2024 MLB Draft Preview: HBCU Baseball Prospects

If one thing is clear about the 2024 draft now that we’ve put out our potential prospects rankings, it’s that the HBCU baseball class is ready… especially at the top.

Some of the HBCU players are two-way players, so it’s hitting/pitching/fielding-focused as well. A lot will change between now and the draft in July, but if you’re thinking that having HBCU baseball players ready to hear their names called, you’re not wrong.

Some of the players on this list will receive invitation to the MLB Draft League. The 2024 MLB Draft League season will be split into two halves with the first half set to begin Tuesday, June 4, and conclude Saturday, July 13. The second half will start Thursday, July 18, and finish Thursday, September 5.

The Draft League helps elevate a player’s status in front of scouts and more importantly, all 32 Major League Baseball General Managers who will be on hand to evaluate and sign players.

Major League Baseball teams have always welcomed a new crop of talented HBCU players to their organizations. This summer at the 2024 MLB draft won’t be any different. The MLB in the last four years have taken pitchers, expect that trend to continue.

Potential HBCU Baseball draft report candidates include:

1. Lincoln University (PA) Hilbert Nina De Leon (RHP) has wipeout stuff on the mound. Paired with low to mid 90’s fastball, his slider poses a difficult at bat for any hitter.
2. Virginia State University RHP Joseph Hastings 3.4 ERA, has 90-plus stuff. Hastings will again be the ace after a impressive season last season as well as a summer in the Coastal Plain League.
3. Kentucky State University 1B Joe Esparza hits for power to all fields which includes gap to gap deep hits. This is evidence by his 17 doubles, 16 home runs, 73 runs batted, .428 batting average. Lit up to NCAA Division II 90-plus pitching.
4. Alabama State University INF Randy Flores recorded 36 steals in 44 attempts while belting 10 home runs, and 54 runs driven in. Led SWAC in stolen bases (38/5th NCAA) and ranked second as toughest to strikeout (15.2/10th NCAA).
5. Alabama State University 1B Jack Hay Jack Hay 85 hits in 56 games, 10 home runs, and 61 runs driven. Has power to all fields.
6. North Carolina A&T State University C Canyon Brown Has a strong arm behind the plate, hits for contact but has pop off the bat. A collegiate catcher who has proven to driving in runs. Brings excellent defense and paints the strike zone for outs.
7. Bethune Cookman University Irvin Escobar appeared in 43 contests for the Wildcats and started in 35. Finished the season with a .331 batting average with 41 total hits in 124 at-bats with 3 home runs, 9 doubles, drove in 31 runs, and scored 25 runs. Picked up 290 put-outs and 40 assists with a .991 fielding percentage as a catcher. Threw out 14 of 17 runners attempting to steal. 
8. Benedict College OF/RHP Jamel Mitchell Jr. Led the NCAA in stolen bases per game in 2023. He has 97 career steals in two seasons 2022 HBCU Baseball All-Elites. Would be a good lead-off hitter for a major league team.
9. Clark Atlanta University INF Kentavious Veal who led the team in almost every offensive category (batting average, hits, stolen bases, on base percentage, base on balls and runs). Another HBCU Baseball Elite.
10. Coppin State University RHP Reagan Rivera throws hard with command of his pitches. Consistent in the strike zone, velocity 93-95. Draft eligible talent.
11. Coppin State University RHP Giovanni Canales another Coppin State guy throwing 92-94. OF Brody Black (brother of Tyler Black top minor leaguer with Milwaukee Brewers) hit 3 home runs with 32 runs batted in, 16 stolen bases, and OF Ricky Jones 6.4 runner with power to all fields.
12. Albany State University RHP Landon Kiefer consistently using every square inch of the strike zone with pitch control, fast ball 88-90 tops out at 92. Last year 2.06 earn run average, 9-2, 12-12 (Appearance/Games started), 3 shutouts, 76 strikeouts in 74.1 innings pitched.
13. Prairie View A&M University RHP Michael Dews is a 6’6 who dons a 5 pitch mix that can easily be thrown in any count. Pitched in the Ken Griffey Swingman Classic in Seattle last year during the MLB All-Star weekend. Has plus arm speed, routinely shows a 87-91 mph sinker, up to 93 mph in the fall of 2023. Dews also possesses a power downer curb ball that has plus spin and sharp, late action. His number 1 pitch is his split finger and can command to both sides of the plate.
14. Prairie View A&M University RHP Camden Farmer a transfer Farmer is a 6’8 RHP who has an extra large, strong build, physical presence on the mound. Long  online delivery, long arm action with plus leverage and whip coming through, high arm slot, arm works very well, shows athleticism in his delivery. Low to Mid 90’s fastball, topped out at 98 mph, gained velocity throughout his fall mostly straight with occasional cut and ride.

The MLB Draft will take place during the 2024 MLB All-Star Week. MLB All-Star week begins on Sunday, July 14 and the game is on Tuesday, July 16.

The draft will take place in Arlington, Texas, as Globe Life Field hosts the MLB All-Star Game. The draft is 20 rounds over three days with Round 1 and 2 on Day 1, 3-10 on Day 2 and the rest on Day 3.

The MLB Draft Order:

1. Cleveland Guardians
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Oakland A’s
5. Chicago White Sox
6. Kansas City Royals
7. St. Louis Cardinals
8. Los Angeles Angels
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
10. Washington Nationals
11. Detroit Tigers
12. Boston Red Sox
13. San Francisco Giants
14. Chicago Cubs
15. Seattle Mariners
16. Miami Marlins
17. Milwaukee Brewers
18. Tampa Bay Rays
19. New York Mets
20. Toronto Blue Jays
21. Minnesota Twins
22. Baltimore Orioles
23. Los Angeles Dodgers
24. Atlanta Braves
25. San Diego Padres
26. New York Yankees
27. Philadelphia Phillies
28. Houston Astros
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
30. Texas Rangers
31. Arizona Diamondbacks
32. Baltimore Orioles
33. Minnesota Twins
34. Baltimore Orioles
35. Arizona Diamondbacks
36. Cleveland Guardians
37. Pittsburgh Pirates
38. Colorado Rockies
39. Kansas City Royals