when Yesavage makes that start because the No. 2 seed in their region is Wake Forest. If East Carolina and Wake Forest can take care of business in their first games, maybe we'll get a Yesavage vs. Chase Burns matchup. 

If Wake Forest can finally play up to its potential and win the Greenville Regional, it could face Tennessee in the Super Regional, which means a return for Burns to face his former team. Bust out the popcorn if that game comes to fruition. That's one of many exciting matchup possibilities in this postseason featuring 21 of Sox Machine's Top 25 college players.

Below are breakdowns of each Regional bracket and draft-eligible players from each school. Note with Army: There's currently a bill in Congress to consider having athletes from military academies forgo serving active duty service. The previous waiver policy was rescinded in 2022, and service academy athletes are mandated to have at least two years of active duty.

Knoxville Regional

Preview: On paper, this region seems like it should be a cakewalk for Tennessee, but be careful about Southern Miss. They have two dependable starting pitchers in Billy Oldham and Niko Mazza. Northern Kentucky’s offense ranks in the top 10 nationally in Team OPS, but it is light on home run power.

No. 1 - Tennessee: 2B Christian Moore
After a monster 2024 campaign, hitting 28 home runs, Christian Moore has propelled himself into the top 50 picks, if not the first round. There’s a chase concern with Moore, and he’s not projected to be a shortstop professionally, but the bat plays.

No. 2 - Southern Miss: DH Slade Wilks
Somewhat in the same vein as Tim Elko, Southern Miss senior Slade Wilks is primarily a DH with some time spent in right field. Wilks has flexed power in the last three seasons, hitting 44 homers and 48 doubles. He's most likely a bonus-saving option in the 10th round.

No. 3 - Indiana: RHP Connor Foley
After pitching out of the bullpen in 2023, Indiana’s Connor Foley has stepped up in a big way to lead the Hoosiers starting rotation. Foley has the desired size teams look for in starting pitchers (6’5”, 235 lbs) and has hit the upper 90s with his four-seamer. There’s reliever risk with Foley, but he’s a good target in the third or fourth round.

No. 4 - Northern Kentucky: 1B Liam McFadden-Ackman
Liam McFadden-Ackman set a new career high in home runs, leading Northern Kentucky with 21 in 2024. His OPS has taken a considerable jump each season, increasing his walk rate to 20.3 percent. Most likely a first baseman, McFadden-Ackman is another college senior option to save bonus money.

Josh's Regional Pick: Tennessee

Greenville Regional

Preview: I'm still waiting to see if the preseason No. 1 Wake Forest team matches expectations. They have the most overall talent in this region, but Trey Yesavage has the talent to match zeroes on the scoreboard with Chase Burns. If the Demon Deacons bats go silent again, as they have too many times this season, East Carolina could move on to the Super Regionals.

No. 1 - East Carolina: OF Jacob Jenkins-Cowart
Standing at 6’6”, Jacob Jenkins-Cowart is an imposing figure who has hit well in three seasons with East Carolina. As Jenkins-Cowart’s college career walk rate is 6.7 percent, plate discipline is an issue, but there’s a chance to develop more power in his left-handed swing. He's most likely an option after the fourth round.

No. 2 - Wake Forest: RHP Chase Burns
Chase Burns has been on fire as he leads the country with 184 strikeouts in 15 starts, coming in at a 50.3 percent strikeout rate. I’ve always felt that the Chase Burns vs. Hagen Smith debate has been more 1A vs. 1B. If Burns can help Wake Forest advance to Super Regionals, his draft stock could elevate to where he’s not on the board when the White Sox pick.

No. 3 - VCU: 3B Brandon Eike
Senior third baseman Brandon Eike has been a doubles machine for VCU. After transferring from North Carolina, Eike has hit 51 doubles and belted 25 home runs his last two seasons.

No. 4 - Evansville: 1B Kip Fougerousse
Another senior bat option, Kip Fougerousse, stepped up in a big way, hitting 17 home runs and 20 doubles for Evansville. Fougerousse has spent some time at second base and, if drafted, will have to work on cutting down his 26.2 percent strikeout rate.

