December 15, 2024

2025 MLB Draft, MLB Draft

2025 MLB Mock Draft 1.0: A Test in Futility

December 15, 2024

2025 MLB Draft, MLB Draft

The MLB Draft Lottery has come and gone, clarifying how teams will prepare for the draft in July. This means we can finally start throwing our darts at the board and hoping we hit the bullseye. It’s a practice in futility this far out, but it’s a fun activity that will give readers an idea of what we think is happening at this stage.

While the idea of going through to pick 43 is enticing, we’ve opted to stick with the first 27 picks. The reason for this is simple: the Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers will drop ten spots due to luxury tax penalties. Picks 28-32 will consist of compensation picks for qualifying offers and PPI, though those picks aren’t set in stone yet except for the PPI pick to the Royals and the compensation pick to the Brewers for Willy Adames. There will be intriguing draft strategies, as the Rays, Brewers, and Orioles will have three picks in the top 50, though it’s too far out to piece names together for this. We hope you enjoy this mock, which is free to the public!

1. Washington nationals - OF Jace Laviolette, Texas A&M

2. Los Angeles Angels - LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State

3. Seattle Mariners - SS Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton (OK)

4. Colorado Rockies - 3B Ethan Holliday, Stillwater (OK)

5. St. Louis Cardinals - RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara

6. Pittsburgh Pirates - OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson

7. Miami Marlins - SS Billy Carlson, Corona (CA)

8. Toronto Blue Jays - 3B/OF Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon (WA)

9. Cincinnati Reds - C Ike Irish, Auburn

10. Chicago White Sox - RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona (CA)

11. Sacramento Athletics - SS Kayson Cunningham, Johnson (TX)

12. Texas Rangers - OF Devin Taylor, Indiana

13. San Francisco Giants - OF Ethan Conrad, Wake Forest

14. Tampa Bay Rays - OF Brendan Summerhill, Arizona

15. Boston Red Sox - C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina

16. Minnesota Twins - SS Aiva Arquette, Oregon State

17. Chicago Cubs - LHP/1B Kruz Schoolcraft, Sunset (OR)

18. Arizona Diamondbacks - 3B/OF Tre Phelps, Georgia

19. Baltimore Orioles - SS Brady Ebel, Corona (CA)

20. Milwaukee Brewers - LHP Cameron Appenzeller, Glenwood (IL)

21. Houston Astros - C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina

22. Atlanta Braves - RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma

23. Kansas City Royals - 3B/OF Andrew Fischer, Tennessee

24. Detroit Tigers - SS Dean Curley, Tennessee

25. San Diego Padres - OF Slater De Brun, Summit (OR)

26. Philadelphia Phillies - OF Dean Moss, IMG Academy (FL)

27. Cleveland Guardians - SS Marek Houston, Wake Forest

Peyton Sower

November 3, 2024

2025 MLB Draft, College Baseball, MLB Draft

2025 MLB Draft: Top 75 Collegiate Prospects Conference Breakdowns - ACC

Peyton Sower

November 3, 2024

2025 MLB Draft, College Baseball, MLB Draft

We recently released our top 75 college prospects, and throughout the fall, we have been bringing you some of the top prospects within each conference. For this edition, we will dive into some of the top prospects across the ACC.

Florida State leads the ACC with three prospects, and Clemson, Virginia, North Carolina, and Wake Forest are all tied with two. Below are the top ACC players who ranked in the Top 75.

Full Top 75 List: https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2024/9/21/2025-mlb-draft-top-75-collegiate-prospects

HITTERS

CAM CANNARELLA, OF - clemson

Prospects Live Ranking - #2

One of the most balanced profiles in the class, it is incredibly difficult to not like Cannarella. A former infielder turned outfielder; he flashes exceptional defense along with above-average instincts to balls off the bat. The spray chart is balanced, having the stable approach to drive the baseball to all sides of the field while backing a .337/.417/.561 slash line in 2024. He's got incredible eyes and awareness, setting the offensive tone and influencing the at-bat for the rest of the Clemson lineup. Cannarella's whiff rates are quite attractive as well, specifically 13% vs fastballs and 9% vs sliders this past season while showcasing some of the best zone contact rates in Division I at 91%. The chase rates, however, went up a touch, though not a cause for concern going into 2025. Anticipate Cam to be flashier in 2025 thanks to a healthy right labrum while staying true to his established identity.

HENRY FORD, OF/1B - virginia

Prospects Live Ranking - #8

Coming off an incredible freshman campaign, Ford will look to become the centerpiece of Virginia's 2025 offense. Listed at 6'5" and 220 pounds, Ford showcases impressive bat-to-ball skills with an 87% zone contact rate with swift hands through the zone. He sees off-speed very well, hitting .349/.425/.651 with 9 of his 17 total home runs coming against them. The operation isn't sexy, but it certainly performs. Ford has proven his ability to drive the baseball to all parts of the field, but his power to the pull side is well above-average. Playing 56 of his 58 games defensively at first base, Henry displays sufficient defensive skills with good instincts when the ball is put in play, as he committed only three errors in 2024. That said, Henry mentioned to our Monty Taylor how he plans to play right field for the Cavaliers in 2025, making the transition from infield to outfield an intriguing follow to keep tabs on. Ultimately, it will come down to Ford's offensive prowess that determines how high he gets drafted this coming July.

LUKE STEVENSON, C - north carolina

Prospects Live Ranking - #10

A draft eligible sophomore, Stevenson has been a force to be reckoned with since joining the Tar Heels. From an offensive standpoint, it's a physical presence, premier bat speed, and all sorts of advanced batted ball data. Across all of Division I, Stevenson finished in or above the 90th percentile in hard hit rate, barrel rate, average exit velocity, and slugging percentage in 2024. Furthermore, Luke was very efficient against fastballs as he hit .303 with a .969 OPS this past spring. Although having 55 strikeouts, Stevenson led North Carolina with 48 walks, demonstrating his plate discipline and feel for the strike zone. Behind the dish, Luke is an excellent receiver with proficient framing skills while being an established blocker, especially as the season progresses. Though he threw out 20% of baserunners, he is not afraid to back-pick baserunners to keep them honest. Stevenson holds one of the highest baseball IQs in this incoming class, understanding situations and not allowing critical moments in a game overwhelm him. He checks just about all the boxes for teams considering him in the 2025 MLB Draft, and another successful season will establish him as a sure first-round pick.

ETHAN CONRAD, OF - wake forest

Prospects Live Ranking - #11

After a phenomenal summer in the Cape, Ethan Conrad will look to carry that momentum with his new program at Wake Forest. During his two seasons at Marist College, Conrad ended with a .359/.425/.587 slash line while gathering 54 extra base hits and 239 total bases. Obviously impressive, even more so considering he did that before turning 20 years of age. In the box, it’s a quiet operation with an advanced feel of the strike zone, evidenced by his low 8% whiff rate. This past season with Marist, Ethan did incredibly well against fastballs, hitting .405 against them and recording 8 of his 9 triples off that pitch. As previously mentioned, Conrad dominated in the Cape League, earning All-Star honors with Bourne and finishing with a .385 batting average and 19 stolen bases. Defensively, Conrad still has room to grow, as he currently possesses an average arm and showcases plus range thanks to his speed. That said, he is set to start in right field for Wake this Spring with the ability to transition to center if the arm improves. It’s a fun profile with day one potential; with improved defensive skills, it could easily translate into a lottery pick.

