Author: Tim Dierkes

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.

This is a sponsored post from BetterHelp.  As a BetterHelp affiliate, MLB Trade Rumors receives compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

As society’s knowledge of mental health grows, more treatment opportunities are available to a more significant number of people living with mental health challenges. One such option is online therapy, which allows individuals to receive mental health support from a device with an internet connection from any location.

What Is BetterHelp?

BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that works with a database of over 30,000 counselors, therapists, social workers, and psychologists from all 50 US states and some countries worldwide. This platform aims to break down barriers that often keep people from seeking help, such as financial burdens, a rural location with limited options for therapy, or a lack of accessibility in one’s area.

Understanding BetterHelp

BetterHelp may work differently than meeting with a traditional therapist. Below are some ways individuals can use online therapy via this service.

Signing Up

Signing up for BetterHelp often takes a few minutes. The initial sign-up process is a questionnaire which asks prospective clients about the following:

• Reasons for seeking therapy and goals
• The individual’s diagnosis or mental health challenge
• Therapist gender preferences
• Whether they’d like to meet with an LGBTQ+, Black, or Asian therapist
• Preferences for individual, couples, or teen therapy
• Gender, age, sexuality (optional), pronouns, and relationship status
• Spiritual identity
• Past experience in therapy
• Intimacy challenges
• Substance use habits

After filling out the questionnaire, which may take around five to ten minutes, prospective clients will be directed to fill out their name, email, and password. Then, they will be sent to the payment page, where they can choose a plan. After the payment has been processed, it often takes around 48 hours for a therapist to be matched with them.

Payment

BetterHelp plans are charged monthly for four weeks of therapy. The overall monthly cost covers four sessions with the therapist (one per week) and access to all of BetterHelp’s other resources, such as support groups and classes. Cost ranges from $65 to $100 per week, which can be more affordable than traditional therapy.

The match process

Therapists are matched with clients based on the client’s responses to the questionnaire upon signing up. The only limitation is that a therapist must be licensed to practice in the state the client lives in to be able to work with them. Clients can change providers at any time for any reason.

Using the platform

Individuals can log in through the app or website to use the BetterHelp platform. There, they can find their messages with their therapist, a journaling feature, options to schedule appointments, and extra resources. Through the settings section, clients can check their billing information, change their therapist, and edit their profile. Weekly sessions with a therapist can be held via phone, video, or live chat, all through the app or website.

Extra resources

BetterHelp offers resources that might not be offered by in-person providers, such as the following:

• Weekly support groups
• Online classes by mental health experts
• Goal tracking options
• Journaling and journal prompts
• Worksheets

All features are included in the platform’s weekly price, so clients can access them without paying extra.

BetterHelp’s outreach

BetterHelp works with the broader community to offer support to non-profit organizations and individuals in need. They have given over 65 million dollars in discounts and financial aid to cover therapy for low-income individuals and donated over 95,000 months of free therapy to communities in need. BetterHelp partners with over 100 non-profit organizations.

Who might benefit from an online therapy platform?

Online therapy is often more flexible and convenient than in-person options. This option might benefit people with a busy schedule, such as parents, full-time workers, and athletes, who may not have the time to commute to an extra appointment. Many of the most evidence-based modalities, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), are available online.

Is online therapy effective?

Since 2021, four out of ten US adults have used this option. One study reported that over 71% of participants believed it was more effective than face-to-face therapy. Another study found that online therapy often led to increased quality of life for clients with anxiety and depression and was more affordable.

Takeaway

By seeking support online, financial, locational, and accessibility barriers can be removed, allowing more people to receive the support they seek. To get started, consider working with a platform like BetterHelp.