While college baseball may be over, there is still one more thing left before we close the book for the 2024 season. That, of course, is the MLB Draft. This year’s draft was held in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Cowtown Coliseum.
What made this year so special compared to previous years was the number of players from the Big 12 Conference that were taken in the first round. There was a total of three players that were drafted on Sunday in round one.
#7 West Virginia SS JJ Wetherholt (St. Louis Cardinals)
If you follow any Big 12 baseball at all or any MLB draft coverage during the year, then you know exactly who this man is. JJ was the Big 12 player of the year in 2023 and, unfortunately, got injured early in the season. Despite the setback, when he came back, he provided a huge boost for the Mountaineers and played a crucial role in helping them reach the Super Regionals. Unfortunately, due to his injury, a few other players went ahead of him, but that doesn’t mean that they will be better. JJ is one of the best players I have ever seen in the Big 12 Conference, and the Cardinals got a great player.
#19 Oklahoma State OF/RHP Carson Benge (New York Mets)
Is there anything this man can’t do? I am surprised that he doesn’t sell popcorn during games because he can do it all. This past season, Carson threw more than 35 innings and posted a 3.16 ERA. That alone would have gotten him drafted in the first few rounds, but the fact that he can hit as well just makes him even better. This year, Carson doubled his home run total from a year ago and had as many walks as strikeouts, which is pretty absurd.
#21 Kansas State SS Kaelen Culpepper (Minnesota Twins)
Much like JJ Wetherholt at West Virginia, there were PLENTY of eyes on Kansas State shortstop Kaelen Culpepper. He is arguably the best shortstop in the draft when it comes to his defense, and he can certainly swing the bat as well. This season, Kaelen hit .328 at the plate and had nearly 60 RBIs. He also stole 17 bases in 2024 and played a significant role in Kansas State’s postseason run, where they made it to the Super Regionals. This man will be in the big leagues someday, and I hope it is sooner rather than later.
