Tyler Paddor and Luke Wortman | @TyPaddor & @Luke_W31 | April 3, 2024

We’re back a few weeks after our first Stock Watch with almost two months of amateur baseball now in the rearview. While the list is largely the same, a few new faces almost got themselves on our list and stand to appear at some point.

To remind you of our format, each installment of “Stock Watch” will contain 10 main prospects at the forefront of consideration for the Rockies’ #3 overall selection and an additional five that are in the periphery. As the season continues to pass, we will expand this series to include players that ought to be in the mix for the Rockies second and third picks.

All stats as of April 2nd.

The Top 10:

1: Charlie Condon, 3B/OF, Georgia (Last Rank: 1) 🔥🚀

2024 Stats: .505/.619/1.185 (1.803 OPS) | 19 HR | 18.7 BB% : 10.8 K% | 90th EV: 112.3 mph

Condon’s numbers have come back to Earth (not really). While Condon is no longer threatening for a 2.000 OPS, an 1.803 mark is still otherworldly. He’s still the runaway favorite to be the number 1 pick because of a bat that looks generational, as far as college hitters go.

Condon has now made seven appearances in centerfield and 11 at third base as he looks to cement himself as more than a first baseman. Look for Condon to continue mashing and keep an eye on his walk rate which has shrunken noticeably since the start of the season.

2: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State (Last Rank: 3) 💪📈

2024 Stats: .469/.595/1.063 (1.658 OPS) | 15 HR | 22.2 BB% : 8.7 K% | 90th EV: 109.7 mph

Last Stock Watch, Bazzana was hitting .450 with 6 homers. While it may seem that those stats are hard to top, the 21-year-old Australian has done exactly that, now hitting .469 with 15 home runs on the year. If it wasn’t clear already, Bazzana is in the running for the first overall pick. There isn’t a flaw in his game as all his tools are 50-grade or better.

This year we’ve seen a huge uptick in the power profile with Bazzana boosting his exit velocity averages by substantial margins and he has already surpassed last season’s home run total. If you want to nitpick his profile, he needs to build a stronger track record against secondaries and Bazzana most likely is just a second baseman at the next level. Regardless, there’s a ton of upside with his game and the Rockies should have Bazzana near the top of their wishlist.

3: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia (Last Rank: 2) 🩼⚖️

2024 stats: .308/.438/.385 (.822 OPS) | 0 HR (1 XBH) | 18.8 BB% : 12.5 K% | 90th EV: 105.4* mph (including 2023)

Nothing has changed here as Wetherholt still hasn’t returned from an early season hamstring injury, though a return is expected this weekend. Wetherholt still has a case as the best pure hitter in this class and him dropping one spot isn’t any fault of his own but rather due to Bazzana’s power barrage.

An interesting storyline to watch here is whether the hamstring injury discourages the West Virginia staff from trotting Wetherholt out as a shortstop, a more physically taxing position.

4: Konnor Griffin, OF/RHP, Jackson Prep (MS) (Last Rank: 4) 📈🚀

2024 Stats (MaxPreps): 98 PA | .574/.724/.983 (1.708 OPS) | 5 HR | 57 SB | 32.7 BB% : 5.1 K%

Griffin continues to overpower high school competition with his outlandish tools. He’s an 80-grade runner–hence 57 steals in just a couple dozen games–with huge pop that’s shown up quite frequently. Griffin’s excellent walk rate has persisted and suggests he could in fact be an above-average hitter in the pros to make him a true elite 5-tool talent.

Griffin’s upside may be the greatest of any player in this class and he’s poised to make a run for one of the top spots by season’s end.

5: Jac Caglianone, DH/LHP, Florida (Last Rank: 5) 🐂🚩

2024 Hitting Stats: .389/.473/.752 (1.226 OPS) | 13 HR | 12.2 BB% : 9.9 K% | 90th EV: 113.8 mph

2024 Pitching Stats: 6 GS, 33.0 IP | 2.18 ERA, 1.121 WHIP | 16.4 BB% : 32.8 K% | Avg FB Velo: 94.5

What Caglianone continues to do is nearly unheard of at the collegiate level; it’s premier power on both sides of the ball with a recent outpour of home runs for the Gators superstar. While it’s mostly green flags, Caglianone’s OBP has slightly dipped and his walk rate on the mound has spiked.

Caglianone would still be a high end prospect on both sides of the ball, but to truly end up a top 2 or 3 talent, he’ll need to lessen the walks issued and continue his torrid offensive pace.

