In the past, due to the MLB’s minor league system mediating between the draft and the big leagues, the MLB draft hasn’t drawn nearly as much attention as the drafts in other sports. However in recent years, NIL has been introduced and it has forced college programs to develop their players in a more professional style. As a result, college prospects in the draft are beginning to reach the big leagues much quicker. A prime example is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher, Paul Skenes. Skenes was drafted just last July and is already starting the All-Star game for the National League in his first year out of college. Here are a few prospects who are expected to be drafted early in the first round in tonight’s draft, whom I believe will make an almost instant impact with the major league clubs that draft them (Just to clarify: These aren’t the best prospects in the draft, rather top prospects who are big league ready). These players might be the next “Paul Skenes”:
3. 2B/SS Christian Moore:
The Tennessee shortstop turned second baseman, Christian Moore is one of the best hitters in the draft. He was a big part of Tennessee’s national championship run in June. In 2024, Moore displayed his ability to hit for both power and contact by putting up a .375 batting average, while launching 34 home runs in only 72 games. However, what stands out to me is Moore’s mature approach. While he does have the ability to potentially hit one out of the park on every swing, he doesn’t hunt home runs. Instead, he looks to make the pitcher’s life a nightmare on any given pitch. Moore’s incredible approach was showcased in Tennessee’s improbable come from behind win against Florida State in the College World Series. Florida State led 11-9 in the bottom of the 9th inning. Moore came to the plate with two outs and a runner on first. He fouled off strike 2, putting Tennessee down to their final strike. Moore nodded his head, turned to his dugout and shouted “Let’s fight”. That shows me that Moore knows that he can’t allow himself to try to win the game on one swing. Moore wanted to battle the pitcher and make him fight for that last strike. In addition, he wanted the guys behind him to do so as well. Moore ended up working the count full, before lacing a double down the left field line. Moore’s double began a parade of 2-out hits. The parade ended with a walkoff single and a Tennessee 12-11 win.
Between his power and contact, in 3 years in college baseball, Moore totaled a 1.144 OPS. He’s a mature hitter with a complete approach. Due to his lackluster defense, he’s expected to fall out of the top 10. Nevertheless, as of July of 2024, I think Christian Moore will b e playing in the MLB All-Star game in July of 2026.
2. RHP Chase Burns:
Chase Burns actually transferred out of Tennessee, to Wake Forest, before this past season. It ended up working out nicely for both sides. Tennessee won the national championship and Burns became the best pitcher in college baseball. In his lone season at Wake Forest, over 100 innings in 16 starts, Burns put up a 2.88 ERA. Burns has one number that jumps off the sheet, in 2024, he struck out 17.2 hitters per 9. That is ridiculous! For some context, in Paul Skenes 2023 season, which won him Pitcher of the Year in 2023 and led to him being drafted first overall, Skenes struck out 15.3 hitters. Out of the 391 batters Chase Burns faced last season, 191 of them struck out. It’s unnatural.
Prospects’ tools are scouted based on grades that go up to 80. Burns' most used pitch is his 70-Grade fastball, which can reach triple digits. Nonetheless, his strikeout pitch is his 80-Grade wipeout slider. If that’s not a brutal enough 1-2 punch, Burns can also go to his 65-Grade changeup. Burns is expected to be a top-5 pick. Whichever team gets their hands on him, will have their new ace in the immediate future.
1. 3B/OF Charlie Condon:
The 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner is college baseball’s ultimate feel good story. Charlie Condon wasn’t a highly ranked player out of high school and didn’t receive any scholarship offers. He was able to join the Georgia Bulldogs as a “preferred walk-on” and the rest was history. In 2023, Condon cracked the starting lineup and put on a show. He put up a .386 batting average, while launching 25 home runs in only 56 games. However, 2023 was only the trailer, 2024 was the movie. In 60 games this past season, Charlie Condon’s batting average was .433, he launched 37 home runs, and swatted 20 doubles. All together posting a 1.565 OPS. OPS supposedly measures how good of an overall hitter the player is by combining their on base percentage and slugging percentage. Thus, calculating both their ability to get on base and their ability to do damage. The scale is usually .500-range are the worst hitter, and 1.000 are the best hitters. Judge and Ohtani are currently the only players in the MLB with OPSs above 1.000. Therefore the fact that Charlie Condon put up a 1.565 OPS blows my mind. Condon could’ve gone 2/4 with 2 doubles, and his OPS would go down. He’s not human.
It is unclear who the first overall pick will be. Charlie Condon is in the conversation and I won’t be shocked if the Guardians call his name tonight. Even if he doesn’t go first, I doubt Condon will fall out of the top-3. Due to the uphill battle Condon has already won, I believe that out of the top prospects, Condon will have the easiest transformation to the next level. Don’t be surprised if next season, Charlie Condon has a rise to stardom similar to what Paul Skenes is going through right now. Charlie Condon is my favorite player in the draft. I hope he goes 2nd-overall to the Cincinnati Reds, Condon and Elly De La Cruz will be an awesome duo.
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