MLB Draft 2024: Top 5 SEC players selected on Day 1 ft. Jac Caglianone
The SEC has been one of the premier conferences in college baseball and the first day of the MLB draft 2024 showcased the same. Several exciting players found their newest home to begin their professional careers. Let's take a deeper dive into the top five players from the SEC who were drafted in the MLB draft 2024.
Top 5 SEC players selected on Day 1 of MLB Draft 2024
Charlie Condon, Georgia
Third baseman Charlie Condon was the first SEC player off the MLB draft 2024 board as the Colorado Rockies selected him third overall. He is coming off one of the best overall seasons in NCAA history as he had a .433 batting average and a 1.565 OPS while smashing 36 homers.
Standing at 6-foot-6, he is a massive player who should dominate inside Coors Field. Whether he remains at third base or transitions to a corner outfield spot, the Colorado Rockies have one of the most promising players from the SEC.
Hagen Smith, Arkansas
Hagen Smith was taken fifth overall by the Chicago White Sox and the left-hander out of Arkansas will be one of the best pitchers out of the draft class. He had Tommy John surgery in high school and stepped up last season as an elite starting pitcher for the Razorbacks. He won the SEC Pitcher of the Year Award as he went 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA over 84 innings.
He can dominate with his fastball and wipeout slider as he had 161 strikeouts as well. There is some risk but a high reward to claiming Hagen Smith in the MLB draft 2024.
Jac Caglianone, Florida
The next pick was by the Kansas City Royals and they selected one of the best power hitters in the nation in Florida's first baseman Jac Caglianone. While he can pitch from the bullpen, it is likely he becomes a full-time first baseman for the Royals.
He has an incredible power stroke as he hit 35 home runs while hitting .419 at the plate last season. He had a 58:26 walk-to-strikeout ratio but a lot of those were intentional. One of the premier SEC players ever "fell" to the sixth pick in the MLB draft 2024.
Christian Moore, Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers second baseman Christian Moore was taken with the eighth pick in the MLB draft 2024 by the Los Angeles Angels. He was one of the best overall hitters in the nation and is a champion after winning the 2024 College World Series. He hit for the cycle in the College World Series, the second player in history to do so.
There seemingly will not be too long until Christian Moore reaches the majors as he had a .375 batting average with 34 homers with Tennessee in 2024. Being a solid second baseman for the Angels and another solid hitter with Mike Trout, it will be a great addition to LA's lineup.
Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M
The Boston Red Sox took the fifth player out of the SEC as they drafted outfielder Braden Montgomery with the 12th pick. He transferred from Stanford and showcased his abilities to dominate at the plate as he had a .322/.454/.733 slash line with 27 homers.
Expect him to play well as a right fielder with Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida in the outfield at Fenway Park very soon as they can be one of the best starting outfielders in MLB.