The 2024 Reserve Draft doesn't bring the obvious 1-1 player that we have seen over the last two seasons with Roki Sasaki and Anthony Volpe, but there is a plenty of prospect talent available for clubs to consider. The Meinert Hops are set to pick 1st overall for the first time in Franchise History with Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith currently projected as the favorite for the selection.
The Maltese Falcons currently hold a RDBL-high three selections in the First Round while the Las Vegas Aristocrats, St. Joseph Jokers and Burlingame Blue Ducks each have two selections. Plenty of moves are set to be made as the current construction of RDBL Rosters has led many to believe this will be one of the busiest off-seasons in League History.
1. Meinert Hops: 3B Colt Keith, Tigers
The Approach: It's the right season for GM Garrett Shelley to have the first pick after their Farm System largely disappointed in 2023. A shaky season from their pitching prospects and the exit of Brett Baty through trade has left a gaping hole for a star putting the pressure on the Hops Front Office to make the right selection at the top of the Draft.
The Player: Keith’s breakout started in 2022, when he was one of the stars of the Arizona Fall League. There, the Tigers prospect hit .344/.463/.541 with three home runs and as many walks (16) as strikeouts. In 2023, he blitzed the upper levels of the minor leagues, hitting a combined .306/.380/.552 with 38 doubles, 27 home runs with solid plate discipline and exit velocity numbers. There are questions about where he winds up defensively, but his bat should help him find a spot in the lineup. He will certainly be one of the names to watch in Spring Training next year, potentially pushing for an Opening Day role in Detroit and into the 2024 Auction Draft.
*2. Las Vegas Aristocrats: OF Roman Anthony, Red Sox
Acquired from Cloverdale Clovers
The Approach: The 'Crats hold the second and third selections in the 2024 Draft, giving them flexibility to reach for the sky on one of the two picks. Of course, GM Nick Holz held an organizational Come to Jesus in June, with the focus being on annual contention which could make one of the two selection in play on the trade market if they can improve their 2024 Keeper Roster from a move.
The Player: Outfielder Roman Anthony, the Red Sox’ No. 2 prospect and the 19th-ranked prospect in baseball by Baseball America, was the organization’s Offensive Player of the Year after his remarkable rise to become the first Sox teenager to reach Double A Portland since Xander Bogaerts in 2012. Anthony hit .294/.412/.569 with 12 homers and 29 extra-base hits in 54 games with High A Greenville, enough to earn him a promotion and further national prospect prominence. Anthony dazzled in his brief season-ending stint in Portland, slashing a .343/.477/.543 line with a 1.020 OPS in 10 games, laying a strong foundation for opening 2024 in Double A.
3. Las Vegas Aristocrats: RHP Cade Horton, Cubs
The Approach: If the 'Crats go the hitting route with the second overall pick, the Front Office could look to backfill pitching prospect Gavin Williams who is expected to be activated for Opening Day next season. While other arms are in the mix, 2022 Draftee Cade Horton looks to be the top available arm at this point in the process.
The Player: Recently named the Cubs Pitching Prospect of the Year, Horton has had a meteoric rise through their system which could place him on the big league doorstep in 2024. Horton, who is the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect, reached Double-A after stops with both High-A South Bend and Single-A Myrtle Beach this season. Overall, including the two playoff outings, the prospect turned in a 2.47 ERA with 128 strikeouts and 31 walks in 98 1/3 innings (23 starts) this year and projected as a potential #2 starter at the big league level.
*4. Maltese Falcons: 1B Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest
Acquired from Honolulu Hammerheads
The Approach: Dipping into the college ranks in the 1st Round of the Reserve Draft has become a common theme in RDBL Front Offices, with the Maltese Falcons doing so in 2022 to grab Druw Jones. The club historically reaches for the top ceiling with Kurtz currently entering 2024 as the favorite to go 1-1 in the MLB Draft next July.
The Player: The towering 6-foot-5 Kurtz followed up his outstanding freshman season in which he hit .338 with 30 extra-base hits with an even better sophomore campaign. He hit .353 with 10 doubles, 24 home runs, and had an impressive 63-to-50 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His long levers and advanced bat-to-ball skills make Kurtz perhaps the most difficult hitter in the country to pitch to, and he can barrel the baseball no matter where it’s thrown. On top of his appealing offensive profile, Kurtz is a plus defender at first base and moves well enough to the point where he could hold down a corner outfield spot.
