Of all the professional sports drafts, none has the potential to impact a college team for the upcoming season like the one for Major League Baseball.
In basketball and football, players in line to get drafted have already officially moved on from college, either because they’re out of eligibility or have foregone their remaining amount. Not the case for the vast majority of players who will be selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, which begins Sunday afternoon and runs through Tuesday.
The MLB Draft is open to NCAA players who are at least 21 or have completed three years of school, as well to junior college prospects and recent high school graduates. And Arizona is likely to see some from each crop get picked during the 20-round event.
The Wildcats won’t have a first-round pick like it did the previous two years, when Chase Davis went 21st overall to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023 and Daniel Susac 19th to the Oakland Athletics in 2022. but like last draft, at least one of its top incoming freshmen is likely to go high.
Left-handed pitcher Mason Russell, the top prospect of the UA’s 2024 signing class, is ranked 93rd in Baseball America’s Top 500 for the draft. MLBPipeline.com has the product of Queen Creek (Ariz.) Casteel High School 97th.
Prep pitchers drafted in the first five rounds tend to always sign, though what could get Russell to campus is the fact his twin brother Tyler Russell, an outfielder, is also part of Arizona’s freshman class.
Another incoming freshman arm, Glendale Mountain Ridge righty Smith Bailey, is No. 203 in BA’s Top 500 and No. 227 by MLB.
The UA lost its top prep pitching signee a year ago when righty Blake Wolters was selected 44th overall by the Kansas City Royals and signed for $2.8 million. Wolters is pitching for the Royals’ Single-A team in Columbia, SC.
Arizona could also see incoming junior college infielder Mathis Meurant get drafted. The 6-foot-3 native of France was stellar both defensively and at the plate for Cochise College the last two years.
As for players on the 2024 UA roster, the most likely to be picked is lefty Jackson Kent. The Friday night starter until the postseason, Kent is ranked No. 136 by MLB and No. 138 by BA.
Righties Clark Candiotti, Dawson Netz and Cam Walty, each graduating seniors, could also get drafted, as could righty Anthony ‘Tonko’ Susac. Susac’s move to the bullpen in April both helped the Wildcats win the Pac-12 regular-season and conference tournament titles and raised his draft profile, and this summer he’s taken that further with a standout performance in the Cape Cod League.
Infielder Garen Caulfield, who is eligible to return to Arizona in 2024, may also get picked or sign a rookie free agent deal.
The UA had five players drafted from the 2023 team and has had at least two players taken every year since 2011.
The first round (and compensatory picks) will be broadcast live on ESPN Sunday at 4 p.m. PT. Monday will have rounds 2-10 and Tuesday rounds 11-20, both shown on MLB.com.