JJ Wetherholt vs Jac Caglianone: Who's the better fit to go No. 2 in 2024 MLB Draft?
The 2024 MLB Draft will take place on July 14, with 30 teams looking to pick the best talents from college baseball in the 20 round-event spanning three days. This year's draft lottery saw the Cincinnati Reds win the second overall draft pick, for which there are a few strong contenders.
Two of those strong contenders are West Virginia Mountaineers' star hitter JJ Wetherholt and Florida Gators' two-way sensation Jac Caglianone. Both players have been projected as top five overall picks in the 2024 MLB Draft as per multiple mock draft websites. Here, we take a look at which of these two players are better suited for the Reds to become the No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Is JJ Wetherholt or Jac Caglianone better suited to represent the Cincinnati Reds?
JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia
In three seasons for the Mountaineers, Wetherholt established himself as one of the purest hitters in college baseball. The shortstop was one of the most feared hitters in 2023, recording 16 home runs and 60 RBI at an average of .449. He finished the season as a Dick Howser Trophy finalist while earning Unanimous First-Team All-American honors.
This year, a hamstring injury in February hampered his season. However, he still recorded eight home runs and 30 RBI in 36 games for the Mountaineers. His .331 average was the best of all Mountaineers hitters, highlighting his threat at the plate.
Jac Caglianone, Florida
Caglianone has arguably been one of the standouts in NCAA Baseball for the past two seasons. While he missed some games in his freshman year due to injury, he enjoyed an incredible sophomore season in 2023. He recorded 33 home runs and 90 RBI at an average of .323 while also going 7-4 on the mound with 87 strikeouts and a 4.34 ERA.
This year, Caglianone was at the peak of his powers. He broke his own single-season program record for home runs (35) while recording 72 RBI. His batting average of .419 was the third-best in the country and he was also walked 58 times, more than thrice the number he notched up the previous year. As a pitcher, he went 5-2 while recording 83 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.76.
He won First-Team All-American honors while finishing as a Dick Howser Trophy finalist. His consistency and unique style of play has drawn comparisons with two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani.
Who is better suited for the Cincinnati Reds?
The Reds are currently fourth in the NL Central and a lot of their struggles are down to their performances at the plate. They currently rank 27th in team batting average, which highlights the difficulty they face in scoring runs.
Although Wetherholt's injury held him back this year, his hitting talent is undeniable. However, the Reds have a promising talent in 22-year-old Eddy De La Cruz at shortstop, who is likely to be Wetherholt's direct competition when it comes to a starting place for the Reds in the future.
Although he is most likely to be recruited as a hitter, Caglianone is likely to be a better fit for the Reds. Along with a chance to team up with Gators alumni Jonathan India, he can also boost their bullpen with appearances on the mound, which should strengthen his appeal for the five-time World Series winners.