2024 MLB Draft Insights
The 2024 MLB Draft is just over a week away, and the excitement is building. This week, Jonathan Mayo released his penultimate mock draft, with Jim Callis set to release another next week. The final projections of the top 39 picks will be revealed late Saturday night before the Draft festivities begin in Texas. Teams are still gathering information on player signability and medical reports, making the current projections a snapshot of what might happen.
Top prospects include Travis Bazzana from Oregon State, Charlie Condon from Georgia, Jac Caglianone from Florida, JJ Wetherholt from West Virginia, and Hagen Smith from Arkansas. The Cleveland Guardians are expected to take Bazzana, while the Cincinnati Reds are debating between Condon and Caglianone. The Colorado Rockies are likely to pick Caglianone, and the Oakland Athletics might go for Braden Montgomery. The Chicago White Sox are considering Wetherholt, and the Kansas City Royals are leaning towards Nick Kurtz.
MLB Power Rankings: Week 15
This week’s MLB power rankings saw significant shifts. The Chicago White Sox remain at the bottom, struggling despite rookie pitcher Drew Thorpe showing promise. The Colorado Rockies are unlikely to sell at the trade deadline, focusing instead on the potential trade of All-Star catcher Elias Diaz. The Miami Marlins have been plagued by injuries, and the Los Angeles Angels are facing a losing streak that increases the urgency for roster changes.
The Philadelphia Phillies have risen to the top, boasting the best record in MLB. Their pitching remains excellent, and stars like Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto are nearing their return. The Baltimore Orioles are also performing well, needing more quality starting pitching for World Series contention. The Cleveland Guardians continue to exceed expectations with strong performances from Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez.
The Milwaukee Brewers are tied for fifth-most wins, thanks to excellent pitching, despite their lineup underperforming compared to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Dodgers are dealing with injuries but remain strong contenders, with pressure building on the front office for moves at the trade deadline. The New York Yankees are hovering around the .500 mark, with one of the best run differentials in baseball despite recent struggles in pitching.
2024 World Series Odds
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain the favorites for the 2024 World Series, despite recent injuries. Their current record stands at 52-33, and the All-Star break is less than two weeks away. The updated World Series odds have the Dodgers at +310, followed by the New York Yankees at +475 and the Philadelphia Phillies at +550. The Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves are both at +800, while the Cleveland Guardians are at +1300.
The Houston Astros have improved their odds to +1700 after a hot streak, winning nine out of their last ten games. Key players like José Altuve, Yordan Álvarez, and Jeremy Peña are performing well, and Kyle Tucker is expected to return soon from a leg injury. The New York Mets have also seen a significant improvement in their odds after sweeping the Yankees in the Subway Series, with catcher Francisco Álvarez playing a pivotal role.
Brewers’ Power Surge
The Milwaukee Brewers have been on a power surge, hitting grand slams in two straight games and four of their past eight games. Jackson Chourio hit his first career grand slam during Friday’s series-opening 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field. This performance continues a strong stretch for the National League Central-leading Brewers.
Of the last five Brewers hitters to bat with bases loaded, four have hit grand slams. Chourio is the youngest player to hit a grand slam since Jose Reyes did so in June 2003. Since 1974, only 14 players aged 20 or younger have hit a Major League grand slam, with the last being Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2019.
Chourio’s recent achievements include his first career inside-the-park home run and an impressive .328/.371/.563 slash line over his past 21 games since June. Brewers manager Pat Murphy praised Chourio’s mid-season growth and potential. The Brewers signed Chourio to an eight-year contract worth $82 million in December, and he made his Major League debut on Opening Day as the youngest Milwaukee player since Robin Yount.
Jarren Duran’s Controversial Shirt
Jarren Duran, a Boston Red Sox outfielder, received a warning from MLB after wearing a shirt with the phrase “F— ‘Em” during a postgame interview on NESN. The league issued a letter warning Duran about the violation of league policies, but no fine was imposed. Duran expressed that he would have been willing to pay any fine because the phrase holds personal significance to him.
The slogan “F— ‘Em” is tied to Duran’s past struggles with mental health and serves as a reminder of his resilience. Duran has been open about his mental health challenges, particularly during his struggles with the Red Sox in 2022. In 2023, he shared posts on Instagram about his mental health journey, prompting concern from fans and support from team management.
Throughout the current season, Duran has continued discussing his mental health publicly. He wears wrist tape with the same slogan written on it during games as a personal reminder. Ahead of Opening Day this year, Duran explained his slogan further in an interview with WEEI’s Rob Bradford, stating that it helps remind him of what he has overcome mentally and reinforces that he is still fighting despite past hardships.
Conclusion
This past week in MLB has been eventful, with significant developments in the upcoming draft, power rankings, and key player performances. The 2024 Draft is just around the corner, with top prospects and teams making crucial decisions. The power rankings have seen shifts, with the Phillies rising to the top and the Dodgers and Yankees remaining strong contenders. The Brewers’ power surge and Jarren Duran’s controversial shirt highlight the ongoing excitement and challenges in the league. As the season progresses, fans can look forward to more thrilling moments and pivotal changes in the world of baseball.