HENRY GODBOUT, INF - virginia

Prospects Live Ranking - #15

Arguably the most proven hit tool in the ACC, Henry Godbout will look to guide Virginia to Omaha for the third consecutive season. The bat to ball skills are incredibly appealing, with a 92% zone contact rate and a .443 BABIP. He was one of the top hitters in the country against fastballs, ending 2024 with just a 5% whiff rate against them. Nearly all of his extra-base hits were to his pull side (22 of 28), so I’m curious to see if he becomes more balanced in 2025. One of the top hitters against velocity, Godbout hit .500 off pitches 92 MPH or harder with just a 3% whiff rate. Defensively, he looks to be the everyday man at second base for Brian O’Connor while flirting with some opportunities to play shortstop over the course of next season. Godbout displays solid range and instincts, along with proficient arm strength on the diamond. Don't expect him to steal many bases, if any, in 2025, despite his average speed. Overall, Godbout is one of the most polished hitters in this upcoming draft class, expect him to be a key catalyst for the Cavaliers, who have a deep lineup from top to bottom.

MAREK HOUSTON, SS - wake forest

Prospects Live Ranking - #21

Marek Houston was one of the standout offensive breakouts this past season, establishing himself as one of the most refined bats in the 2025 class. As the leadoff man for Wake, Houston displays a plus eye at the plate with the ability to spray the ball to all fields. His whiff rates dropped significantly from his freshman to sophomore season, and he posted one of the nation's top zone contact rates at 93%. Perhaps the best aspect of his game is his defense. Houston has a plus arm and great range for the position that will keep him at shortstop come pro ball. Over the recent summer, he played for Bourne in the Cape Cod League, where he stood out with a .306 batting average across 27 games and earned a spot as an All-Star. His power is below average, though with adding roughly 10 pounds of weight, expect to see a jump in the extra base hits this coming season.

KANE KEPLEY, OF - north carolina

Prospects Live Ranking - #52

A late transfer addition for Coach Scott Forbes, North Carolina adds one of the most stable players available in Kane Kepley. Producing a .330/.482/.521 slash line for Liberty this past season, Kepley has incredible ability to make contact and spray the baseball to all fields. Most of his extra base hits were hit to his pull side, though don’t expect much from a power standpoint with him. Kepley’s strengths are both his on-base skills and speed, as he drew 53 walks against just 27 strikeouts while swiping 25 bags in 2024. He has sufficient defensive instincts in both center and right field though having a fringe arm. Kepley played this past summer in the Cape with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, earning All Star honors thanks to a .449 on base percentage and swiping over 20 bags in 38 games played. Kepley will be an intriguing prospect to follow this spring, as he will be set to face tougher competition in the ACC while aiming to keep both his contact and whiff rates consistent with 2024.

DREW FAUROT, SS - Florida state

Prospects Live Ranking - #65

Faurot started his career at UCF before transferring to Florida State where he’s been nothing short of impressive. The Tallahassee native is a switch hitter that has the ability to play both positions up the middle. Hitting .286 with 19 doubles in 59 games, Faurot was a vital contributor for Florida State over the course of their momentous season. He’s far more successful as a left-handed hitter, with a batting average of .314, compared to just .214 from the right side. Faurot possesses decent bat speed and batted ball data, having a max exit velocity of 109 MPH in 2024. Though his contact rates are fine, his pitch recognition skills could be improved, specifically against off-speed. His defense has gotten better over his collegiate career, as well as his range up the middle when balls are hit in the pockets. Expect Faurot’s offensive numbers to be a tick better while playing a healthy amount of both second base and shortstop for the Seminoles in 2025.

MAX WILLIAMS, OF - Florida state

Prospects Live Ranking - #66

After transferring from Alabama following the 2023 season, Max Williams has found a new home at Florida State. The Michigan native hit .311 with 30 extra base hits in 64 games played. The main strength in his game is consistently making hard contact as he had a max exit velocity of 114.2 MPH this past spring. The operation is unique, specifically a low bent stance with quiet hands and a small leg kick. Though with a 72% contact rate, there is clear room for improvement regarding his swing decisions. The strikeouts are also a slight concern, as he had the second most on Florida State’s offense last season. Defensively, there are a lot of things Williams does well. He has a great arm and has strong instincts to balls both in the air and on a line. He is a smart baserunner, though he’s an average runner and not expected to steal many bases, as he had five in 2024. Overall, Williams is an exciting player; if the strikeouts can come down a touch, he ranks among the premier outfielders in the ACC, if not already.

CLAY GRADY, SS - Virginia tech

Prospects Live Ranking - #71

A career .323 hitter for Virginia Tech, Clay Grady will look to carry his success into year three as their starting shortstop. It’s a simple operation in the box; a short and compact swing with above-average bat speed. Grady features above-average contact and whiff rates, along with exceptional fastball recognition, as evident by his 7% whiff rate against the pitch. Though having only 10 collegiate extra base hits, he can work counts and reach base quite often. The most exciting part about Grady’s game though is his defense. He can field on the run throwing from various arm slots while playing with an elite internal clock; it’s so fun to watch. Although Grady hit in various spots in the lineup last season, expect him to be at the top for Virginia Tech, setting the offensive tone for Garrett Michel and company this spring.

KYLE LODISE, INF - Georgia tech

Prospects Live Ranking - #72

Regarded as one of the more notable transfers this recent cycle, Kyle Lodise shifted from Division II Augusta University to join Georgia Tech. He was arguably the best hitter in the Peach Belt Conference in 2024, slashing .369/.498/.693 with 14 home runs. A twitchy athlete, Lodise can play anywhere in the infield. He’s a great defender, quick to react to the baseball, and maintains a strong internal clock while doing so. A plus runner as well, Lodise stole 44 bags in 50 attempts during his two-year career at Augusta. Over this past summer, Lodise played with the Chatham Anglers in the Cape. In 37 games, he finished with a .239/.394/.358 line with seven extra base hits. The key question regarding Lodise is whether he can consistently adapt to the quality of pitching in the ACC. If so, he and Drew Burress could formulate one of the most feared tandems in the ACC.

LUKE GAFFNEY, 1B/C - clemson

Prospects Live Ranking - #74

After earning Big 10 Freshman of the Year honors in 2024, Gaffney entered the transfer portal to join Coach Eric Bakich and the Clemson Tigers. The strength of Gaffney’s game is centered around his offensive firepower. Last season with Purdue, he finished with an impressive .359/.449/.646 slash line, hitting over 30 extra-base hits across 53 games. Additionally, he ranked at or above the 90th percentile in exit velocity, barrel rate, hard hit rate, and slugging percentage among all Division I hitters. He displays plus power with the consistent ability to show it to all fields. Playing this past summer with Falmouth in the Cape, Gaffney hit .276 with 29 hits. Gaffney primarily played first base for Purdue in 2024, displaying above-average defense as he only committed one error. It will be fun to follow his success with Clemson this year as he joins Cam Cannarella to bring stability to an already talented lineup, positioning them as one of the top preseason teams in the ACC.

