2024 Draft class gets early chance to take center stage at Spring Breakout
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected. Thanks to Spring Breakout,
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected.
Thanks to Spring Breakout, we don’t have to wait to see the most recent top Draft picks under a big spotlight.
This week, all 30 teams will put the best their farm systems have to offer on display and provide an early introduction to just what their scouting departments brought in last July. Of the top 36 picks from last year’s Draft, 34 are on Spring Breakout rosters and should get the chance to show what they can do on a bigger professional stage. Of the 65 players taken through the end of the second round last year, 59 of those will be on hand, 26 of whom have yet to make their professional debut.
It is one of the more exciting aspects of Spring Breakout, which is now in its second year. In last year’s inaugural edition, 54 of the top 66 players taken prior to the third round in 2023 -- and 32 of the top 36 -- were on rosters. The first pick of 26 teams played last year and it’s looking like there should be a repeat in 2025, with 28 of 30 teams sending their first selection from the 2024 Draft to their Spring Breakout games.
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
At last year’s Spring Breakout, No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes’ start was the talk of the event, facing off against former top pick Jackson Holliday. This year, Travis Bazzana has the 1-1 banner in Spring Breakout and he’ll get to face a very good Mariners squad and perhaps their 2024 first-rounder, switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje.
In addition to Cijntje being the first switch-pitcher to go to a Spring Breakout game, he’s also one of the many 2024 draftees who have yet to officially play a professional game. He’s one of nine first-round picks who haven’t made their pro debuts yet:
2. Chase Burns, RHP, Reds (No. 1/MLB No. 26)
9. Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates (No. 2/MLB No. 43)
11. Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers (No. 4/MLB No. 52)
12. Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox (No. 5/MLB No. 54)
15. Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mariners (No. 9)
23. Kellon Lindsey, SS, Dodgers (No. 8)
25. Kash Mayfield, LHP, Padres (No. 3)
26. Ben Hess, RHP, Yankees (No. 4)
29. Slade Caldwell, OF, D-backs (No. 3)
Skenes may have been a bit of an outlier as someone who “debuted” in Spring Breakout and then was in the big leagues by May, but there are a number of the top picks above who could be on a fast track and make it to the Major Leagues at some point in 2025. And then there are the college bats like Bazzana (MLB No. 10), Nick Kurtz (No. 38), Jac Caglianone (No. 22), JJ Wetherholt (No. 23) and Christian Moore (No. 67), all of whom got their feet wet in the Minors last summer and could be facing Major League pitching before too long.
Last year, 15 of the first-round picks on Spring Breakout rosters were on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. That number has been replicated on this year’s list. Six of them are currently the No. 1 prospects for their organizations, including Cam Smith (MLB No. 58), who sits atop a different system’s list than the one who drafted him after heading to the Astros from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade. Braden Montgomery is the other 2024 first-rounder going to the showcase who has already changed teams after heading to the White Sox via the Garrett Crochet deal with Boston.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLBPipeline.com. Follow him on Facebook and @JonathanMayo, and listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.
