Reds Rumors: Are Cincinnati's 2024 first-round pick plans becoming clearer?

When it was revealed in the 2024 MLB Draft lottery that the Cincinnati Reds would be picking second overall this year, the pressure was immediately on for the front office to get this pick right. Top draft pick spots like this one are precious and provide a unique opportunity to completely change the direction of the franchise ... or to look like total fools if one messes it up.

While the Reds are no strangers to having top 10 picks, as they have had three such picks since 2018, the last time they picked this high, they went out and selected Hunter Greene in the 2017 draft. Greene had the best pure arm talent in that draft class to be sure, but Tommy John surgery, followed by struggles with walks and home runs, have thus far kept him from reaching his lofty ceiling.

In this year's draft, Cincy faces the real possibility that their draft choice could directly impact not only their future, but their chances in the 2024 season, given how many advanced college options they will have to choose from. Numerous players have been connected to the Reds at this spot, with college bats Travis Bazzana and JJ Wetherholt, as well as flamethrower Chase Burns being among the options floated.

One name has been connected more often than the rest, though, and Baseball America's most recent mock draft (among other mocks) have the Reds going with UGA slugger Charlie Condon, who might just be able to help Cincinnati's young core sooner rather than later.

Recent MLB mock drafts seem to be settling on the Reds taking Charlie Condon second overall

While there was some fear that the Reds would overthink this pick and try to get cute with an underslot pick at No. 2 followed by multiple overslot picks later in the draft (which isn't as crazy as it sounds), passing up on one of the top college bats would probably be a mistake. From the sounds of things, the Reds favor Condon amongst those bats due to his prodigious raw power that is likely to put up very loud numbers at GABP, and it wouldn't be crazy to think that Cincinnati could try and get him to the majors this year if they are in the running late in the season.

Ultimately, everything is going to come down to money and pre-draft negotiations. It is sounding like the Guardians could go underslot at No. 1, then go wild the rest of day one to gobble up as many first round-level talents as they can get their hands on with the resulting savings. If the Reds pass on Condon and go with Bazzana, Burns, or even Jac Caglianone out of Florida, those would be perfectly defensible choices.

However, if the Reds go off-script and also try to get a player underslot at No. 2, then enter the developing bidding war over the next couple of rounds with their following picks, they could end up being disappointed, especially given the quality of players they would be passing up.

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