PITCHERS

JAMIE ARNOLD, LHP - Florida state

Prospects Live Ranking - #5

Arguably the best left-handed pitcher in this year's college class, Jamie Arnold is set to guide Florida State to a second straight trip to Omaha. Arnold was the most dominant pitcher in the ACC not named Chase Burns, finishing top five in strikeouts (159), innings pitched (105.2), earned run average (2.98), and batting average against (.224). Arnold currently attains two plus pitches with a mid-90's sinker and sweepy slider that attacks hitters with his 4.5" release height. Believe it or not, the sinker plays better up in the zone while producing an average of 17" of arm-side run as well as a 31% whiff rate. The slider is devastating, producing one of the highest whiff rates among qualified starters at 41%, with an average horizontal break of 12 inches. Arnold occasionally throws a mid-80's changeup as a third offering but lacks command with the pitch. There is still plenty to value about Jamie, both in his abilities on the mound as well as his physical attributes, making him likely to be one of the first picks selected in the upcoming 2025 draft.

Jamie Arnold is such a fun, fun arm.

Struck out nine across five innings last night, racking up 15 whiffs. FB command was iffy at times, sitting 90-94 with a ton of arm-side run from a low release. Mid-80s SL was the best pitch, tons of bite and sweep. Flashed CH. Top 2025 arm. pic.twitter.com/8lsQ4phzuy
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 27, 2024

CAM LEITER, RHP - florida state

Prospects Live Ranking - #13

While only making seven starts for Florida State in 2024, there's a ton of fascination with Leiter. From a data standpoint, the arsenal is top tier. Starting off with his best pitch, the four-seam fastball. Leiter finished in the 99th percentile amongst all Division I for fastball velocity, throwing 63% of them for strikes. His main off-speed pitch is the curveball, having the ability to create impressive depth and held opponents to a .071 batting average last spring. He follows that up with an upper 80s slider that has a short shape but eventually became his go-to pitch for generating swings and misses. Leiter also possesses a changeup that he should arguably throw more but gives left-handed hitters something else to think about. Given his arsenal along with a whiff rate in the 98th percentile and a strikeout rate in the 99th percentile, Leiter has the potential to develop into a power starter for years to come. That said, it's important to mention that Leiter recently underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to miss a significant portion of the upcoming 2025 season.

MATT SCOTT, RHP - stanford

Prospects Live Ranking - #31

The lone Stanford Cardinal on this list, Matt Scott attains some of the most electric stuff in this draft class. Listed at 6’7 and 247 pounds, it’s immense aura on the mound. His pitch arsenal is highlighted by a mid-90s fastball, ranking in the 95th percentile in velocity amongst Division I, that produces a ton of induced vertical break. It’s been up to 98 and produces a ton of swing and miss when up in the zone. Scott’s main off-speed offering is the slider. It’s a plus pitch with some sweep as well as short depth, making it highly effective against right-handed hitters. Scott also throws a split-change with good tumbling action, achieving a 48% whiff rate against lefties in 2024. A member of the USA Collegiate National Team, Scott was very impressive holding opposing hitters to a .205 average while throwing 65% strikes. From a stuff and physicality standpoint, Scott has the ideal profile. Expect him to be the lead horse of a deep and talented Stanford pitching staff.

PATRICK FORBES, RHP - louisville

Prospects Live Ranking - #59

Patrick Forbes is another intriguing arm for the 2025 draft. Though only logging 29 innings for Louisville last spring, Forbes has premium arm strength on the mound. It’s no secret, he goes after hitters with his fastballs as he threw it 77% of the time in 2024. Forbes’s four-seam fastball is violent, ranking 97th percentile in velocity as well as the 98th percentile in spin rate amongst all Division I. It ranges from 92-95, topping out at 97, that generates both run and ride. Forbes also incorporates a two-seam fastball that gets more sink inducing weak contact and is tough for batters to get their barrel around. His best off-speed pitch is an upper 70’s slider, a plus offering that generates tremendous sweep. It’s one of the best sliders in the ACC, producing a 41% whiff rate and holding opposing hitters to a .143 average. Forbes also throws an upper 80’s changeup to lefties, though it’s not often and lacks consistency with the pitch. A member of the Brewster Whitecaps this past summer, he pitched just over 13 innings, recording 22 strikeouts and limiting hitters to a .167 batting average. Anticipate Forbes to step another step forward in 2025 that would make him a compelling name to follow for the 2025 draft.

Brian Switzer

August 30, 2024

2025 MLB Draft, Cape Cod League, College Baseball, Live Looks, MLB Draft

Switz Report: Recap Cape Cod "Best of the Best" Prospects

Brian Switzer

August 30, 2024

2025 MLB Draft, Cape Cod League, College Baseball, Live Looks, MLB Draft

Summer baseball is in our rearview mirror, and we are a few weeks away from the start of fall ball for college baseball, with athletes returning to school and ramping back up for the next season. It’s been a while since I have contributed to the site. A large portion of that is due to my commitment over the summer to the Cape Cod Baseball League, as I was given the privilege and honor of helping the league this summer (an opportunity that I was unaware of when I first started Prospects Live and a change in course I had to make regarding previous promises I had made with readers earlier in my articles). Due to this, the inevitable occurred, and I had the time to watch a lot of college baseball over the 10-week Cape season. During my time up in the Cape, I had the ability to keep a close eye and get some early live looks for the upcoming 2025 draft class and top dudes eligible for the 2026 and 2027 classes.

For the next few weeks, I look forward to treating many of you to my views and evaluation process of some of the buzzing names in college baseball who participated in the Cape this summer. In doing so, I will provide full baseball scouting reports from dudes who grabbed my eye during the season and detailed prospect analysis with 20-80 scale grading, projected round selection, and brief overall summaries of the prospects.

Further, these grades are based on my evaluation and rumblings that I heard while on the Cape and are not full or final summaries from the Prospects Live draft team or myself, as the next draft is (*checks watch), not for another ten months. Everyone sees prospects differently, even at the MLB level during draft day or for incoming prospects (Ex. There were people in baseball who thought Ohtani's bat wouldn't translate to MLB. Now, he's easy money to hit 30+ HR's each season). So, things can change regarding these prospects from the Cape season to next spring or draft.

Back to the topic at hand; early looks for next July are panning towards the 2025 class to be front-loaded with college-hitting prospects, and it seems to be anyone’s game to be selected inside the top 10 or even first round within a pool of 15-20 college hitters (with some teams getting the premium luck of possibly grabbing two or more of these guys next summer when adding in college arms and prep talent to the field). I do not see any Dylan Crews or Adley Rutschman-like prospects in this draft. However, there are desirable quality tools that project well for the next level, premium athleticism up the middle that we haven’t seen in a while for draft day, and future MLB starters that will become household names down the road.