Homestand Alert: July 18-20 vs. West Michigan
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (11-10, 47-40), High-A affiliate of the Athletics, return from the All-Star Break with a three-game series against the West Michigan Whitecaps (13-8, 57-29), High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, from Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20, at Jackson® Field™. - 7:05 p.m., Friday,
Avant provides encore, triumphant Nuts enter All-Star Break
MIDLAND, Mich. – Corey Avant fired six shutout innings for the second time in a six-day span, and the Lansing Lugnuts (11-10, 47-40) used a three-run fifth inning to top the Great Lakes Loons (10-11, 44-42), 3-1, in a Sunday matinee at Dow Diamond. The Lugnuts won each of the
Nuts enjoy 9-2 rout in Midland
MIDLAND, Mich. – Grant Judkins struck out seven over five scoreless innings, Ryan Lasko and Davis Diaz homered, and the Lansing Lugnuts (10-10, 46-40) thrashed the Great Lakes Loons (10-10, 44-41), 9-2, on Saturday night at Dow Diamond. The Nuts were playing without third baseman Tommy White while the Loons
Patient Lugs outpace Loons, 6-3
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (9-10, 54-40) drew eight walks from Dodgers prospect Maddux Bruns in 2 1/3 innings, jumped out to a 5-1 lead, and topped the Great Lakes Loons (10-9, 44-40) on Friday night at Dow Diamond. Bruns, the Dodgers’ No. 20 prospect, hit Joshua Kuroda-Grauer with
Nuts split two in Great Lakes
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (8-10, 44-40) enjoyed a 10-1 rout of the Great Lakes Loons (10-8, 44-39) before dropping the nightcap 4-1, splitting a Thursday night doubleheader at Dow Diamond. In Game 1, Jared Dickey stole home in the first inning, Jonny Butler homered in the second inning,
Lugnuts/Loons postponed, doubleheader Thursday
MIDLAND, Mich. – The scheduled Wednesday evening game at Dow Diamond between the Lansing Lugnuts (7-9, 43-39) and the Great Lakes Loons (9-7, 43-38) was postponed due to wet grounds and inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a Thursday doubleheader beginning at 6:05 p.m. and
Decker HR spoils Avant gem, lifts Loons past Lugs
MIDLAND, Mich. – Corey Avant struck out six in six scoreless innings, but Cam Decker homered off Jack Mahoney to power the Great Lakes Loons (9-7, 43-38) past the Lansing Lugnuts (7-9, 43-39), 3-2, on Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. The opener of the six-game series was completed in a
Four former Lugnuts named MLB All-Stars
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and catcher Alejandro Kirk and Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd will take part in the 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, taking place on Tuesday, July 15, at Truist Park in Atlanta. Wilson, who played 23 games for
White blasts Lugnuts past Caps, 5-2
LANSING, Mich. – Tommy White broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a three-run homer to left, and the Lansing Lugnuts (7-8, 43-38) clinched a series split with the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-6, 40-40), winning 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. Jared Dickey led
Sha, Locos dice up Fort Wayne
LANSING, Mich. – Pitching in front of his father and brother, Tzu-Chen Sha pitched two-hit ball over five innings to earn his first High-A win, and the Lansing Locos (6-8, 42-38) beat las Manzanas Luchadoras de Fort Wayne (9-5, 40-39), 5-1, on a Copa de la Diversión Saturday night at
Lugnuts draw 10,527 in 4th of July loss to TinCaps
LANSING, Mich. – The Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-4, 40-38) jumped out to an early lead and doubled up the Lansing Lugnuts (5-8, 41-38), 6-3, in front of a Friday night Independence Day crowd of 10,527 at Jackson® Field™ – the largest single game crowd of the season in High-A and
Tommy White, Gage Jump to play in All-Star Futures Game
NEW YORK, NY – Lansing Lugnuts third baseman Tommy White and Opening Day starter Gage Jump will represent the Athletics’ organization at the 2025 All-Star Futures Game, with the rosters announced this morning on MLB Network. The 26th Futures Game will be played at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 12,
Mendez, TinCaps two-hit Lugs
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Miguel Mendez struck out nine batters in six scoreless innings, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (8-4, 39-38) silenced the Lansing Lugnuts (5-6, 41-36), 2-0, on a sold-out Thursday night at Parkview Field. The Lugnuts were held two hits – a Jonny Butler double in the second
