MLB Draft Day 1 Recap: Highlighting the Biggest Winners — Teams, Players, and Colleges
The first and second rounds of the MLB Draft concluded on Sunday evening. It was the first time two rounds had occurred like this in a change for the format and it proved to be a success.
There were good and bad picks all night long, with some players, schools, and teams winning big and setting themselves up for the future well. Here are the winners of the first night.
Top winners of first two rounds of MLB Draft
1) Cleveland Guardians
The biggest winners of the night are the Cleveland Guardians, who secured the first overall pick in the lottery. A middle-of-the-pack team in 2023, the Guardians struck gold. It didn't really matter whom they selected, it was a win. Nevertheless, Travis Bazzana is a good selection.
2) Colorado Rockies
Another winner was the Colorado Rockies, who picked third. They got a gift in Charlie Condon, the overall top prospect fell into their laps at number three and they landed a potential star.
3) Wake Forest
Wake Forest University was another huge winner, having three picks in the top 10 for the first time ever. Chase Burns was selected second, Nick Kurtz fourth, and Seaver King tenth.
4) St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals emerged as winners from the MLB Draft. JJ Wetherholt was initially considered a top contender for the first overall pick, but the star shortstop fell all the way to seventh.
5) Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are another big winner here. While UNC star Vance Honeycutt's draft stock was all over the place, his talent is undeniable. He was a top-five selection at one point during the year and despite excellent production, he slipped down the big board. Getting a player like that at 22nd overall is a great pick.
6) Jac Caglianone
Jac Caglianone is also one of the winners of the draft. The two-way player was always unlikely to continue pitching at the MLB level. He landed the perfect team, as the Kansas City Royals have plenty of pitching. There's no need for him to try doing both and potentially hinder his development since they don't need that.