Josh's Regional Pick: Wake Forest

Norman Regional

Preview: Oklahoma has played good baseball this season, but they have a tough test with Duke, who just won the ACC Tournament by blowing out Florida State, 16-4. The Blue Devils have six hitters with double-digit home runs and a deeper pitching staff. The home-field advantage could play a big part in helping Oklahoma advance to the Super Regionals.

No. 1 - Oklahoma: OF John Spikerman
John Spikerman started 2024 hot by recording a hit in 17 of his first 18 games. Then, an injury sidelined Spikerman for almost a month, impacting his season totals. As a switch-hitting center fielder, Spikerman can handle the position as he displays good range and athleticism. He is looking like an option between the fourth and sixth rounds.

No. 2 - Duke: LHP Jonathan Santucci 
If Duke is to upset Oklahoma in the Regional, they’ll need their ace, Jonathan Santucci, to have a good outing. Santucci has a three-pitch arsenal mostly leans on his mid-90s MPH four-seamer and slider. In 56 innings, Santucci struck out 86 batters (34.7% K rate) and walked 34 (13.7% BB rate). He is looking like a late first-round or second-round landing spot.

No. 3 - UConn: RHP Brady Afthim
A college reliever who led the Huskies in saves with seven, Brady Afthim has improved his ground-ball rate to 45.7%, and opposing hitters are slugging just .254 against. Pitchers like Afthim can help with bonus savings in the top 10 rounds or land between rounds 15-20.

No. 4 - Oral Roberts: RHP Jakob Hall
Relying more on control than overall stuff, Jakob Hall has been a workhorse for Oral Roberts, having pitched 201⅔ innings in the last two seasons. His four-seamer sits mostly 90 to 92 MPH, but Hall’s control shows with his microscopic walk rate of 4.9%. He's an excellent pitcher to take a flier on after the fifth round.

Josh's Regional Pick: Duke

Tallahassee Regional

Preview: Florida State has played its best baseball at home, where it is 27-4 in 2024. Led by future first-round picks OF James Tibbs and 3B Cam Smith, the Seminoles are light on the pitching side outside of Jamie Arnold. That makes them susceptible to an upset if Alabama, UCF, or Stetson can get their bats hot.

No. 1 - Florida State: OF James Tibbs
James Tibbs has displayed the type of progression you want over a three-year career. After an impressive freshman season in 2022, hitting ten home runs and a .964 OPS, Tibbs increased his productivity each year. In 2024, Tibbs has hit 25 home runs and 84 RBI with a 1.305 OPS. As a left-handed corner outfielder, Tibbs is now getting top-10 pick consideration in July’s draft.

No. 2 - Alabama: RHP Ben Hess
After missing significant time in 2023 due to a forearm strain, Ben Hess returned in 2024 to be Alabama’s Friday night starter. In 14 starts, Hess racked up 98 strikeouts in 61⅔ innings of work as his four-seam fastball velocity increased, topping out at 96 MPH. Opposing hitters have a .352 BABIP against Hess, and that type of batted-ball success shows with his 5.98 ERA. Hess will be a project but is expected to be selected in the first three rounds.

No. 3 - UCF: RHP Dominic Stagliano
In 2023, opposing hitters had a .802 OPS against Dominic Stagliano as he bounced between the starting rotation and bullpen. Stagliano saw significant gains in 2024, cutting the opposing hitter's OPS down to .623 and almost shedding three runs off his ERA. His most effective pitch is the changeup.

No. 4 - Stetson: RHP Cole Stallings
Freshman Kyle Jones is the most intriguing prospect for Stetson, but Cole Stallings is another college reliever who could be selected in later rounds for the 2024 MLB Draft. He saved 11 games for Stetson in 2024.

Josh's Regional Pick: Florida State

Fayetteville Regional

Preview: Arkansas has a tricky path to the Super Regionals. Louisiana Tech has some boppers, with four hitters with 15 or more home runs in 2024, and Luke Nichols has been solid as a starter. Plus, Ethan Bates has been one of the best college relievers in 2024 with 17 saves. I imagine Hagen Smith will only pitch in one game for the Razorbacks in this Regional, so their advancement will depend on their depth. 

