Charlie Condon brings the power the Rockies need.

He became the third overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft when the Rockies selected the right-handed hitter out of Georgia on Sunday. It broke a trend that saw the club take 14 pitchers in 20 picks last season and pitchers with its top pick in back-to-back drafts.

Condon is the first position player the club has taken with its first pick since Benny Montgomery in 2021. The 6-foot-6 slugger led the nation with 37 home runs this season and set the BBCOR-Era record after originally joining the Bulldogs as a walk-on. He brought the power with a 41-to-57 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .433 average.

“He changes the whole dynamic of a ballgame,” Senior Director of Scouting Operations Marc Gustafson said. “He hit some homers to dead center that would bring you off your chair if you’re sitting behind the plate scouting a ballgame.”

He brings a skill set that saw him play five positions as a junior in 2024 — all three outfield spots and each infield corner.

It helped him earn the Golden Spikes Award, Dick Howser Trophy and the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award. He also beat out Jeff Pyburn for the highest draft pick in Georgia’s program history.

The Rockies also took Iowa right-handed pitcher Brody Brecht with the 38th pick and Texas outfielder Jared Thomas with the 42nd.

Condon is the prize of the group after a standout career at Georgia that saw him become the third player in NCAA history to lead the nation in average and home runs in the same season. He joins Todd Helton (eighth overall in 1995) and Troy Tulowitzki (seventh overall in 2005) as the only college hitters taken in the top 10 by Colorado.

“That’s the kind of guy who has a chance to change the face of an organization,” Assistant General Manager of Scouting Danny Montgomery said. “It was a no-brainer. We would’ve been happy with any of the other four guys we had (ranked high), but this one was special.”

The Rockies had their second-lowest full-season home run total in franchise history in 2022 (149) and tied for their ninth-worst in 2023 (163). The latter was part of the franchise’s only 100-plus-loss season.

Condon will join a farm system that features nine hitters in its top-10 prospect rankings. Top prospect Chase Dollander is the only pitcher in the bunch.

Rockies Draft Breakout Box

3. 3B/1B/OF Charlie Condon (Georgia)

Condon brings plenty of hardware with him to Colorado. The Rockies’ first-round pick hit a BBCOR-Era record 37 home runs and led the nation with a .433 average. The 6-foot-6 former walk-on played all three outfield spots and both infield corners with the Bulldogs.

38. RHP Brody Brecht (Iowa)

Two sports became one for Brody Brecht with the Hawkeyes. He played receiver in football until his final year when he stuck to baseball and showed off a fastball that reached triple digits and a wipeout slider.

Brecht is raw and walked 110 hitters in his final two years (155 ⅓ innings) at Iowa but could develop into a rotation piece or back-of-the-bullpen arm eventually. He had a 3.33 ERA in 2024.

42. 1B/OF Jared Thomas (Texas)

Jared Thomas brought a mature mindset to the plate and showcased multiple tools with the Longhorns. He hit .349 from the left side and stole 18 bases without being caught.

The 6-foot-2 Texan has plus speed, contact skills, and a good arm. At 190 pounds, he also figures to fill out in Colorado’s minor leagues and drew comparisons to a young Charlie Blackmon.