6: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M (Last Rank: 10) 🔥📈🚀

2024 Stats: .381/.515/.933 (1.448 OPS) | 16 HR | 19.4 BB% : 13.4 K% | 90th EV: 111.4 mph

We noted last time that Montgomery’s stock was rocketing up with improved plate discipline and a torrid display of power. Those trends have continued with Montgomery making a run at the D1 home run title while maintaining an OBP over .500.

The switch hitter has been one of the best fastball hitters in college baseball this year, hardly swinging and missing at any four-seamers in the zone and notching an 1.821 OPS against them. Keep an eye on his performance as a right-handed hitter; Montgomery is clearly more adept as a lefty, but he has absolutely produced from the right-side.

7: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest (Last Rank: 7) 🎯

2024 Stats: 7 GS, 43.2 IP | 2.89 ERA, 0.916 WHIP | 7.2 BB% : 49.4 K% | Avg FB Velo: 98.0 mph

Burns has continued a torrid start though his ERA has risen with him being somewhat prone to the home run. The strikeout rate is astronomical while the walk rate is now better than average.

Equipped with a fastball averaging 98 and two breaking balls with whiff rates over 60% is the stuff of nightmares for hitters. Seeing his command move in the right direction this year has Burns as a legitimate first overall candidate if he can continue at this pace.

8: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas (Last Rank: 8) 🔥📈

2024 Stats: 7 GS, 35.0 IP | 1.54 ERA, 0.743 WHIP | 7.6 BB% : 54.5 K% | Avg FB Velo: 95.5 mph

It will be a requirement for us in every Stock Watch to mention Smith’s early season dominant 17-strikeout performance against Oregon State in which he recorded the first 16 outs via the K. The lefty uses a fastball that touches 100, sitting 94-97, which he combines with his funky delivery and low slot to create an impossible angle for hitters to be comfortable with. He can throw his bat-missing mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup for strikes as well, though he has hardly thrown the changeup this year and could benefit from flashing a deeper arsenal.

There is some relief risk here as Smith’s delivery is unconventional and he does have an injury history. Regardless, it’s hard to argue against the 54.5% strikeout rate Smith is running right now. There’s a big arrow-up next to Smith’s name and he would be an intriguing option for the Rockies given his upside and high floor as a funky lefty with power stuff.

9: Seaver King, 2B/OF, Wake Forest (Last Rank: 11) ⚖️

2024 Stats: .292/.339/.508 (.847 OPS) | 6 HR | 4.6 BB% : 11.5 K% | 90th EV: 108.3 mph

King’s numbers still haven’t popped yet, but the display of his tools is absolutely apparent. King is finding his barrel with consistency and crushing the baseball with regularity, it seems like just a matter of time before a huge jump in production takes place.

King also benefits from being a somewhat unique prospect in this class. He’s capable of playing all three positions up in the middle (SS, 2B, CF), has big time raw power, and makes a lot of contact. Players like that get snatched up early.

10: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina (Last Rank: 12) 📈🚀

2024 Stats: 7 GS, 41.1 IP | 2.18 ERA, 0.895 WHIP | 7.4 BB% : 38.7 K% | Avg FB Velo: 94.4 mph

In the past two drafts, the Rockies have taken right-handed college pitchers with good command and a strong track record in the first round in Gabriel Hughes (’22) and Chase Dollander (’23). If they want to continue this trend, they don’t need to look any further than Yesavage and his power fastball-slider combo.

The East Carolina Pirate has had a strong season so far pitching to a 2.18 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 41 innings. That has been par for the course for Yesavage as he only has 1 recorded loss in his 3-year college career. He will need to keep pitching like he has been to go to the Rockies at 3rd overall, but Yesavage would be a low-risk, under-slot pick for the Rockies and could get to the big leagues fairly quickly with number 2 starter upside.

The Next 5 Up

With our top 10 covered, let’s quickly hit on the next 5 players on the cusp of breaking into the top 10, featuring a pair that just slid outside the top 10.

11: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest (Last Rank: 9) 🔁⌚

2024 Stats: .243/.460/.500 (.960 OPS) | 5 HR | 28 BB% : 16 K% | 90th EV: 106.3 mph

Kurtz has begun revitalizing his season with 4 hits–including 2 homers–and 4 walks across 4 contests since returning from a shoulder injury suffered in early March. The Wake Forest slugger started off rather cold by his standards but appears to finally be set to regain some ground on an early first round selection.