No. 1 - Arkansas: LHP Hagen Smith
With more mock drafts tying Hagen Smith to the Chicago White Sox, it’s time for fans to notice how great the Arkansas ace has been. In 15 starts, opposing hitters batted .139/.238/.202 vs. Smith, and struck out 50% of the time. It’s a funky angle from the left side with a fastball that has touched 100 MPH and a wicked slider.

No. 2 - Louisiana Tech: RHP/DH Ethan Bates
An interesting two-way player, Ethan Bates had a 1.059 OPS as the Bulldogs' primary DH with 21 doubles and 15 home runs. Pitching in relief, Bates has been one of the better college closers, leading the nation with 17 saves. As a senior, Bates won’t have much leverage, but he is worth watching to see how MLB teams view his future professional role.

No. 3 - Kansas State: SS Kaelen Culpepper
Culpepper stands out as he has the skill set to stick at shortstop. He has good lateral movement and a strong throwing arm; if an MLB team prefers another shortstop, he could move to third base. Offensively, Culpepper is a 45-grade hitter without a standout skill. He’s projected to be a late first-round or early second-round selection and could still be in play for the White Sox at Pick 43.

No. 4 - Southeast Missouri State: OF Ty Stauss
Playing in just 16 games in 2023, Ty Stauss took a significant leap forward offensively this season. His ground ball rate reduced from 57.9% to 33.1%, leading to more extra-base hits with 17 doubles and eight home runs.

Josh's Regional Pick: Arkansas

Charlottesville Regional

Preview: Virginia has flown under the radar in 2024, but it’s a team that can really hit, and when Evan Blanco is starting, it has the ability to beat any team in the country. The concern for Virginia is pitching depth, which could be tested by Mississippi State, which has a very strong bullpen.

No. 1 - Virginia: SS Griff O’Ferrall
Last season, Griff O’Ferrall racked up 108 hits and almost hit .400 (.396). In 2024, O’Ferrall hit for a little more home run power, but that skill is limited. It is probably a 30-grade power with a 45-to-50-grade contact. Where O’Ferrall comes in handy is his defensive ability, where he can move around the infield and left field. His future outlook is as a utility player unless an MLB team can get more offensive production.

No. 2 - Mississippi State: SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje
The rare switch pitcher, Jurrangelo Cijntje, is fun to watch. Throwing harder pitching right-handed, Cijntje struck out 108 batters in 15 starts spanning 83⅔ innings. There’s reliever risk for Cijntje as it’s a two-pitch approach, but seeing is believing, watching him switch throwing arms between at-bats.

No. 3 - St. John’s: OF Jackson Tucker
The best players at St. John’s are sophomores and will be eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft. For this year, Jackson Tucker is interesting as his plus speed allows him to man center field and be an annoyance on the basepaths. In three years, Tucker stole 60 bases.

No. 4 - Penn: 3B Wyatt Henseler
Wyatt Henseler has put himself into a unique situation when last September he announced his transfer to Texas A&M . . . for the 2025 season. Still with Penn in 2024, Henseler bashed 22 home runs and posted a 1.269 OPS. There’s a thought that Henseler could go in the first 10 rounds, and maybe that’s enough to change his mind about attending A&M next year.

Josh's Regional Pick: Mississippi State

Tucson Regional

Preview: The Tucson Regional will be one of the toughest to predict. Arizona has three solid starters in Jackson Kent, Clark Candiotti, and Cameron Walty. Mason White leads the Wildcats with 19 home runs, but he’s the only hitter for Arizona with more than ten homers in 2024. Dallas Baptist has a better offense than Arizona and excellent starting pitching from Ryan Johnson and Jaron DeBerry. Their problem is the bullpen, which can be pretty shaky at times. Then, West Virginia has the best player in this regional, JJ Wetherholt. He’s been hot as of late. Can he help carry the Mountaineers to Super Regionals?