Additionally, like back in the spring and carried into the Cape this summer, the general opinion and analysis in scouting circles regarding college pitching is that the talent is still down compared to years past. There are some outliers, but the overall crop of pitching talent is down.

Now, to stop digressing from the article material at hand, below are five dudes that I believe were the top guys who grabbed scouts' eyes, balled out, and truly made themselves money over the summer.

| OF Brendan Summerhill | Arizona | Draft Eligible: 2025 |

Cape Numbers: .286/.358/.441 (.798), 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 19 R, 12 SB, 9 BB (9.47 BB%), 15 K (15.78 K%)

OF Brendan Summerhill (@ArizonaBaseball): Long & lanky athlete with fun raw tools. Summerhill captured attention in college baseball in the last calendar year, starting with his outstanding summer in 2023 at Rockford (Northwoods League) that translating into Arizona this spring… pic.twitter.com/E3CMTH4Muo
— Brian Switzer II (@BrianSwitzerII) June 24, 2024

Brendan Summerhill picks up another knock. Smooth lefty stroke has been barreling up balls all summer, continues tonight with this LD up the middle @WarehamGatemen @ArizonaBaseball #PGCape pic.twitter.com/JffCbqp5mA
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) July 24, 2024

Switz’s Notes: Summerhill was among the first dudes that grabbed my attention in the west division over the summer. He has easy-to-see athletic traits, a desirable hit tool still maturing, and straight-up ballplayer talent to be selected early next summer. If you are a person who likes dudes who know the strike zone well with great poise, then Summerhill may be one of the best in this draft cycle from his advanced approach and batter eye. From his first game in the Cape till his final game, Summerhill played the game hard, running out infield base hits and making spectacular catches in CF. I’m a big fan of his and hope the best for him moving forward, as he is just a fun player to watch. If the in-game power develops and he still maintains that plus speed tool in his game, he could pan out to be a video game-like player at the MLB level.

| OF Ethan Conrad | Wake Forest | Draft Eligible: 2025 |

Cape Numbers: .385/.433 /.486 (.919), 5 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 27 R, 19 SB, 8 BB 6.7 BB%), 18 K (15.0 K%)

Ethan Conrad flashing some big bat speed and loud contact tonight, this LD the other way part of a 2-for-3 night + an RBI sac fly @BourneBraves @WakeBaseball #PGCape pic.twitter.com/AkriTHUNnv
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) July 5, 2024

Switz’s Notes: I have to admit, regarding Ethan Conrad, which was no secret for anyone who talked to me during the summer, I have a massive admiration and man crush on Conrad’s game. This is the type of dude; if I were a Crosschecker for a team, I would fight to draft this guy until the last second is on the clock on draft night if available. This dude is a very special ballplayer that’s easy to root for in this draft cycle. I will acknowledge that he has some stuff he needs to iron out (especially contact vs offspeed/movement), but he’s got a tremendous ceiling if he can grab the brass rings at the next level of his development. Conrad is a superb athlete, and I’m willing to lay it out with the hot take that Conrad may have been the best athlete any scout saw during the summer wood-bat circuit in college baseball and even in the 2025 draft cycle. If he balls out next spring for Wake, he has the profile to be a potential lottery or top 10 selection in the draft to the already helium Conrad has on his draft stock.

Our own Brian Recca had the ability to get a live look on Conrad at Marist over the spring Here.

| OF Devin Taylor | Indiana | Draft Eligible: 2025 |

Cape Numbers: .296/.397/.510 (.907), 4 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 18 R, 2 SB, 17 BB (14.7 BB%), 29 K (25.0 K%)

Hey @OfficialCCBL, are you accepting late applications for the Home Run Contest?

Devin Taylor (@IndianaBase) launches a BOMB to right field to open the scoring

EV: 98 mph
📏 401 ft

Mid 2
Cotuit 2
Hyannis 0 pic.twitter.com/QO5W7z9Gmg
— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 23, 2024

Devin Taylor ➡️ Dead Center

The @IndianaBase Hoosier provides a big 3-run shot with 2 outs to put us in front

EV: 99 mph
📏 396 ft

Mid 3
Cotuit 4
Chatham 1 pic.twitter.com/4PLPBcMzeL
— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 20, 2024

Switz’s Notes: Between being a standout ballplayer at LaSalle High School and becoming a blow-away Freshman Player of the Year in the Big Ten two springs ago for Indiana, Devin Taylor has become one of the most talked about prospects in the Ohio Valley for some time at the college level and rightfully so. When looking at Taylor’s summer, he started six games for Cotuit before leaving for Cary, NC. During that time, Taylor showed off his bread-and-butter of getting on base by any means necessary by hitting over .300 and accumulating a handful of walks. On the downside, within his first six games, he struck out more than any scout in attendance wanted to see, with 8 Ks through 16 ABs. However, when he arrived for Team USA in Cary, NC, Taylor found a different gear where he exploded during the primetime events for the red, white, and blue. Taylor came back and took that success from USA Baseball to carve out a successful season for the Cotuit Kettleers by producing a near .300 batting average, .907 OPS, and 5 HRs in 29 games with a wood bat.

Taylor showed he belongs within the top 10 conversations going into the spring of 2025 over the summer. However, the 25% K rate in the Cape isn’t very appealing for major league scouts, with murkiness around the pitching talent and quality within the Big Ten going into next spring. Taylor, in 2025, will need to bounce back in this department and continue his declining K rate that he was showing at Indiana (roughly 19% in 2023 and 13% in 2024) before his time on the Cape.

Going into the spring, I would like to see him take that next step into locking down that top 5 (maybe even top 10) status that early evaluations and industry talking heads are labeling him. In doing so, I would love to see him improve his defense and display more athleticism in the field while showing that I’m dead wrong on his 45 FV as a defender with current signs showing he may be playing CF next spring for the Hoosiers. When he added the 25 lbs of mass over the last calendar year to tap into more power, he lost some of the defensiveness and athleticism that made him look so appealing in his freshman year.

Also, he can improve his stock on his hit tool by cleaning up his issues with + velo and offspeed while boosting his batting average into the .400s, and continuing a contact rate over 80%. Lastly, he can even do the fun route and just club everything he sees for HRs next college season like Condon and Cags did last spring that got them selected into the top 10 in July (granted, both these dudes also hit .400 while crushing everything to the moon). Overall, as outlined in the scouting report, Taylor is a future premium hit tool player and should be one of the quickest dudes to the MLB. However, it seems he is already losing some steam early in the 2025 draft cycle and will need to find a way to stay afloat at the top if he wants to be taken within the top 10 with the rise of so many helium dudes coming off of the summer season as right now it seems he is starting to meddle into the middle of the first round territory as a 10 - 15 overall selection.

Lastly: Tyler Jennings caught him at USA Baseball during the summer with some video if you want to see more on Taylor Here.

