By: Colin Lacy

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Just as the MLB All-Star Weekend kicks underway deep in the heart of Texas, the 2024 MLB Draft got underway on day one on Sunday night.

Shortly after 7pm Sunday, Commissioner Rob Manfred approached to kick off the first 74 picks from the Fort Worth Stock Yards and Cowtown Coliseum, so let’s dive into the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.

The Guardians had the largest bonus pool in the draft with over $18 million and had the first overall selection. Cleveland called the name of Travis Bazzana from Oregon State. The final Pac-12 Player of the Year was also selected as a Golden Spikes Award Finalist after blasting 28 homeruns which set the Oregon State record in a season and most in the Pac-12 in 25 years.

The Cincinnati Reds didn’t waste much time raising some eyebrows when they took Chase Burns out of Wake Forest with the second pick of the draft.

Burns was dominant at times in his career as a Demon Deacon. Burns had been susceptible to giving up homeruns in his career, but the Reds deemed the upside was more important.

The third pick on Sunday went to the Colorado Rockies and some would say the Rockies got a gift that Charlie Condon was still on the board to be selected.

Colorado jumped on the opportunity. We have well documented the fantastic story Charlie Condon has become in the past few years at Georgia.

To me, this will prove long term to be the “steal of the draft.” I understand that the third pick isn’t stealing much, but Charlie Condon was thought to be a projected number one overall by many publications.

More proven talent (at the college level at least) would follow with the next few picks. Wake Forest would see the second Demon Deacon off the board in the first four selections with Nick Kurtz heading to the Athletics.

Arkansas Razorback ace Hagen Smith was taken off the board by the Chicago White Sox before Florida’s two-way talent Jac Cagliaone would put on the “KC” cap after being selected by the Royals.

The Big 12 saw their first selection in pick number 7 from St. Louis with the Cardinals calling JJ Wetherholt’s name after leading the nation with a .449 average for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

In a draft where it was projected by many to be one of the most “college player heavy” that the MLB Draft has seen in recent memory at least, it held true in Round 1.

The first high school prospect that was selected in the draft was the 9th selection when the Pirates drafted Konnor Griffin out of Jackson Prep HS in Mississippi.

Wake Forest really were feeling well when the third Demon Deacon was taken in the top 10 picks when Seaver King was taken off the board.

Wake Forest became just the second school to have three players selected in the first 10 picks. King was the vocal and emotional leader for the Deacs after transferring from Division II Wingate University prior to the 2024 season.

The Atlanta Braves had the 24^th pick of the day and went the lefthander from Saguaro High in Arizona in Cam Caminiti. Caminiti is the cousin of former MLB All-Star third baseman Ken Caminiti who was the 1996 NL MVP.

Overall, the first round saw the first 30 names taken in the 2024 Draft with only 10 of those being high school prospects and the remaining 20 coming from the college ranks.

Wake Forest led the way with three players taken in the first round for the most by one team. Florida State would follow with two consecutive picks with James Tibbs III going to San Francisco with the 13^th pick and Cam Smith selected by the Cubs with the 14^th.

The SEC took the top spot, seeing seven players off the board from SEC institutions, with the ACC close behind with six.

To me, the MLB Draft is one of the more exciting days (yes, I know I may be a baseball dork), but it’s a fantastic time to see the college game and the pro game come together.

In a weekend where the Pirates’ Paul Skenes, the 2023 MLB Draft 1^st overall selection, will be starting the 2024 MLB All-Star Game on the mound, the future of the game takes one of the most crucial steps in their careers on a special night deep in the heart of Texas.