No. 1 - Arizona: LHP Jackson Kent
A local product from Hanover Park, Jackson Kent has shown a four-pitch mix with a low 90s four-seamer, changeup, slider, and curveball. His changeup is most effective now as Kent can induce weak contact. In 15 starts, Kent posted a 4.08 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 27 walks. His draft range is in the fourth to sixth rounds.

No. 2 - Dallas Baptist: RHP Ryan Johnson
From a production standpoint, Ryan Johnson should get more attention than he has received. It’s a crazy stat line in 2024: 15 starts, 100 innings, and 147 strikeouts to 12 walks. In three years at Dallas Baptist, Johnson had a 5.5% walk rate, which is absurd. Throwing his sweeper more often this season, Johnson generated more ground balls at a 52.1% clip. A strong Regional performance from Johnson could put him in line for the White Sox at Pick 43 or maybe even late first round. 

No. 3 - West Virginia: SS JJ Wetherholt
Preseason No. 1 draft prospect JJ Wetherholt is starting to sway evaluators that he’s fully healed from a hamstring injury earlier in the season. There are a lot of questions about where Wetherholt’s future defensive home will be, but his offensive production picked up late in the season. Wetherholt finished with a .356/.500/.663 slash line with eight doubles and home runs in 31 games. However, I’m not crazy about the 50% ground ball rate and would like to see that rate get cut entering pro ball.

No. 4 - Grand Canyon:  OF Tyler Wilson
Another college senior bat option, the switch-hitting Tyler Wilson led Grand Canyon with 16 doubles and home runs in 2024. Wilson has spent time behind the plate catching and in left field but is a below-average defender. The draw is Wilson’s bat. 

Josh's Regional Pick: Dallas Baptist

Chapel Hill Regional

Preview: The defending national champions have woken up as LSU is on a hot streak with an impressive SEC Tournament showing. Tommy White and Jared Jones can mash, but they sometimes get into a funk that stalls the LSU offense. That puts pressure on starting pitchers Luke Holman and Gage Jump, but both have responded well. You can’t overlook the hosts, too. North Carolina strikes out a lot, but the Tar Heels have five hitters in their lineup with double-digit home runs, led by Vance Honeycutt. They also boast a strong bullpen with Dalton Pence, Connor Bovair, and Kyle Percival.

No. 1 - North Carolina: OF Casey Cook
Despite serious questions about his future hit tool, Vance Honeycutt won’t fall to the White Sox at Pick 43. His teammate, Casey Cooke, could be an option for the White Sox starting in the fourth round. Limited defensively to either second base or left field, Cooke’s best attribute is his hitting ability. In 2024, Cook hit 18 home runs and posted a season OPS of 1.089.

No. 2 - LSU: RHP Luke Holman 
LSU is one of the hottest teams entering the postseason, and Luke Holman is a big reason for this good stretch. Holman pitched six hitless innings against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament with seven strikeouts. Holman loves challenging opposing hitters with his fastball up in the strike zone and wiping them out with his slider. It’s a pretty simple but effective plan of attack from Holman. I think he could be taken late in the first round, but there’s a chance Holman makes it to the White Sox at Pick 43, which would be a good get in the second round. 

No. 3 - Wofford: OF Marshall Toole
Marshall Toole filled up the stat sheet in 2024. He finished second in the country with 10 triples, along with 15 doubles and nine home runs. Toole has plus speed, which he took advantage of by stealing 42 bases in 45 attempts. With the postseason exposure, Toole can help elevate his draft stock to being selected in the first 10 rounds — maybe even higher. 

No. 4 - Long Island: RHP Garrett Yawn
Garrett Yawn reached 90 innings in 2024 in 16 starts posting an impressive 104 strikeouts. Long Island will lean heavily on Yawn as there is little quality pitching talent on this squad. 

Josh's Regional Pick: LSU

Lexington Regional

Preview: Indiana State appeared to be en route to hosting a Regional but instead got pushed into a No. 2 seed behind a strong Kentucky team. Illinois is not a pushover, but Indiana State is talented enough to challenge Kentucky and force them into the loser's bracket. If the Sycamores fail to do so, I think the Wildcats' offense could be too much.

