Mock Draft: MLB Pipeline's No. 1 Overall Pick For Guardians

MLB Pipeline predicts the Cleveland Guardians to select JJ Wetherholt first overall in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Everyone, including the Cleveland Guardians front office, was shocked when they learned they won the MLB Draft lottery. Now it's time to start evaluating prospects and potential targets for the coveted No. 1 overall pick.

MLB Pipeline put together its first mock draft since the lottery took place and predicted who the first 10 picks would be.

The Guardians will have their choice of anyone on the board for the first time in franchise history and MLB Pipeline is predicting them to take JJ Wetherholt with the No. 1 overall pick.

West Virginia Mountaineers infielder JJ Wetherholt :: Photo Credit: Chloe Paugh / West Virginia University Athletics

Wetherholt is an infielder out of West Virginia and has been characterized as an incredible hitter. This is how Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com described him:

“Unbelievable hitter. Won the batting title last year. Hit almost .450. Power showed up. Stole a bunch of bases. I think he’s going to go out in the spring and show that he can play shortstop. He’s played mostly second base before. I don’t know if this might be splitting hairs over some of the other guys at the top of the college list, but his ability to show he can handle a premium position is what kind of gave him the very slight edge over the (next) guy.”

Cleveland needs to establish some legitimate offensive threats in their farm system. Yes, Wetherholt is an infielder and the Guardians have a ton of infield prospects already. However, if he's as good as Mayo is describing there should be no reason to pass on him.

Wetherholt has played two colle·giate seasons at West Virginia and has a career slash line of .381/.466/.635 which includes 21 home runs and 99 RBI.

There's a good chance that this prediction will change throughout the season and other players 

Our experts predicted the first 10 picks of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Here's how those picks shake out now that we know the Draft order: https://t.co/z6iIXLfoGl pic.twitter.com/UE631pueiO

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 7, 2023

Some of the other prospects MLB Pipeline projects to go in the top five are:

• Nick Kurtz 1B, Wake Forest
• Travis Bazzana 2B, Oregon State
• Chase Burns RHP, Wake Forest
• Jac Calglianone 1B/RHP, Wake Forest

Guardians fans should keep a close eye on all of these players over the next few months.