The 6-foot-5 Kurtz still has premium plate discipline and top of the line power that should have teams looking past the production gap between Kurtz and several of the other top prospects. Watch for a homer binge as Kurtz gets into his groove.

12: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina (Last Rank: 6) ⚖️

2024 Stats: .288/.420/.577 (.997 OPS) | 8 HR | 16 SB | 15.2 BB% : 27.5 K% | 90th EV: 107.3 mph

Honeycutt has started the season hitting .288 with 8 home runs. All the tools are here, but Honeycutt needs to refine them more, mainly his hit tool and plate discipline; his contact rates are below average while Honeycutt is also expanding the zone too much. Honeycutt does already have double-digit steals and is on pace for over 30 this season.

The Rockies have a history of targeting toolsy hitters and Honeycutt fits that mold. The North Carolina outfielder has true 5-tool potential and would provide a ton of defensive value for the Rockies, given the vastness of Coors Field. Honeycutt’s glove is doing a lot of the lifting for him to remain this high up but it’s doubtful the Rockies would select him with his slower start.

13: PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS (SC) (Last Rank: 13) ⌚💪

2024 Stats (MaxPreps): 24 PA | .529/.667/.823 (1.491 OPS) | 1 HR | 25 BB% : 4.2 K%

We’re still waiting to see Morlando absolutely dominate in his senior season, but he’s done enough on the prospect showcase over the last few years to have solidified top half of the first round status. It’s such a smooth swing and approach for a high schooler with the chance for plus power. Profiles like this don’t come around every year.

14: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ) (Last Rank: N/A) 🌵🔥

2024 Stats (MaxPreps): 6 GS, 28.2 IP | 0.49 ERA, 0.767 WHIP | 10.1 BB% : 62.4 K%

Another potential two-way player, Caminiti’s future is most likely on the mound. He reclassified from the 2025 class this summer and will only be 17 on draft day. On the mound, Caminiti can touch 97 from the left side along with three solid secondary pitches, showing advanced feel for spin and command of the secondaries. Caminiti has dominated high school hitters and is arguably the best high school pitcher in this class.

The command is a bit of a concern. While there’s certainly tons of risk with any high school pitcher, rarely will you see a high school lefty routinely grabbing 97 mph. The Rockies tend to play it safe, and while Caminiti certainly is not the safest of picks, he provides immense potential at a position the Rockies always need help at. 

15: Caleb Bonemer, SS, Okemos HS (MI) (Last Rank: N/A)🔥

2024 Stats Not Available via MaxPreps

Bonemer is tooled up and polished as far as high school bats go. He’s got some of the best raw power in the prep class, plus-speed, a rocket arm, and a reputation as a solid hitter. This kid could be a 5-tool shortstop and a real problem in the pros. With further performance down the stretch, Bonemer could work his way into the top-10.

On the Radar

Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State (Last Rank: N/A) 💪📈

Jordan’s power is something to behold–arguably the best in the class–but he lacks some polish as a hitter. He’s been mashing lately and figures to crack our top 15 next time.

Charlie Bates, SS, Palo Alto HS (CA) (Last Rank: N/A) 📈

At the plate, Bates employs one of if not the best-looking swings of the draft, allowing him to easily lift and barrel the ball. He’s a lock to stay at shortstop and as added strength this spring which has helped him get to more power, giving Bates legitimate 5-tool potential.

Carson Benge, OF/RHP, Oklahoma State (Last Rank: N/A) 🎯📈

Dynamic on both sides of the ball, Benge has big raw power, excellent bat to ball skills, and a good approach. His swing needs work to keep the ball off the ground but the upside is immense. On the mound, Benge sits in the mid-90s with two solid secondaries.

Jacob Cozart, C, North Carolina State (Last Rank: N/A) 📈

A polished defensive catcher, Cozart has a great approach and above average power. He’s got a chance to be a very good starting backstop and may force his way into this year’s top 10.

Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern (Last Rank: 14) ❄️

Sirota has a great approach and the ability to play a solid centerfield but the swing and miss issues are dragging his stock down, though he is beginning to see some regression back to the mean.

Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke (Last Rank: 15) 🐂🚩

A power lefty, Santucci is in the running for some of the best stuff in the draft but has struggled to find the zone regularly enough to be expected to go in the top-15.

That will wrap up our first Rockies stock watch. Keep these players in mind, but the next installment will start to get more fun as we track the progress of these players throughout the season.