No. 1 - Kentucky: OF Ryan Waldschmidt
Ryan Waldschmidt does a little bit of everything. He displayed some power by hitting 16 doubles and 13 homers in 2024 and was a menace on the bases by stealing 23 bags. I would see an MLB team wanting to give him a shot in center field, but I’m confident Waldschmidt will be an above-average defender in left field as he takes good routes. He looks like a second or third-round pick.

No. 2 - Indiana State: LHP Jared Spencer
Command is an issue for Jared Spencer, but the stuff is legit. It’s a 98 MPH four-seamer from the left side with a plus-slider. There’s reliever risk, as I could see an MLB team trying to develop Spencer into a starter. It’s working for the White Sox and Garrett Crochet now, so why not?

No. 3 - Illinois: C Camden Janik
Camden Janik had a 4% strikeout rate in 2024, so it's a lot of balls in play without much power. Defensively, Janik has been solid in blocking and has an average throwing arm, but he'll need to work on reducing his pop time closer to two seconds. Probably a Day 2 pick, Janik would be a great minor league depth at catcher. As we’ve learned over the years, many catchers with Janik profile find themselves in the majors as there’s a dire positional need for all teams.

No. 4 - Western Michigan: 1B Cade Sullivan
A three-year starter for Western Michigan, Cade Sullivan hit 38 home runs in his college career and posted an impressive .397/.487/.617 slash line in 2024. Defensively, Sullivan is limited to first base.

Josh's Regional Pick: Kentucky

Corvallis Regional

Preview: Oregon State received a favorable draw with this Regional. The Beavers have been strong at home this year with a 24-2 record, and I don’t think the UC Irvine Anteaters have enough offense to win twice. Travis Bazzana could have a big Regional as he continues to battle with Charlie Condon for National Player of the Year honors. 

No. 1 - Oregon State: RHP Aiden May
Maybe there’s a chance that Travis Bazzana falls to the White Sox at Pick 5. That would be a minor miracle, but not out of the realm of possibility. Assuming Bazzana is taken before the Sox have the chance, starting pitcher Aiden May is another player to watch from Oregon State. It's a mid-90s four-seam with a sweeper that helped May strike out 27% of the batters he faced. From an injury perspective, May is two years removed from Tommy John surgery and is starting to recapture his lost velocity.

No. 2 - UC Irvine: SS Woody Hadeen
A weird-but-true factoid for these NCAA Regionals: Woody Hadeen has more walks and HBPs than base hits. Drawing 58 walks and hit by 20 pitches(!), Hadeen got on base at a .531 clip. Out of his 77 hits, only 11 went for extra bases (ten doubles, one triple) with no home runs. It’s like a Nicky Lopez profile where Hadeen grades well defensively at shortstop, but there are serious questions about his ability to hit professionally. Still, for a draft class short on shortstops, expect Hadeen to be selected in the middle rounds.

No. 3 - Nicholls: 1B Edgar Alvarez
With a .411 batting average, Edgar Alvarez ranks ninth nationally in that metric. Out of his 90 hits, Alvarez had 21 doubles and 12 home runs with 51 walks. Alvarez is another late-round bonus savings option limited to first base defensively.

No. 4 - Tulane: 1B Brady Marget
At 6’5” and 240 pounds, Brady Marget's-batted ball data is attractive. In three seasons at Tulane, Marget had a line drive rate of 25.1% and a fly ball rate of 33.3%. There’s more home run power in his swing profile, as he hit just ten homers in 2024.

Josh's Regional Pick: Oregon State

Raleigh Regional

Preview: Here's another chance of an SEC vs. ACC clash, as NC State has plenty of experience on the position player side with Alec Makarewicz, Garrett Pennington, and Jacob Cozart. While the Wolfpack lineup might be deeper, South Carolina has Cole Messina and Ethan Petry powering their offense, with both hitting 20 home runs in 2024. It could be a high-scoring Regional, as pitching depth is lacking. 

