The following is a paid advertisement from Rapsodo. Rapsodo is the leading provider of baseball analytics technology, offering simulators that combines high-speed cameras and radar to capture and analyze athlete performance metrics. From pitch velocity and spin rate to launch angle and exit velocity, Rapsodo’s products provide comprehensive data to help pitchers refine their mechanics, hitters improve their swings, and coaches make data-driven decisions to enhance team performance.
The 2024 MLB Draft has officially wrapped up. It featured an exciting first round live from Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, which included Travis Bazzana going first overall. MLB clubs then flew through 19 more rounds, picking the future faces of their franchise.
This year’s draft was showcased by future stars of the game from seniors in college and those grinding at the JUCO level to Rapsodo’s NIL athletes and stars from high school. It’s a reminder of the impact technology like Rapsodo is having on the next generation of baseball.
Rapsodo NIL Athletes Get Drafted in the First Round
This year, 90% of first-round picks have one thing in common: Rapsodo. Our industry-leading player development tools have been pivotal in helping these athletes fine-tune their skills.
By providing unparalleled insights into their pitching and hitting mechanics, Rapsodo has helped these players climb to the top of draft boards. The result? A first round packed with athletes poised to make an impact in the majors.
Chase Burns – RHP (1st Round, 2nd Pick)
Burns was the first of Rapsodo’s NIL athletes to be drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft and it didn’t take long. The Wake Forest pitcher was picked up by the Cincinnati Reds with the second overall pick of the draft.
Chase was originally projected as the sixth best prospect by MLB Pipeline, so the jump to No. 2 was a pleasant surprise. The 6’4” right-handed pitcher led all of D1 Baseball with 191 strikeouts, 30 K’s more than the next closest pitcher.
With his signature fastball that tops out at 101 MPH and a spin rate of 2,700 RPMs, he also mixes in a slider, curveball, and circle changeup into his pitch arsenal.
Jac Caglianone – TWP (1st Round, 6th Pick)
Drawing comparisons to Shohei Ohtani as the next great two-way player, Jac Caglianone was the sixth overall pick of the draft, getting picked by the Kansas City Royals.
The LHP/1B combo can touch 100 MPH on the mound and 115+ MPH off the bat. He hit 68 home runs over his last two seasons at Florida which included a stretch of hitting a home run in nine straight games, tying an NCAA record.
As a pitcher the lefty struck out 170 through 34 appearances (148 1/3 innings) across his three years in Gainesville.
The Royals will allow him to start his MLB career as a two-way player.
Vance Honeycutt – OF (1st Round, 22nd Pick)
Honeycutt is a five-tool player out of North Carolina and was taken by the Baltimore Orioles with their first round selection.
As one of the best defensive outfielders in this year’s draft, the former Tar Heel helped lead his team to the College World Series, including a walk-off hit in the opening game against Virginia.
Vance finished his career in Chapel Hill with 65 HRs and 76 stolen bases. Honeycutt slashed .318/.410/.714 this season with 28 HRs and 28 stolen bases, ranking 1st and 3rd in the ACC.
Blake Burke – 1B (CB-A, 34th Pick)
The biggest jump made by a Rapsodo athlete in the MLB Draft was Blake Burke. The first baseman, originally projected 66th by MLB, was taken with the 34th overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.
The power hitter was part of the College World Series champions Tennessee Volunteers, hitting 50 home runs in his time at Knoxville, which ranks second all-time.
Burke made a huge contribution to the Volunteers championship season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. He batted .379 with 108 hits, 20 home runs and 61 RBIs – all of which were career bests.
Brody Brecht – RHP (CB-A, 36th Pick)
As a two-sport athlete playing for Iowa baseball and football, Brecht decided to focus on baseball this season. The decision paid off for the Ankeny native, as he was picked by the Colorado Rockies.
His pitch arsenal consists of a four-seam fastball that reached 104 MPH this year. He also has a sweeper and a slider that is potentially his best pitch, getting up to 91 MPH.
Get Drafted with Rapsodo
At Rapsodo, our mission is to give athletes everywhere the tools they need to play like never before. By delivering precise, real-time data, we enable players and coaches to make informed decisions that lead to significant improvements. The 2024 MLB Draft is a testament to the power of our technology.
For pitchers and hitters alike, Rapsodo’s advanced analytics provide the data, data visualization, video replay and more to help develop players, create a more competitive environment, and advance recruiting / getting the next level.
Join the ranks of the next generation of baseball and get drafted with Rapsodo.
If you’re interested in learning about our new PRO 2.0 product and taking your game to the next level, email playerdevelopment@rapsodo.com and let our team of experts walk you through our products.
