Guardians to make No. 1 pick in MLB Draft
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The Bazzmanian Devil. Photo: Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Guardians have the No.1 overall pick in the MLB draft for the first time in franchise history.
Why it matters: The pick could help an already stellar Cleveland team get over the hump to win a World Series title in future seasons.
Driving the news: This year's draft takes place Sunday through Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas, near where the upcoming All-Star Game is being played.
The intrigue: Most mock drafts have the Guardians taking Oregon State University second baseman Travis Bazzana, an Australian-born player nicknamed "The Bazzmanian Devil" and "The Wonder from Down Under."
- Other options include highly regarded hitters like Georgia third baseman Charlie Condon and West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt.
How it works: Cleveland won the draft lottery despite just a 2% chance of getting the first overall pick.
- Each team in the MLB draft is assigned a pool of money for picks. The Guardians have $18.3 million to spend on 21 picks, meaning the less they spend on the No. 1 pick, the more they can spread out to other selections.
- A team would face a tax penalty for overspending.
The big picture: Cleveland has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 season, currently sitting atop the American League Central with one of the best offenses in baseball.
- Yes, but: In terms of hitting, the Guardians are weakest up the middle with second baseman Andrés Giménez and shortstop Brayan Rocchio putting up some of the worst offensive numbers among the team's starting position players.
💭 My thought bubble: A middle infielder like Bazzana or Wetherholt makes the most sense, considering the Guardians are already loaded with prospects at pitching, outfield and corner infield.
- Cleveland would also likely spend less on one of them than Condon, who is considered the best overall player in the draft.
What's next: The draft kicks off a busy MLB All-Star week for the Guardians, who have five players in Tuesday's All-Star Game, the team's most since 2018.
How to watch: Day One of the draft will air on ESPN and on MLB Network starting at 7pm.