No. 1 - NC State: C Jacob Cozart
A three-year starter at NC State, Jacob Cozart earned high grades in makeup and flexed more power in 2024 by hitting 16 home runs. Solid defensively, Cozart has a good throwing arm and works hard on his framing to help steal strikes. Certainly not considered a future star, Cozart does have the making of reaching the majors as an FV 40+ grade player and the possibility of more if he can continue hitting with authority. 

No. 2 - South Carolina: C Cole Messina
Another catching option is Cole Messina from South Carolina, who had a monster offensive season, hitting 19 doubles and 20 homers with a 1.172 OPS. There might be a question about moving Messina to first base to limit wear and tear if the hitting skill continues to improve. Defensively, Messina has been good at the college level, but it would be interesting to see how he fares trying to block better breaking pitches in the dirt.

No. 3 - James Madison: OF Fenwick Trimble
Fenwick Trimble has played all outfield positions in his three years at James Madison, but in 2024, he was the primary center fielder. What makes Trimble interesting is his hitting profile. Almost identical OPS in back-to-back seasons (1.083 in ‘23, 1.091 in ‘24) showcasing 45 to 50-grade contact and power. Maybe a prospect as a fourth outfielder in the majors, but Trimble is someone flying under the radar due to limited exposure.

No. 4 - Bryant: 1B Carmine Petosa
Hitting .321/.476/.642 in 2024, first baseman Carmine Petosa leads Bryant’s offensive attack. Petosa took a significant leap in production from last year as he hit 20 doubles and 14 homers this season. 

Josh's Regional Pick: NC State

Athens Regional

Preview: Many say Georgia is a heavy favorite, but they should be on alert. I’m not crazy about their chances of reaching Omaha, but UNC-Wilmington can pose a serious threat. The Seahawks are led by Tanner Thach, who hit 27 homers this season and has a good bullpen crew. Georgia Tech is unpredictable, as their pitching is a mess, but they have the best freshman in Drew Burress. If Burress gets hot, that’ll cause problems for Georgia and UNC-Wilmington. I wouldn’t be shocked if Charlie Condon is intentionally walked in every plate appearance, which puts more pressure on the Bulldogs hitters to pick up the slack. 

No. 1 - Georgia: 1B Corey Collins
Rightfully, Charlie Condon receives a lot of attention, but Corey Collins has been a good tag team partner, helping lead the Bulldog's offense. In 2024, Collins hit 18 home runs and had a .584 OBP, thanks to getting hit by 25 pitches while taking 51 walks. He's projected to be a mid-round selection.

No. 2 - UNC-Wilmington: C Bryan Rendt
Bryan Rendt earned his defensive reputation at the Cape Cod League, throwing out 36% of base stealers. MLB teams are willing to take a chance on defensive-first catchers, but Rendt will need some help improving his hitting. In 2024, Rendt just batted .205 with a .722 OPS.

No. 3 - Georgia Tech: SS Payton Green
Transferring to Georgia Tech after two seasons at NC State, Payton Green had a solid 2024 for the Yellow Jackets. As the starting shortstop, Green demonstrated good defensive ability and has a strong-enough throwing arm for a possible move to third base. After posting alarming strikeout rates at NC State, Green significantly reduced his whiffs to 15.2% while posting a 1.009 OPS.

No. 4 - Army: C Derek Berg
There is no expectation of any players selected in the upcoming draft from Army, but Derek Berg is having a good 2024 campaign. In 51 games, Berg has 16 doubles and 15 home runs with a 1.043 OPS. 

Josh's Regional Pick: UNC-Wilmington

Clemson Regional

Preview: Clemson got a tough draw. The Tigers are led by third baseman Blake Wright (21 HR, 70 RBI) and freshman starting pitcher Aidan Knaak. In a single game, I like Clemson against anyone in the country. But I worry about their overall depth, which will be challenged by Vanderbilt and Coastal Carolina. This Regional features three strong head coaches: Clemson’s Erik Bakich, Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin, and Coastal Carolina’s Gary Gilmore, who is retiring after this season.