Nuts overwhelm TinCaps, 8-2
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Jared Dickey smoked a pair of doubles, Casey Yamauchi and Tommy White collected three hits apiece, and the Lansing Lugnuts (5-6, 41-36) used a five-run sixth inning to cruise past the Fort Wayne TinCaps (7-4, 38-38), 8-2, on Wednesday night at Parkview Field. The Nuts and
Koenig, Fort Wayne take opener, 7-2
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In a special all-Copa match-up, las Manzanas Luchadoras de Fort Wayne (7-3, 38-37) pinned the Lansing Locos (4-6, 40-36), 7-2, on Tuesday night at Parkview Field. Fort Wayne starter Ian Koenig allowed only two hits in 6 1/3 innings – a Rodney Green, Jr. single and
Schofield-Sam promoted to Midland, Montero returns
The Lansing Lugnuts (4-5, 40-35) announced the following roster changes, in conjunction with the Athletics: - First baseman T.J. Schofield-Sam promoted to Double-A Midland - First baseman Darlyn Montero completes rehab assignment and reinstated from the 7-day Injured List The updated Lansing roster now has 29 active players. Schofield-Sam, 24,
Six-run 7th swings Nuts into series split
LANSING, Mich. – Three huge swings in the bottom of the seventh – a Ryan Lasko leadoff home run, T.J. Schofield-Sam three-run double and Tommy White two-run blast – propelled the Lansing Lugnuts (4-5, 40-35) to a 6-1 win over the Dayton Dragons (4-5, 25-49) on a sweltering Sunday afternoon
Dickey dinger dooms Dayton, 4-3
LANSING, Mich. – In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jared Dickey lifted a dramatic two-out, go-ahead two-run homer over the 23-foot right field wall, carrying the Lansing Lugnuts (3-5, 39-35) past the Dayton Dragons (4-4, 25-48), 4-3, in front of a Saturday night crowd of 6,614 at Jackson® Field™.
Dragons drum Lugs, 19-4
LANSING, Mich. – Victor Acosta and Leo Balcazar homered amid a 19-hit attack, and the Dayton Dragons (4-3, 25-47) scalded the Lansing Lugnuts (2-5, 38-35), 19-4, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Dragons have collected 56 hits and scored 48 runs in winning three of the first four games
Six-run 1st boosts Nuts to 9-7 win
LANSING, Mich. – Jared Dickey homered in a six-run first inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (2-4, 38-34) held off the Dayton Dragons (3-3, 24-47), 9-7, on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The Nuts halted Dayton’s three-game winning streak, capturing their first win after two straight losses in the six-game series.
Dragons soar past Lugnuts, 9-4
LANSING, Mich. – Carlos Sanchez tagged a three-run homer and Jose Montero pitched into the seventh inning, helping the Dayton Dragons (3-2, 24-46) beat the Lansing Lugnuts (1-4, 37-34), 9-4, on Wednesday night at Jackson® Field™. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and a HBP for the
Locos hit three homers, lose slugfest to Dayton
LANSING, Mich. – CJ Rodriguez, Casey Yamauchi and Tommy White homered – an inside-the-park home run for Yamauchi – but it was not enough to overcome a 17-hit barrage from the Dayton Dragons (2-2, 23-46), who defeated the Lansing Locos (1-3, 37-33), 13-8, on Tuesday evening at Jackson® Field™. Coming
Nuts welcome prospect tandem Lin and Sha
The Lansing Lugnuts (1-2, 37-32) announced the following roster changes, in conjunction with the Athletics: - Pitcher Nathan Dettmer is transferred to Stockton (Single-A – California League), - Pitchers Wei-En Lin and Tzu-Chen Sha received from Stockton. The updated Lansing roster now has 28 active players. A native of Kueishan,
Nuts romp behind Quad Cities' quintet of errors
DAVENPORT, IA – Jake Garland went seven innings, Davis Diaz slugged his first professional home run, and the Lansing Lugnuts (1-2, 37-32) took advantage of five errors to roll the Quad Cities River Bandits (2-1, 41-28), 10-3, on Sunday afternoon at Modern Woodmen Park. The Lugnuts piled up 16 base
Avant excels, but Bandits best Lugs in 10
DAVENPORT, IA – Corey Avant set a professional high with seven strong innings, but the Quad Cities River Bandits (2-0, 41-27) scored three runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to rally past the Lansing Lugnuts (0-2, 36-32), 4-3, on Saturday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Avant, drafted in