5. Alamo Short Stacks: RHP Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers
The Approach: The Stacks are in an interesting spot with 16 prospects already under contract and four selections in the 2nd Round, making this a likely ceiling selection for GM Greg Shelley. Additionally, all 16 prospects currently held by the Stacks are hitters with the club rumored to be seeking some pitching options to begin to even out the Farm.
The Player: Perhaps armed with the best pure stuff remaining in the Minor Leagues, command of his arsenal can be another story, as Misorowski has struggled to command the baseball after his promotion to Double-A. Overall, Misiorowski has a 3.41 ERA this season and has struck out 110 of the 314 batters he has faced in 20 starts from Single-A Carolina to High-A Wisconsin to Double-A Biloxi, where he appeared to settle into a groove after two rough starts following his latest promotion. Those outings came after he shined in the All-Star Futures Game, topping out at 102.4 mph during a scoreless, three-strikeout inning. He was shut down late in the season with arm fatigue which will be a story to monitor in Spring.
6. Burlingame Blue Ducks: C Jeferson Quero, Brewers
The Approach: The Ducks have aced their last two Drafts, landing three of the top young talents in the Minors in Paul Skenes, Wyatt Langford and Dylan Crews. While they have had great success dipping into the college ranks, GM Ryan Walsh appears focused on landing a prospect that could join the trio with a potential 2025 activation date. Having taken catchers in the first round twice in the last four seasons, Jeferson Quero stands out as a logical fit.
The Player: Regarded as one of the top catching prospects in baseball, Quero excelled in Double-A this season before a pair of injuries sunk his late season numbers. Initially known as a glove-first backstop, Quero's production at the plate has pushed him into the Top-30 range of Top 100 Lists late in the year, making him one of the top prospects available.
7. Maltese Falcons: OF Yanquiel Fernandez, Rockies
The Approach: With three 1st Round selections, GM Gary Falzon has the opportunity to replenish a Farm System that could graduate as many as six players for 2024 Opening Day. With just two pitching prospects under control, GM Gary Falzon seems to be focused on the hitting side of scouting making them likely to stick with that approach.
The Player: Yanquiel Fernandez is a toolsy outfielder with impressive power and the arm strength to handle right field. He has the ability to become a middle-of-the-order run producer. An aggressive hitter, Fernandez has good bat speed and strength in his swing. His raw and in-game power are well above average to all fields and looks to be the Rockies' long-term answer in right field.
8. Asti Grape Stompers: LHP Robby Snelling, Padres
The Approach: The Grapes might have the league's best balance of hitting and pitching prospects, showing GM Terry Shelley's willingness to go with an arm with an early selection. With as many as seven prospects potentially starting 2024 in the big leagues, the Grapes can reach for upside which could align well with fast-rising lefty Robby Snelling.
The Player: Snelling has the ideal pitching frame and a mid-90s four-seam fastball that touches 98 mph. His slider is nasty because he can not only add and subtract velocity with it but also manipulate the shape. His changeup needs more work, but he’ll flash an average one at times. He’s an aggressive pitcher who goes right after hitters in the strike zone. Set to turn 21 in December, Snelling made his way through three levels in 2023, posting a 1.82 ERA in 22 starts while finishing the year in Double-A.
9. St. Joseph Jokers: OF Owen Caissie, Cubs
The Approach: While they wait on the arrival of Roki Sasaki, the Jokers are looking to infuse some additional high-end talent into the Farm System that could make a quick leap to the big leagues. That approach aligns well with fast rising outfielder Owen Caissie from the Chicago Cubs.
The Player: Caissie was acquire from the San Diego Padres as part of the haul for Yu Darvish and is fresh off the Chicago Cubs Organizational Player of the Year Award. He played the entire 2023 season at the Double-A level, where he smacked 22 home runs, and 31 doubles while posting a .917 OPS in 439 at-bats. Although Caissie struck out 31.1% of the time this year, which is not outlandish for a slugger, he showed a lot of plate discipline this year and he collected 76 walks with an on-base percentage of .398.
*10. Maltese Falcons: SS Sebastian Walcott, Rangers
Acquired from Mission Viejo Maulers
The Approach: With so much talent in the Falcons Farm System on the cusp of the big leagues and this being the third of their three selections in the 1st Round, GM Gary Falzon can afford to dip into the lower Minors for a potential star.