No. 1 - Clemson: LHP Tristan Smith
Limited to 41 innings in 10 starts, I feel Tristan Smith has more to offer and should be allowed to extend more as a professional starter. It’s a 50-grade four-seam fastball that sits 93 MPH with a high-spin sweeper. It’s only 72 innings in college for Smith, so he might still be available after the fourth round.

No. 2 - Vanderbilt: LHP Carter Holton
When looking at a draft prospect, it's not often that one can say they had their best season as a freshman, but that's the case for Vanderbilt's Carter Holton. In 2022, Holton posted a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts, pitching 80⅓ innings. That would be a college career high for Holton, but what is good to see is the strikeout rate increasing to 32.3% in 2024. At 5' 11", Holton is an undersized southpaw who might become a reliever.

No. 3 - Coastal Carolina: 3B Sam Antonacci
A JUCO transfer, Sam Antonacci is light on power but displayed good on-base skills with a .526 OBP. He's another college hitter who is not afraid to get hit (26 HBP) and showed a good eye with a 16.7% walk rate. Defensively, Antonacci has been played primarily at third base but projects as a future utility infielder who can bounce around.

No. 4 - High Point: 3B Peyton Carr
Because of abdominal injuries, Peyton Carr has been limited to 25 games in the last two seasons. While that recent injury history is a major red flag, what’s been incredibly impressive is what Carr has accomplished at the plate. In 24 games this season, Carr has hit 13 home runs and carries that hot bat into Regionals.

Josh's Regional Pick: Coastal Carolina

Stillwater Regional

Preview: Oklahoma State quietly won 40 games in 2024 as they were fantastic at home, finishing with a 21-5 record. The Cowboys have two quality starting pitchers, Sam Garcia and Brian Holiday, and offensively, they are led by Nolan Schubart and Carson Benge. In this Regional, we'll see Benge pitch as he's been a dependable reliever. Their path to Super Regionals largely depends on how Nebraska and Florida's opening game plays out. Nebraska won the Big Ten Tournament and is flying under the radar, and Florida has been one of the more unpredictable teams in the country. With a hitter-friendly ballpark, Jac Caglianone could do a lot of damage.

No. 1 - Oklahoma State: RHP Janzen Keisel
With an arsenal best suited as a reliever, Janzen Keisel could be Oklahoma State’s secret weapon out of the bullpen this postseason. It’s a low launch throwing angle, which allows Keisel to hide the ball, creating even more deception. Based on TV gun readings, Keisel has hit 98 MPH when coming out of the bullpen. That’s the type of elite velocity that could merit a seventh-round pick.

No. 2 - Nebraska: C Josh Caron
Leading the Cornhuskers with 16 home runs in 2024, Josh Caron has taken a step forward in his development. Offensively, Caron doesn’t draw a lot of walks (9.3% walk rate) but continues to figure out hitting with authority. There’s some work needed to improve Caron’s defense if he wants to stick at catcher in the minors. Better framing of breaking pitches and throwing accuracy would be my first recommendations, but Caron has promise and could merit using a fifth-round pick.

No. 3 - Florida: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone
I think calling Jac Caglianone a 70-grade power/40-grade contact hitter and a 60-grade arm/35-grade command pitcher is fair. At this point, I believe Caglianone’s future is playing first base and getting ready to mash. Caglianone cut down his K% and increased his BB% by 10 points each. In his last two seasons, Caglianone has hit 62 home runs. The power is legit and maybe too enticing for teams in the Top 5 (like the White Sox) to pass up, but I’m concerned about Caglianone’s lack of athleticism, which makes him too one-dimensional.

No. 4 - Niagara: 1B Eric Rataczak
It was a big season for Eric Rataczak, who hit .402/.488/.701 with 16 home runs in 2024, albeit against weaker competition. This Regional is an excellent opportunity for Rataczak to showcase his hitting ability. 

