With the 2023 MLB Draft behind us and the RDBL Regular Season winding down with seven periods to play, it's never too early to take a look at potential 1.1 selections for the 2024 Reserve Draft.
As with every previous year in RDBL play, the Draft order is set by the previous year's Regular Season Standing, first going 7th through 15th, followed by 6th through 1st. While the teams at the top of the Draft are still clawing for a Wild Card spot, the Meinert Hops are the current owners of the top overall pick.
Five 1st Round Picks have already been traded this season, with the Honolulu Hammerheads, Idaho Taters, Cloverdale Clovers, Mission Viejo Maulers and Spokane Fightin' Fish currently without a selection in the top round.
Current 2024 Draft Order
1. Meinert Hops
2. Lunatic Fringe
3. Las Vegas Aristocrats
4. *Maltese Falcons (via Hammerheads)
5. Alamo Short Stacks
6. Maltese Falcons
7. Burlingame Blue Ducks
8. Asti Grape Stompers
9. St. Joseph Jokers
10. Maltese Falcons (via Maulers)
11. *St. Joseph Jokers (via Taters)
12. *Las Vegas Aristocrats (via Clovers)
13. Lake Merced Goutfish
14. Mt. Diablo Devils
15. *Burlingame Blue Ducks (via Fish)
3B Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers | Current Level: AAA
The Mississippi high school product has been one of the minor leagues’ biggest breakouts this year. He crushed in Double-A, made the Futures Game and continued hitting as one of the younger players in Triple-A. There are defensive questions, but he should hit his way to the big leagues.
OF Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox | Current Level: High-A
One of the top breakout prospects in Low-A this season, Anthony has taken flight since seeing a promotion to High-A Greenville. His excellent bat-to-ball skills and discerning eye pair nicely with his developing plus power. Anthony has the ability to develop into a well-rounded offensive player who can handle center field defensively.
RHP Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs | Current Level: High-A
The Cubs’ first-rounder from 2022 has shown electric stuff in his pro debut. There were questions after a limited track record in college that also included a Tommy John surgery, but so far Horton has made the Cubs’ gamble look wise.
OF Yanqueil Fernandez, Colorado Rockies | Current Level: AA
Signed out of Cuba back in 2019, Fernandez has blossomed into one of the best power-hitting outfielders in the minor leagues. His profile is driven by his bat, which combines plus-plus power and special hands that show the ability to adjust to breaking balls mid-swing. Fernandez has an aggressive approach and a limited defensive skill set but should hit for enough impact to overcome those warts.
RHP Brody Brecht, University of Iowa | Current Level: College
Brecht has elite arm talent on the mound and averaged 97.5 mph this spring with his fastball while pitching in a starting role for Iowa. He posted a 3.74 ERA in 77 innings despite an unsustainable 18% walk rate and outperformed his peripherals thanks in part to stranding runners on base at an 84.5% clip after they reached. Brecht has a whippy fast arm and has eclipsed 100 mph many times, and he also has a slider that could be a 70-grade pitch and generated whiffs at a 53% rate this spring. He throws the fastball and slider equally and the breaking ball has terrific tilt and diving action in the upper 80s. As his walk rate suggests, there’s plenty of reliever risk here.
1B Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest | Current Level: College
Kurtz was the best overall hitter on one of the best teams in the country this past spring with Wake Forest. He’s likely the most well-rounded hitter in the class at this point and pairs a savvy batting eye with a clean lefthanded swing and plenty of raw power from his 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame. Kurtz slashed .353/.527/.784 with 24 home runs and 10 doubles, and has walked more than he’s struck out in both seasons with the Demon Deacons. He’s a terrific defender at first base and scouts think he might be athletic enough to play the corner outfield.
RHP Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers | Current Level: High-A Misiorowski possesses arguably the best stuff in the minor leagues with a high-90s swing-and-miss fastball that regularly hits triple-digits. His slider might be his best weapon, a high-80s pitch with good cut. He’ll also mix in a cutter, a curveball and a changeup. There are relief questions here, but Misiorowski may have the highest upside among pitchers in the minor leagues.
LHP Noah Schultz, Chicago White Sox | Current Level: Low-A
A strained left flexor muscle meant the White Sox had to wait a little while for Schultz—their first-round pick in 2022—to take his first official turn as a pro. It was worth it. At Low-A Kannapolis, Schultz has been filthy. He’s flummoxed hitters with a combination of a heavy mid-90s fastball, a silly-good slider and occasional changeup. Through a dozen innings over five starts, the massive southpaw has punched out 16 and allowed just one hit and a walk.
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