2024 MLB Draft

[Fan_since_Boggs]

The Red Sox drafted Conrad Cason in the 8th round, a hard-to-sign high school player (can pitch and hit). I suspect the Red Sox will go under on some picks, which will give them the money to sign Cason to a lucrative contract.

 

Cason has the tools of an elite prospect. It sounds like he will not be a two way player and will focus on pitching.

 

Conrad Cason has caught the attention of talent evaluators due to his surge in fastball velocity this spring. Scouts have visited Atlanta to see the talented Georgia prep right-handed pitcher’s evolution on the mound. From a modest low 90s fastball as a junior, Cason now commands the mounds with a consistent 95-96 mph, occasionally touching 98-99 mph.

 

Cason embodies talent and potential, showcasing his prowess as a gifted pitcher and a versatile shortstop with promising upside. While most MLB teams perceive him primarily as a pitcher, a select few are open to exploring his abilities as a two-way player at the pro level. A few teams view him as a primary position player, but Cason believes his destiny lies on the mound.

 

Scouts are captivated by Cason’s comprehensive skill set and untapped potential, further heightened by his youth. He’ll be 17 years old on draft day, which makes him one of the youngest prospects in the class. With such a compelling profile, scouts widely anticipate Cason as an early-round draft selection.

 

Cason relies heavily on his fastball. It’s his best pitch, and he has confidence in throwing the above-average offering in any count and to any quadrant in the strike zone. His slider is his second-best pitch. It’s a low-80s pitch that touches 85 mph and features tight-breaking action. His changeup is also a quality pitch. He uses a splitter grip for his changeup, which has some late movement.

https://www.baseballprospectjournal.com/conrad-cason-drawing-increased-pro-attention/

[Fan_since_Boggs]

The Red Sox drafted an elite prospect in the first round:

 

Red Sox: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

The Red Sox managed to land a top-five prospect with the 12th overall pick. It’s a huge steal for the Red Sox, as Montgomery has five-tool potential and plenty of upside to develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter. He suffered an ankle injury in the NCAA Tournament, which likely impacted his draft position despite it not being a serious injury.

 

Montgomery is a 6-foot-2, 217-pound switch-hitting outfielder known for his five-tool potential. The switch hitter has a simple setup and a gap-to-gap approach. He consistently barrels up pitches and displays above-average power from both sides of the plate. He has improved his plate discipline in college, crediting his growth in the mental game and approach for his development.

 

Montgomery also is extremely athletic, which helps him on the bases and in the field. He profiles as a right fielder in pro ball due to his elite arm strength, quality throwing accuracy, and ability to cover plenty of ground.

https://www.baseballprospectjournal.com/2024-mlb-draft-best-value-picks-in-first-round/

[moonslav59]

It’s hard to know much about how these picks will do, but on paper it looks like an A draft, especially when we did not have a top 12 pick.

[Hugh2]

I suspect some underslot deals, but I expect the underslot deals to be minimal compared to all other Sox drafts. For the first time in the bonus pool cap era the Sox signed not ONE college senior. This also means, we probably won't get any big bonus babies past round 10 today.

 

I would really like to see the Sox identify some young highschool talent that maybe takes the money and goes pro, guys who will sign in the 200-300K range. Sure, these guys have a very low chance of panning out but in a draft that was considered weak I'd rather bank on that upside rather than just sign a bunch of college seniors with no real upside.

 

I get they have to fill out minor league rosters as well, and you still want good guys on those teams. Reality is most of these guys will never make it to the bigs, but you want good dudes playing the Marcelo Mayers of the world and not D-bags. The little things matter.

[Hugh2]

I'm also not so certain Cason will be developed as a pitcher only, I know his ceiling is seen higher as a pitcher than as a hitter but the Sox announced him as a two way player so I'm not sold on him only pithing just yet.

[sk7326]

I'm also not so certain Cason will be developed as a pitcher only, I know his ceiling is seen higher as a pitcher than as a hitter but the Sox announced him as a two way player so I'm not sold on him only pithing just yet.

 

It sounds like they are looking at him as a two-way. More notably, if letting Cason play shortstop makes it easier to sign him, then sure, why not?

[Hugh2]

It sounds like they are looking at him as a two-way. More notably, if letting Cason play shortstop makes it easier to sign him, then sure, why not?

]

 

I agree, but develop him on the mound too, that's where he is regarded best. Don't just let him hit like they did with Dalbec, certainly don't want to make that mistake again.