Josh's Regional Pick: Oklahoma State

Santa Barbara Regional

Preview: The UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos finished undefeated at home in 2024, and their last loss was on April 30. Their rotation of Mike Gutierrez, Ryan Gallagher, and Tyler Bremner is good enough to get the Gauchos to Omaha. Finding themselves in the College World Series will depend on how the Gauchos hit. San Diego is a well-tested squad that could challenge Santa Barbara and has a big bopper in Jakob Christian, who hit 23 home runs this season.

No. 1 - UC Santa Barbara: OF Ivan Brethowr
With a massive 6-foot-6-inch, 25--pound frame, one wonders if Ivan Brethowr has more power potential than he displayed at UC Santa Barbara. In 2024, Brethowr hit 14 home runs despite having a 49.3% fly ball rate. 

No. 2 - San Diego: RHP Josh Randall
Josh Randall transferred from Arizona to become a starter in San Diego’s rotation and has fared well. In 13 starts, Randall has a 3.74 ERA in 67⅓ innings with 78 strikeouts. One metric that is a bit eye-opening is that Randall has hit 22 batters this season.

No. 3 - Oregon: 1B Jacob Walsh
Big strikeout and low contact rates are a concern, but when Jacob Walsh connects he can drive the ball. In his last two seasons at Eugene, Walsh has belted 33 home runs. Maybe he's a better target after the 10th round to see if tweaks in his approach can unlock more offensive potential.

No. 4 - Fresno State: 3B Rocco Peppi
Is it bad that when I see a 2.9% walk rate, I immediately think, “Oh, he’s already a White Sox?” Drawing only seven walks in 56 games is very Tim Anderson-like for Rocco Peppi, but he did hit with some power, with 16 doubles and 14 home runs in 2024. 

Josh's Regional Pick: UC Santa Barbara

College Station Regional

Preview: The College World Series betting favorite, Texas A&M, has three hitters with 20-plus home runs in 2024: Gavin Grahovac, Jace Laviolette, and Braden Montgomery. The Aggies are dangerous offensively, and starting pitcher Ryan Prager has been nails. There are serious questions about the Aggies' pitching depth, so if Louisiana, Texas, or Grambling want to shock the world and upset A&M, their bats must be ready. 

No. 1 - Texas A&M: OF Braden Montgomery
Despite having troubles against Hagen Smith, Braden Montgomery is expected to land somewhere in the Top 10 picks. The positive attributes are a power-hitting switch-hitter that's more polished from the left side with a plus-arm to play right field. I like Montgomery's routes, even though I don't think he has the necessary speed to play center field. My concerns before handing over $5 million to Montgomery are the strikeouts. It's three straight seasons with a 20% or higher strikeout rate. Maybe it's a flaw a future MLB team will have to live with, but it could impact Montgomery's potential.

No. 2 - Louisiana: SS Kyle DeBarge
Standing at 5’9”, Kyle DeBarge outperformed his smaller size. In 2024, DeBarge tripled his home run total from last year with 21. He’s never been a big strikeout or walk hitter (both rates are below 10%), but DeBarge has figured out how to generate more lift. His first two college seasons saw a ground-ball rate higher than 50%. In 2024, DeBarge cut that down to 39% while increasing his fly-ball rate to 43.4%. 

No. 3 - Texas: OF Jared Thomas
Texas has used Jared Thomas at first base and left field in 2024. Thomas has the athleticism to stick in the outfield, but Texas coaches liked his range to help in the infield. While that part of his game is intriguing, Thomas posted good results in 2024 with a 1.089 OPS and hitting 15 home runs, but his strikeout rate climbed up to 21%. That could result from trying to hit for more power, but Thomas is projected to be drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round.

No. 4 - Grambling: 3B Cameron Bufford
Cameron Bufford has played in 202 games in four years at Grambling, making him one of the most experienced college baseball players this season. Bufford hit more than 10 home runs yearly while posting a career 1.007 OPS. I think it’s a long shot for Grambling to win a game in this Regional, but it will be great to see Bufford end his excellent college career with postseason play. 

Josh's Regional Pick: Texas A&M

Super Regional Matchups

College World Series Predictions

Josh’s College World Series Prediction: Texas A&M over Arkansas