The Player: The Rangers signed Walcott, a Bahamian infielder, for a $3.2 million bonus this past January, and he was the talk of the Arizona League already, with six homers in 15 games and a .397 average. Walcott is an extremely projectable shortstop who already makes very hard contact, with explosive bat speed and the potential for 30+ power even before he fills out completely. He’s probably going to move off shortstop, as he’s 6-4 and probably going to be 230 pounds or more at his peak, with a plus arm that would allow him to stick at third base. Still just 17, there's a long road ahead with a best case scenario of a 2026 activation.
11. St. Joseph Jokers: IF Luisangel Acuña, Mets
Acquired from San Mateo Oppo Tacos
The Approach: As with their first selection, the Jokers appear focused on players who have already spent time at Double-A as they look for assets who can make a big league impact by 2025. That aligns well with Luisangel Acuña, the key return for Max Scherzer in the Mets-Rangers swap this summer.
The Player: Acuña, the younger brother of Ronald Acuña Jr., stood out as one of the best all-around players in the 2022 Arizona Fall League and was in the midst of his best season yet as a 21-year-old in Double-A when the Rangers dealt him to the Mets for Max Scherzer this July. He's a stat filler, posting 28 doubles, a pair of triples, nine home runs and 57 steals while hitting .294 over his two Double-A stints.
12. Lunatic Fringe: C Samuel Basallo, Orioles
The Approach: The Fringe are working with a ton of flexibility entering the Reserve Draft as a wave of activations project to leave them with just 5-6 prospects under contract. Always seeking elite upside, the Fringe could turn to slugging backstop Samuel Basallo who was one of the biggest risers in the Minors this season.
The Player: Basallo an offensive catcher with plus power, maybe 70 power in the end, hitting 12 homers already this season as an 18-year-old in Low A, tying him for fourth in the Carolina League behind three guys all 21 and older. He can catch even with a body that’s on the larger side for the position with a plus arm that’s helped him nail 32 percent of opposing runners this year. While Adley Rutschman has a firm grasp on the job in Baltimore, Basallo would be the future star backstop for any other organization and should push his way into playing time by 2025.
13. Mt. Diablo Devils: C Kyle Teel, Red Sox
The Approach: Outside of Brady House, the Devils Farm System is stocked with high floor prospects who look poised to help in the 2024-2025 window. Adding to that group could give GM Jason Watson a steady core to add around in Free Agency with Kyle Teel serving as a quick moving bat-first backstop that could be paired with Diego Cartaya or Bo Naylor in future seasons.
The Player: Teel was the best catcher in this year’s loaded draft class, a very athletic backstop who caught and hit well for UVA this spring in one of the best conferences in college baseball. He has outstanding bat speed and pitch recognition, rarely striking out for the Cavs in 2023 (12 percent), making line-drive contact and hitting for power against right-handers. He’s very agile behind the plate with a 60 arm and good hands, needing work on framing and handling pitches below the zone, although there’s no doubt he stays at catcher for the long term. He doesn’t hit lefties for any power, at least not so far in a small sample, which is probably his one area for work as a hitter. I think he’s at least a regular with a chance to be a Jason Kendall type of hitter, with high contact rates and some value from speed along with modest power.
14. Lake Merced Goutfish: LHP Noah Schultz, White Sox
The Approach: The Lake Merced Goutfish are fresh off their second Title and loaded with prospects on the cusp of the big leagues, giving GM Ryan Atkinson flexibity to chase upside without regard for ETA. Always willing to invest in pitching, left-hander Noah Schultz fits the mold for the Goutfish.
The Player: : After debuting with Low-A Kannapolis in early June, Schultz has rocketed up the Top 100 (#31 overall in final BA Top 100) behind the power of his deceptive fastball and slider combination. As the summer has progressed, Schultz has begun to show a changeup that misses bats. He’s a tall, funky lefthander with the potential for three above-average or better pitches.
*15. Burlingame Blue Ducks: RHP Noble Meyer, Marlins
Acquired from Spokane Fightin' Fish
The Approach: With the second of two First Round picks, GM Ryan Walsh will look to add to an already elite Farm System that could start to make a big league impact as soon as 2024. Looking for someone to work within that window on contention, polished right-hander Noble Meyer would fit the bill as a potential front-line starter to put behind Paul Skenes in future years.
The Player: Selected at No. 10, Noble Meyer was the best high school pitcher in this year’s draft. He has a strong 6-5 frame and a big 98-mph fastball. His slider is his best secondary pitch and it’s a wipeout offering when on. He has the same arm speed for his changeup as his fastball but the changeup is an average pitch at best. Meyer’s delivery is deceptive and makes his fastball look even harder. He has the ceiling of an ace, though he also comes with the risk that surrounds high school first-round pitchers in general.