If you want to see Taylor from last Spring, you can check out Perkins' live look of Taylor at Maryland Here.

| OF/1B Ethan Petry | South Carolina | Draft Eligible: 2025 |

Cape Numbers: .360/.480/.760 (1.240), 7 2B, 11 HR, 25 RBI, 26 R, 16 BB (12.8 BB%), 26 K (20.8 K%)

Ethan Petry comes up huge with this loud PS drive that brings in two runs. Easy, compact, and physical swing, bat explodes through the zone to pick up the hit @YD_RedSox @GamecockBasebll #PGCape pic.twitter.com/rMVEmsFz3m
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) July 25, 2024

Ethan Petry officially takes the LEAD in @OfficialCCBL home runs 🥇

Petry (@GamecockBasebll) pushes Y-D into a 7-3 lead against Chatham in the bottom of the fifth.

🎙️: @benstrobermedia pic.twitter.com/tpspNVis9U
— Y-D Red Sox (@YD_RedSox) August 2, 2024

Switz’s Notes: Petry is one of the biggest imposing dudes on the Cape this summer and is possibly one of the most extensively debated bat profile’s when trying to project him. He’s done and accomplished a lot within his short college career so far between being a career .300 hitter, having a career OPS over 1.100, hitting 20+ bombs in each of his first two college years, taking home the Cape Cod Baseball League MVP, the Robert A. McNeese Most Outstanding Pro Prospect Award, and Cape Cod Baseball League Home Run Derby title in the process. The dude hits the ball hard, and it is easy to see the offensive potential in his game. Nevertheless, even with his offensive upside, some limitations in his game are easy to see, such as his defense, athleticism, and eye at the plate. I strongly feel that teams will overlook his limitations and focus on the terms of the power and RBI-producing upside he has. Offensively, I see it being black and white: either he fixes these issues and becomes a freak for the next level, or they continue to haunt him, and it is a blemish that teams will have to work around in his game at the plate. As stated in the scouting report, with the universal DH being in play, I think he’s in a better boat as a prospect than he would be 5 - 10 years ago when scouts in the NL would have to project and find a defensive role for him.

In giving him an Adam Dunn comparison, if the National League had the DH as they do now, I strongly feel that you would never have seen Dunn in the OF, and he would've been a straight DH with him playing 1B when Griffey Jr. was healthy and in the lineup. Like Dunn, I see Petry being that type of middle-of-the-order bat that teams are betting for HRs and RBI-producing abilities with the sacrifice of strikeouts coming within it. I do not see it being Joey Gallo-like bad where it is a career .195 hitter, and it's either K or HR with every swing. But, I think Dunn is a realistic comp with a ceiling batting average being a .255 - .265 hitter, crushing north of 35 + bombs a season with some triple-digit RBI abilities, and taking on the burden of having north of 25% strikeouts to go with it. However, with pitching movement and velo being the best baseball has ever seen (two things Petry does struggle with, unfortunately), I think the batting average and offensive production can easily fall into Kyle Schwarber-like territory as a floor or a readjusted comp later down the road if Petry does not fix these issues at the plate.

| SS Marek Houston | Wake Forest | Draft Eligible: 2025 |

Cape Numbers: .306/.465/.329 (.794), 2 2B, 8 RBIs, 17 Rs, 7 SB, 26 BB (22.8 BB%), 21 K

(18.4 K%)

MAREK HOUSTON (@WakeBaseball) ARE YOU KIDDING‼️‼️

1 more out…

Top 9 | 7-4 Bourne pic.twitter.com/1HKv82KK16
— Bourne Braves (@BourneBraves) August 9, 2024

Houston, I see no problem…

Just an RBI single from Marek Houston (@WakeBaseball)!!!! 🫡💪

Chris Stanfield (@LSUbaseball) heads home & Ethan Conrad (@WakeBaseball) is at 2nd!

Bot 3 | 1-0 Bourne pic.twitter.com/FQPzsEUr8L
— Bourne Braves (@BourneBraves) August 8, 2024

Switz’s Notes: From the first time I watched Bourne over the summer, my eyes were glued to watching Houston in the field. He is a natural athlete on the diamond and is one of the guys who has a higher ceiling than most in the 2025 draft. This year, he was a key contributor for the Bourne franchise to make another appearance in the Cape Cod Championship game with his run-producing abilities at leadoff and stellar defense. Nightly, over the summer, Houston produced web gem-after-web gem defensive plays that showed that he can stay on the left side of the diamond for the next level. Many other talking heads will criticize his bat for the next level due to it not producing the batted ball metrics that the new-age fans and gurus want to see. However, it isn’t as bad as this crowd wants to voice as he displayed a good feel for the zone and protects anything inside his hands (a skill many hitters over the summer seemed to lack that is desired by scouts). Further, he showed good abilities to hit to all fields and not let the Cape’s BABIP inflation dictate his hitting abilities while taking walks and not forcing a play to be made when nothing was there. To quote Aaron Rodgers, the new age fans and gurus need to “relax” regarding Houston’s bat profile because Houston has advanced intangibles that metrics cannot measure and should be alright.

When drawing up a projection on Houston, it is tough to forecast what he will become. At first, I thought he might be a glove-first dude with below-average pop that he currently shows and could build into being a Dansby Swanson-like SS. However, when watching him play and looking at his build, there is more growth left in him as he has an unorthodox build of a large upper body frame and a smaller lower half. Between working on his mechanics in rookie development to add bat speed and going to the weight room for him to add muscle, I think there's a chance he could surpass the average 15 - 20 HRs (which is upside 45 FV and fringy 50 FV grades that vary based on organization grading and modeling) that Swanson averages each year (I know that Swanson crushed over that between 2021 - 2024 but, I see that as a too small of a sample size to call Swanson a genuine 55-60 grade power guy).

One of my 2025 draft crushes: Wake Forest SS Marek Houston.

He's not known for his power, but he gets all of this for a no-doubt bomb off the scoreboard. 101.8 EV, 405 feet. Really good contact skills with great defensive instincts at SS. He'll be on our initial 2025 rankings. pic.twitter.com/91CEuTIbHK
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) May 22, 2024

Next, I took the approach of thinking he may be a Trea Turner-like athlete whose arm is strong, where there is 25 HR + pop if he can tap into it, and he oozes athleticism all over the diamond. However, Turner plays at a lower weight than Houston, and he fills out nicely for the 185 lbs he is. Thus, it left me to think and draw up the athletic comparison that Houston has a similar athletic body type to young Manny Machado coming out of high school (I’m not drawing the idea he is the next Machado, so don’t go down that rabbit hole of conclusion). Granted, you shouldn’t compare a 17-18-year-old player to a 20-year-old prospect in college athletically. However, when looking at the current state of college athletics, where there is limited time given for development from the Power 5 level, and it’s a state of just “get up and go” mentality within their constructed rosters, Houston’s athleticism has carried him into a starting spot with his defense being an essential tool.