 

It's preferctly plausible that a few years down the line he ends up dropping his development on one side of the ball to focus on pitching and hitting but not now.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I'm also not so certain Cason will be developed as a pitcher only, I know his ceiling is seen higher as a pitcher than as a hitter but the Sox announced him as a two way player so I'm not sold on him only pithing just yet.

 

Interesting, OK. I like the idea of starting him out as a two way player and then taking it from there. He is so young, has exciting upside.

[mvp 78]

Was Casey Kelly the last time they really gave a shot to a two way player?

[Hugh2]

Was Casey Kelly the last time they really gave a shot to a two way player?

 

I mean, Trey Ball????? But that was more of them giving up on him being a pitcher and just saying "well f*** it lets see how he looks in the field"

[mvp 78]

I mean, Trey Ball????? But that was more of them giving up on him being a pitcher and just saying "well f*** it lets see how he looks in the field"

 

Yeah, that's not quite "two way" IMO. With Kelly, he was playing both positions in the same year legitimately.

[Hugh2]

Yeah, that's not quite "two way" IMO. With Kelly, he was playing both positions in the same year legitimately.

 

Agreed, and even then he pitched for half the year then hit the other half (or maybe it was the other way around).

 

I would like to see them truly develop a two way player.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Is Cason the only hard to sign high school kid in the Red Sox draft? I don't see another.

[mvp 78]

Is Cason the only hard to sign high school kid in the Red Sox draft? I don't see another.

 

I believe the picks after round 10 are capped, so yes. The drafted others that may not sign, but he’s the big fish.

[moonslav59]

soxprospects.com's take...

 

Montgomery: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-braden-montgomery-with.html

 

Tolle: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-payton-tolle-with-no-50.html

 

Neely: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-brandon-neely-with-third.html

 

Ehrhard: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-zach-ehrhard-with-fourth.html

 

Clarke: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-brandon-clarke-with.html

 

Aita: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-blake-aita-with-sixth.html

 

Turner: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-will-turner-with-seventh.html

 

Cason: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-conrad-cason-with-eighth.html

 

White: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-hudson-white-with-ninth.html

 

Futrell: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/red-sox-select-devin-futrell-with-10th.html

 

#11-15: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/2024-draft-day-3-recap-rounds-11-15.html

 

The Signing Period ends July 30th: http://news.soxprospects.com/2024/07/welcome-to-2024-draft-signing-period.html

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

Gotta like them drafting Papi's kid even if it was just for funsies...

[moonslav59]

The signings have begun...

 

Chase Burns agreed to terms and will receive a record signing bonus of $9.25 million, sources told MLB.com. It surpassed the $9.2 million last year's first overall pick, pitcher Paul Skenes, received from the Pirates. (I think his slot money was about $9.8M.)

[Hugh2]

I'm surprised these guys at the top get above full slot. Like.......he would really turn down 9 million and return to school as a senior and risk a payday over 800k?

 

As I'm typing this I started to think about nil money, I have no ideal what these kids are getting paid in college.

[notin]

I'm surprised these guys at the top get above full slot. Like.......he would really turn down 9 million and return to school as a senior and risk a payday over 800k?

 

As I'm typing this I started to think about nil money, I have no ideal what these kids are getting paid in college.

 

You forget he would have that recreation and sports management degree to fall back on…

Edited July 19, 2024 by notin

[mvp 78]

Here's what Mike Andrews from SoxProspects projected for the Sox signings:

 

Top Ten Rounds (entire amount counts towards bonus cap)

Round, Overall Pick, Player, Projected Bonus

1. Braden Montgomery $6,000,000

2. Payton Tolle $1,300,000

3. Brandon Neely $700,000

4. Zach Ehrhard $400,000

5. Brandon Clarke $457,900

6. Blake Aita $150,000

7. Will Turner $350,000

8. Conrad Cason $1,000,000

9. Hudson White $150,000

10. Devin Futrell $150,000

 

After 10th round, above $150K

12. Brady Tygart $500,000 ($350k counts against the cap)

 

After 10th round, possible $150K or less signs (count $0 towards cap)

11. Steven Brooks

13. Shea Sprague

14. Alex Bouchard

15. Joey Gartrell

16. Griffin Kilander

17. Yan Cruz

19. D'Angelo Ortiz

 

Total spent towards cap using these projections: $11,007,900

Red Sox Cap: $10,521,600

Red Sox Cap +5%: (no draft pick penalty): $11,047,680

 

Super wicked early projected not to sign

18. Cole Tolbert

20. Ben Hansen

[mvp 78]

@brendan_camp

DSL Red Sox Red threw a combined seven-inning no-hitter against the DSL Reds today.

 

Yodrian Beltre: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K

 

Jeison Payano: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K