Charlie Condon vs Jac Caglianone: Who's the better fit for Cincinnati Reds in the 2024 MLB Draft?
Who would you pick, Georgia's Charlie Condon or Florida's Jac Caglianone? Just hours before the beginning of the 2024 MLB draft, some anxiety remains regarding the top picks. Two players that stand out as potential top-10 picks are Condon and Caglianone.
Charlie Condon was the SEC 2024 Player of the Year and also earned the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy for his efforts last season. He is regarded as one of the best prospects in this year's draft.
Jac Caglianone is a two-way starter for the Florida Gators, who plays first base and is also a member of the team's pitching rotation. He has been named the 2024 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and was an All-American selection.
Who would be a better fit for the Cincinnati Reds?
The Cincinnati Reds have the second overall pick of this year's MLB draft, and they're looking for a hitter. Their preferred option would be Charlie Condon, a player with whom they've been highly connected over the last few weeks. CBS and MLB.com think he is the safest bet of the top 5 picks.
However, there's still the chance that the Cleveland Guardians might take Condon with the No. 1 pick. On the other hand, there's also the possibility that the player will go beyond the Reds' reported budget of $9 million.
If any of those were to happen, the Reds would have to pivot quickly to pick another player. They might want to get a starting pitcher, with some mentioning Chase Burns from Wake Forest as an alternative. On the other hand, Jac Caglianone could mean killing two birds with one stone.
Caglianone, while not being an outstanding pitcher like Burns, does offer impressive hitting numbers and has important experience as a starter at the NCAA level.