Nonetheless, there is still time for Houston, where he is still a projectable and moldable athlete, and a franchise can build him into what they want him to become, as I outlined in my report. Returning to Machado, when coming out of Brito Miami, he displayed a tall, slim, lean, athletic large frame that appeared boxy with large square shoulders (similar characteristics of Houston). At a young age, Machado easily displayed his fluid movements and defense on the dirt with a good feel for the barrel (same Houston has done with Bourne and at Wake). In the development of Machado in the Orioles system, Manny went from the skinny 180 lb size that he was drafted and grew into a 210- 215 lb size when he appeared in the major leagues roughly two years later, displaying his bat speed and strength to generate pop for the pros.

If a team wants Houston to stay light on his feet and is not concerned about tapping into the power, they can take the approach of him being that 1980s and 1990s style SS where it's less than 15 HR pop with contact and defense being the essential tools. If this route is taken, he should be a quick-to-the-show type draft pick. Yet, suppose Houston gets drafted by a strong development organization, and they work with him on improving his internal strength and bat speed, which are his clear blemishes. In that case, there is upside four to five-tool potential (he has the speed for SB’s but, hasn’t displayed the production for it to be a real tool at his disposal) at the end of the road where we can see that pop come into play on a nightly basis like many of the premium SS display in today's baseball style.

Overall, Houston's defense and superb athleticism will overshadow his complete toolset. However, Houston has a solid bat and advanced approach at the plate that shouldn't turn scouts and franchises away when turning in his name next summer. As I harped in the paragraphs before, I still believe and see lots of projection within Houston's game, and he is a late bloomer within the power department than most in college. Houston has a solid chance to hear his name early in next year's draft, and he could be the first SS off the board. A lot of this ease in decision-making for teams regarding Houston comes from his limitless ceiling and the high athletic floor that he possesses. Houston should be a fun follow this upcoming spring and moving forward in his pro career; he is a non-stop defensive highlight reel and potential offensive threat in the making.

Earlier in the spring, Jared Perkins had the opportunity to catch Wake Forest for some live looks and saw Marek Houston Here.

Next time I’ll have full reports and notes on some of the top performers that popped over the summer on the Cape.

Prospects Live Staff

June 29, 2024

2025 MLB Draft, MLB Draft

2025 MLB Draft: Top 30 Collegiate Prospects

Prospects Live Staff

June 29, 2024

2025 MLB Draft, MLB Draft

With the overlapping of draft class occurring this summer, it’s only right that we begin to introduce our 2025 lists as the summer circuit is ramping up. Today, we’ll release our initial Top 30 College list and for the readers, it’s open to the public! As the summer progresses and we get more looks, we’ll expand this list (and our Top 30 Prep list) to 50 players in a system similar to how we navigated the 2024 cycle.

We’ve gotten some eyes on the 2025 class already and it’s mostly comparable to the 2024 class as a whole. Jace LaViolette, a huge thumper out of Texas A&M, leads the way, followed closely by a couple of other notable outfield prospects. There’s a few players on this list in the transfer portal and they are denoted properly in their reports. As we get a better grip on understanding this class, expect plenty of changes in due time.

1. of jace laviolette, texas A&M

height: 6’6

Weight: 230

b/t: L/L

Draft Day age: 21 yr 7 mo

hometown: Katy, TX

At 6'6, 230 pounds, LaViolette is an extremely physical left-handed bat with some of the most robust power in the entire country. LaViolette has already cranked 50 home runs in his collegiate career and he may end up amongst the likes of Eddy Furniss and Frank Fazzini on the all-time list in the NCAA ranks. It's a controlled, yet violent, left-handed swing with a ton of bat speed and an optimal bat path for doing damage, as he's a legitimate all-fields power threat and has cleared the 115 MPH exit velocity threshold in 2024. His hips clear out quickly, allowing him to get leverage in his swing and do significant damage. The plate discipline is also solid, as he rarely expands the zone and has a knack for racking up the walks. Yes, strikeouts are part of his game, but he's got time to polish up the bat-to-ball skills. Despite his size, he moves quickly on the basepaths and in the field. He's manned center field for the Aggies in 2024, though a move to a corner outfield position is likely in the near future.

2. OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson

height: 6’0

weight: 180

b/t: L/r

draft day age: 21 yr 10 mo

hometown: Hartsville, sc

Cannarella stepped onto campus as an infielder, but a road block in the Clemson infield gave him an opportunity in center field that he has not relinquished. A gamer in every sense of the word, Cannarella is a dangerous hitter with some of the best contact skills in the entire country. It's a lovely left-handed swing built more for line drives right now, but he's shown flashes of raw power to the gaps and to his pull-side. He did become a bit more aggressive in 2024 compared to 2023, but he has quality barrel control and shows patience, drawing walks aplenty. He's got above-average speed, though he didn't flash it a ton on the bases due to an injury this year. However, that speed translates to center field, where he has excellent route-running and quality defensive chops. Expect Cannarella to go high in this draft.

3. OF Devin Taylor, Indiana

height: 6’1

weight: 215

b/t: L/R

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Cincinnati, OH

A physical left-handed bat, Taylor is a legitimate power threat with burgeoning raw juice and he lets his quality athleticism play on the field. He built upon a stellar freshman campaign at Indiana with a .357/.449/.660 slash line and blasting twenty home runs, the first Hoosier to do so since Alex Dickerson smacked twenty-four in 2010. His swing features substantial bat speed and he'll deposit the baseball to both sides of the field, utilizing the opposite field more in 2024. He's already displayed exit velocities touching the 110 MPH barrier, as well. He does expand the zone a bit, but there's little warts to his contact skills and he draws a copious amount of walks. He'll likely get a chance to man center in a bigger capacity in 2025, though given his average speed and route-running, he may be a better fit in left long term. It's hard not to like this profile.

4. C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina

height: 5’10

weight: 197

b/t: s/R

draft day age: 21 yr 7 mo

hometown: Haddon Heights, NJ

A switch-hitting catcher out of New Jersey, Bodine has been one of the best pure hitters in college baseball. Bodine's barrel awareness and bat-to-ball skills are top of the charts from both sides of the plate, as he ran a contact rate of 89% in 2024, including a 94% (!) in-zone contact rate. He has quick hands from both sides and will prioritize an all-fields approach, rarely selling out for power. His power likely grades out more as fringe-average to average, though he'll run into a home run every once in a while. He has the prototypical size for a backstop and has impressed in his time on campus. It's a solid throwing arm with improving blocking skills and he has athletic movements behind the plate. Most believe he'll stick back there long term as a result.

5. RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara

height: 6’2

weight: 180

b/t: r/R

draft day age: 21 yr 2 mo

hometown: san diego, CA

Highly projectable, super athletic, burgeoning stuff. That's the menu for Bremner, who turned in a stellar sophomore campaign in the Big West, striking out 104 batters and walking just 21 in 88.2 innings. His stuff took a big jump during the pre-season, with his fastball sitting in the mid-90s with significant carry up in the zone. He should be throwing in the upper-90s more consistently in due time, as he’s already touched 98 MPH this summer. His slider took a huge step forward after struggling his freshman year, jumping into the mid-80s consistently with late bite and sweep. The change-up is unique with high spin traits, though he shows a ton of confidence in the pitch and it dives hard to the dirt in the low-80s, acting almost like a screwball. It projects as a double-plus offering. Let’s not forget that Bremner commands the zone really well. There’s potential for three above-average or better pitches with above-average command. He’s our SP1 right now for that reason.

6. LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State

height: 6’1

weight: 191

b/t: l/l

draft day age: 21 yr 3 mo

hometown: Tampa, fl

After a rough freshman campaign in Tallahassee, Arnold exploded onto the draft scene in 2024, striking out 159 batters in 105.2 innings to the tune of a 2.98 ERA. Arnold generates a ton of scap retraction in his delivery, but he's on time with his arm and he creates a tough angle to the plate with a slingy release. His fastball rarely cracked 90 MPH in 2023, but he's now into the mid-90s with a very low release height and a flat approach angle that has allowed the heater to miss bats aplenty. His mid-80s slider can be downright diabolical, flashing late bite and sweep. It tunnels well off the heater and he's shown an ability to backfoot it to righties consistently. His change-up lags behind the one-two punch, thrown roughly 4% of the time in 2024 with slight fading life and will need more development in 2025. He'll need more of a tertiary offering to keep hitters off the FB/SL, but the whole package screams starter. He’ll be wildly popular in 2025.

7. c Ike Irish, Auburn

height: 6’2

weight: 203

b/t: l/R

draft day age: 21 yr 7 mo

hometown: Hudsonville, MI

One of the most decorated recruits to make it to campus after the 2022 draft, Irish has cemented himself as one of the best SEC hitters in two years since. Irish has a beautiful left-handed swing that's direct to the baseball with quick hands and loud bat speed. He's begun to pull the baseball more in 2024 after displaying more of a gap-to-gap approach in 2023, tapping more into robust raw power. He does swing at a high rate, meaning his walk rate isn't too high, but he doesn't strike out a ton, either. Defensively, he's shown a loud arm behind the plate and has improved on his blocking skills. He'll see more time back there in the future and he could man first base or a corner outfield spot, too. It's a bat-first profile with a ton like offensively.

8. OF Gavin Turley, oregon State

height: 6’1

weight: 185

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 21 yr 8 mo

hometown: Chandler, AZ

One of the toolsiest players in the entire class, Turley is an impressive athlete with a ton of power at his disposal. It's extremely loud bat speed and pull-side juice with leverage and loft, tapping into it easily in-game already. His hips open explosively thanks to his twitchy nature, which allows him to possess these kind of tools at the plate. With that said, he's struggled with contact in Corvallis and while the contact improved slightly in 2024, strikeouts are a huge concern in his game and he'll need to polish up the bat-to-ball skills. Turley is a very strong runner and displays a cannon right arm in the outfield, which will allow him to handle right field at the next level. If Turley hits in 2025, he'll be one of the first names off the board.

9. RHP Matt Scott, Stanford

height: 6’7

weight: 247

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Redding, CT

A walking mountain of a human being, Scott is an uber-physical right-hander that traveled across the country to attend Stanford. There's not a ton of warts in his mechanics. They're loose and easy, showcasing quality body control for his size, and there's little effort overall. The fastball jumped in velocity over the off-season, topping out at 98 MPH and sitting consistently in the mid-90s. The pitch possesses insane carry on the top rail, averaging above 20 inches of vertical movement. He does have a steeper angle to the plate due to his high release, but the pitch still misses bats at a high rate. His primary secondary is a cutter-esque slider in the upper-80s with two-plane break and late bite. He'll tinker with a splitter, as well, which has graded out well. His command comes and goes, but one would expect him to grow into more of it given the mechanics.

10. 1b/3b henry ford, virginia

height: 6’5

weight: 220

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 20 yr 11 mo

hometown: Charlottesville, va

A draft-eligible sophomore, Ford is built much like an automobile mechanic. He's extremely physical with plenty of strength throughout his frame and he's a solid athlete despite his size. Ford has quality barrel control and has a ton of bat speed and loft, allowing him to tap into legitimate plus power in-game. He stays short and direct to the baseball and doesn't have a ton of swing-and-miss to his game, either. He's a first baseman right now given how deep Virginia is offensively, but his athleticism is good enough to get a shot to work at third base in the future. He's got the range and footwork necessary to make it happen, as well as a strong arm. He'll be an exciting prospect to watch next spring.

11. OF Brendan Summerhill, arizona

height: 6’3

weight: 195

b/t: L/R

draft day age: 21 yr 8 mo

hometown: Chicago, il

Summerhill is a long, lanky specimen that saw one of the biggest jumps in production in this class. As a freshman, Summerhill struggled to make consistent contact and had a whiff rate of 30%. He slashed that number by over half in 2024, finding a more consistent bat path and whiffing at just a 14% rate in 2024. Summerhill's bat speed and loft are noticeable at first glance, pulling the ball in the air consistently and flashing above-average exit velocities. He's held his own against heat upstairs and spin, too. There's a lot to like with his offensive profile and he is in line for a monster 2025 campaign. In the field, he profiles as a future average runner with added muscle and with his strong arm, he's likely destined for right field.

12. 1b/of Nolan Schubart, oklahoma State

height: 6’5

weight: 233

b/t: L/R

draft day age: 21 yr 2 mo

hometown: Durand, mi

A lanky, physical specimen from Michigan, Schubart has blasted the cover off the baseball in his two years in Stillwater. He has prodigious power from the left-hand side of the plate with a beautiful swing with great leverage and natural loft. He stays inside the baseball and will pummel it to all fields, eclipsing the 110 MPH exit velocity barrier regularly. He doesn't expand the zone often, chasing at a minute rate of 21%, but there's contact questions to be answered due to a hefty whiff rate. He'll need to polish up the pure contact skills this summer, but the power is the pure selling point. On the defensive side, Schubart has spent time in left field, though given the body and speed, he's likely destined for first base.

13. ss marek houston, wake forest

height: 6’3

weight: 185

b/t: r/R

draft day age: 21 yr 2 mo

hometown: Nokomis, fl

Houston turned a corner in 2024, becoming one of the most improved bats in the entire class. After enduring some struggles as a freshman, Houston became a leadoff sparkplug for Wake Forest, slashing .326/.434/.516 and recording more walks than strikeouts. His plate discipline is pristine and features little warts. He has some of the best contact rates in the class and he stays inside the zone, slapping the ball to the all fields. He'll utilize his fantastic speed on the basepaths, as well, as he's recorded times to first base around 4.15 seconds. He's a surefire shortstop at the next level, as well. He has a great internal clock with excellent range and motions, as well as a strong arm. If there's one complaint, it's his 30-grade power, though with added weight, he may be able to get to 40-grade juice.

14. LHP Shane Sdao, Texas A&M

height: 6’2

weight: 170

b/t: L/L

draft day age: 21 yr 9 mo

hometown: Montgomery, TX

An uber-projectable southpaw, Sdao turned heads in a loud sophomore campaign that has seen him split time between the bullpen and the rotation. Sdao's arm speed really stands out at first glance, maintaining it with all three of his pitches and working quickly down the bump with some deception. The fastball has solid carry up in the zone with some slight cut, working primarily in the low-90s, though Sdao has reared back for 96 MPH on occasion. The low-80s sweepy slider is the best secondary and got whiffs at a 44% clip in 2024. There's some lift in the pitch shape and he's shown an ability to backfoot the pitch to righties. He turns over a quality mid-80s cambio, as well. The expectation is that Sdao will be a starter in 2025 and he's due for an uptick in stuff with added mass to his frame.

15. RHP Gabe Davis, Oklahoma State

height: 6’9

weight: 225

b/t: R/r

draft day age: 21 yr 8 mo

hometown: Choctaw, ok

At 6'9, 225 pounds, Davis is a behemoth of a human being and provides an interesting look on the mound. He's uber-projectable and controls his body rather well for his size, though there's still some kinks to work out with his delivery. He’s a bit stiff moving down the mound, but his wide angle to the plate generates difficult at-bats for hitters. After having a release height under six feet in 2023, Davis raised his release by half a foot, which hampered the fastball whiff rates a bit. With that said, he gets a ton of extension and sits in the mid-90s consistently, bumping 99 MPH at his peak. It's his cutter-esque slider that takes the headlines, though. It sits in the upper-80s and flashes tight shape and depth, becoming more of a cutter once it approaches 90 MPH. He's tinkered with a change-up and a bigger curveball, both sitting in the low-80s. Should the command turn the corner, Davis is in contention for being the best arm on the board.

16. OF Max Belyeu, Texas

height: 6’2

weight: 210

b/t: l/R

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Aledo, tx

After having just twenty at-bats in 2023, Belyeu cemented himself as one of the better collegiate players in the 2025 class, slashing .329/.423/.667 in 59 games and earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors. He's got a physical frame with projection remaining and his barrel feel is amongst the best in the Big 12. He does chase a bit too much, but there's not a ton of swing-and-miss to his game and handles velocity and spin rather well. There's a bit of Kyle Tucker in his swing, as well. The power itself has stood out, too, as his 90th percentile EVs are in the upper echelon of college bats and he'll smash the ball to all fields. In the field, he's likely relegated to left field due to a subpar throwing arm and average speed.

17. INF Henry Godbout, Virginia

height: 6’2

weight: 190

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 21 yr 8 mo

hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Godbout has one of the most polished hit tools in the entire ACC. Godbout has little issues at the plate and hammers fastballs, only whiffing on them 5% of the time in 2024. He doesn't chase a ton and he'll grind out walks, though his power is nothing more than fringe-average at best. He's an excellent rotator and should grow into more power as he matures physically, though he does have a stiff lower half and will need to utilize it more in 2025. Defensively, Godbout has manned second base for Virginia, where he's been a sound defender with solid range and instincts. Given Griff O'Ferrall's departure this summer, Godbout will more than likely get reps at shortstop in 2025 for the Cavaliers.

18. RHP Cam Leiter, Florida State

height: 6’5

weight: 218

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 21 yr 5 mo

hometown: Bayville, NJ

The latest Leiter to work his way through the ranks, Cam transferred from UCF to Florida State and found immediate success in the rotation. While an injury cut his season short to just seven appearances, Leiter's stuff took a big jump forward under new coaching. Leiter's fastball has gotten up to 99 MPH and he'll hold mid-90s velocity deep into starts, missing bats thanks to a low release and elite extension despite modest shape. The upper-80's/low-90s slider is dynamic, flashing tight spin and late bite, while the low-80s curveball has a ton of depth and high spin. He'll tinker with a change-up to lefties, as well. Command is a work-in-progress, but given the easy operation and athleticism, he should grow into more strikes in due time. If healthy in 2025, Leiter has the chance to be the first arm off the board.

19. c luke stevenson, north carolina

height: 6’1

weight: 200

b/t: l/r

draft day age: 20 yr 11 mo

hometown: wake forest, NC

Stevenson was highly touted out of high school last summer, but he chose to uphold his commitment to North Carolina and it has paid dividends for the freshman. He's eligible as a sophomore due to his age in 2025 and he's in line to be one of the first backstops off the board. He's built like a stereotypical catcher with a stout lower half and present strength throughout his body. He's got explosive motions out of the crouch and handles the run game well, showcasing a strong arm and pop times to second have been clocked at 1.9-1.95 seconds. He's a standout receiver, as well. At the plate, Stevenson has shown off legitimate pull-side juice and has a keen eye at the plate, racking up walks aplenty. He has a heavy barrel through the zone and stays direct to the baseball, and while he's shown some struggles with off-speed pitches, finding a catcher with the feel to hit like Stevenson is hard.

20. 3b/of andrew fischer, Tennessee

height: 6’1

weight: 205

b/t: l/r

draft day age: 21 yr 1 mo

hometown: Manasquan, nj

After a fantastic freshman campaign at Duke, Fischer transferred to Ole Miss where he didn't skip a beat against better competition. He's a physical left-handed bat with a ton of juice in the bat, most notably to his pull-side. It's a violent swing with natural loft and bat speed, allowing Fischer to pull the ball in the air with dangerous intent. He does have a bit of bat-to-ball woes, namely struggling a bit with spin, but Fischer draws a copious amount of walks and gets the most out of the barrel. In the field, Fischer isn't the fleetest of foot, displaying some choppy footwork and limited range at third base, but he has a strong enough arm across the diamond to at least start his professional career there. Fischer will play for Tony Vitello in 2025 as either a third baseman or an outfielder.

21. UTL RJ Austin, Vanderbilt

height: 5’11

weight: 193

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Atlanta, ga

One of the more decorated athletes to make it to campus after the 2022 draft, Austin is a gritty prospect that has become a bit more physical during his tenure in Nashville. He's been a bit positionless in 2024, playing a myriad of positions given the depth in Vanderbilt's lineup. With that said, he fits best in the dirt, though he can get some play in the outfield, too. At the plate, he's grown into his power and has average or better pop in the bat. All of the power plays to the pull-side, though he'll utilize the opposite field gap when able to. He's a high contact, moderate chase bat with a good eye at the plate, keeping strikeouts to a minimum. His twitch on both sides of the ball should continue to stand out as long as he doesn't outgrow the athleticism he has.

22. 3b tre phelps, georgia

height: 6’2

weight: 204

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 21 yr

hometown: Kennesaw, ga

A draft-eligible sophomore, Phelps pushed his way into the Georgia lineup with an impressive performance in a limited sample size, slashing .355/.442/.686 with ten home runs. Phelps has impressive bat speed and very quick hands, as well as generating leverage and loft in his swing. This allows him to tap into his raw power, which grades out as above-average to plus. He does have some issues with spin and will expand the zone often, but he kept the strikeouts to a minimum in 2024. As a defender, Phelps has the tools to stick at third base, as he possesses solid hands, range, and a strong arm across the diamond. If he moves off the hot corner, he'll pick up work in a corner outfield position.