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2025 MLB Draft Top 75 Collegiate Prospects: Conference Breakdowns (SEC - Part 2)
We recently released the top SEC college prospects within our Top 75 and throughout the fall we have been bringing you the top prospects within each conference. For this edition, we continue to dive into some top prospects with part two of our SEC breakdown.
35 players from 11 different schools hail from the nation’s premier college baseball conference with our Top 75 prospects list. Defending national champions Tennessee lead the way with six players while Arkansas is just behind the Vols with five. LSU and Texas A&M each had four.
Full Top 75: https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2024/9/21/2025-mlb-draft-top-75-collegiate-prospects
HITTERS
C Easton Carmichael - Oklahoma
Prospects Live Ranking: #43
Easton Carmichael has been a mainstay behind the dish for the Sooners since he arrived on campus as a freshman in 2023, appearing in 112 games over two seasons. The talented backstop enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, slashing .366/.406/.563 with an impressive 31 extra base hits as Oklahoma earned an NCAA Regional hosting bid. The power seems to have improved over the last year, but Carmichael appears to be more of a gap-to-gap hitter than home run slugger. His 10 doubles in 127 at-bats up in the Cape this past summer was good for second in the league as his contact rate and gap power continued to be on display even with wood bats. Despite the contact rate, he’s an aggressive hitter that’s seen his chase rate rise over the last year. Defensively, he needs to improve his arm strength behind the plate if he hopes to remain a catcher at the next level.
2B/SS Jayden Davis - Vanderbilt
Prospects Live Ranking: #48
A former freshman All-American at Samford, Jayden Davis struggled with an injury throughout 2024 but still impressed over 46 games for the Commodores during his sophomore campaign as he hit .315 with 15 extra-base hits. Despite the drop in power numbers from 2023, Davis posted an 82% contact rate at Vanderbilt and features an above-average hit tool. His high ground ball rate both in the SEC and up in the Cape indicates that he’s unlikely to produce much more in terms of power, but if he can make an adjustment that results in lifting the ball more, we could see his draft stock rise. He displayed prowess for extra-base hits on the Cape this summer, mashing eight doubles and two home runs in just 125 at-bats for Chatham. He appeared to be a bit more aggressive as he struck out 25 times over the summer vs just 21 times at Vanderbilt last spring. Defensively, Davis does not project as a shortstop at the next level, but more as an average second base prospect with decent range.
C Lucas Steele - Auburn
Prospects Live Ranking: #49
Like Jayden Davis, Lucas Steele is another former All-American freshman from Samford who transferred into the SEC. Playing primarily as an outfielder during his freshman season, the Hoover, Alabama native hit .315 with 15 doubles and 16 home runs en route to winning the 2023 SoCon Freshman of the Year award. His transition to catcher as a sophomore may have led to a regression in his offensive numbers, but the bat also suffered from some significant bad BABIP luck and slashed just .245/.364/.520 in 2024. Expect Steele to have a bounce-back season offensively in 2025 as he transfers into the SEC. The switch-hitting backstop features explosive hips and good bat speed that should play well in his new conference. Defensively, Steele will compete for playing time behind the plate with fellow catcher Ike Irish, though both are expected to be in the lineup every day as valuable hitting prospects. Steele has seen a little bit of time in the outfield this fall, though he’s been primarily employed at catcher and first base.
2B/SS Blake Cyr - Florida
Prospects Live Ranking: #61
Middle infielder Blake Cyr arrives in Gainesville as a transfer following an injury-plagued 2024 in which he only played 25 games for the Miami Hurricanes. As a true freshman in 2023, he hit .305 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 60 games as Miami hosted an NCAA Regional. The highly touted second baseman appeared poised to stamp his name as a household draft prospect in 2024 when various injuries ended his season in early April. He still managed to slash .284/.397/.537 in 95 at-bats. Cyr earned ACC Player of the Week honors in early March following an 8-16 stretch that included 3 home runs and 11 RBIs highlighted by a go-ahead grand slam against Virginia that capped off a nine-run comeback for the Canes. At 5 '11, the smaller-framed slugger features impressive pull-side power and elite bat speed. Defensively, he doesn’t have physicality or the arm strength to play shortstop at the next level, but he’s got a solid first step and displays good range to play second. With Cade Kurland deployed at second base for the Gators, it’ll be interesting to see where Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan decides to play Cyr.
2B Cade Kurland - Florida
Prospects Live Ranking: #64
Speaking of second base for the Florida Gators, Cade Kurland checks in as the last SEC position player on our Top 75. Another former Freshman All-American, Kurland saw his offensive numbers regress as a sophomore following his fantastic 2023 campaign. In 62 games in 2024, Kurland slashed .245/.457/.346 with 22 extra-base hits while striking out 73 times. His aggressive approach seems to have toned down in the Cape this summer, as he struck out just 20 times while reaching base on balls 15 times. He’ll need to continue to reign in that aggression and cut down on the chase rate to climb up the rankings. Despite the regression in 2024, his impressive power to all fields remained as he slugged 14 home runs while displaying quick hands and elite bat speed. Defensively, he’ll likely remain at 2B in 2025, even with the addition of Blake Cyr and projects to stay at the keystone at the next level.
PITCHERS
RHP Chase Shores - LSU
Prospects Live Ranking: #41
Chase Shores was one of the most highly-touted prospects to reach campus in 2023, and he looked the part early as a freshman in Baton Rouge. The 6’8” righty appeared in just seven games for the Tigers during their National Championship season before being injured and required Tommy John surgery, impressing with a 1.96 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 18.1 innings pitched. Shores missed all of 2024 and hasn’t thrown in a live game since his injury, but he features all of the tools and physical attributes to become a star at the next level. His fastball routinely hit triple digits and even reached 102 MPH at times. As a freshman, he had some command issues with his pitches but had the least problems with the fastball. The Texas native employs a high 80s changeup and a low 80s breaking ball, but neither were particularly sharp during his freshman campaign. If he gets the chance to start and has a healthy 2025, Chase Shores could rocket up the rankings and into the first round with improved command and secondary pitches.
LHP Shane Sdao - Texas A&M
Prospects Live Ranking: #42
Shane Sdao underwent elbow surgery this past September and will miss the entire 2025 season, so his draft stock may plummet a bit. The 6 '2 lefty enjoyed a breakout campaign for Texas A&M in 2024, going 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA over 48.2 innings pitched while striking out 55 and only walking 9. Sdao features a low 90s fastball that is capable of reaching the mid-90s while a low 80s slider keeps hitters off balance and generates a ton of swing and miss. The Texas native also works in a good mid-80s changeup that he commands well. With three good pitches in his repertoire and his projectable attributes, a number of MLB organizations should be eager to draft him.
LHP Cade Fisher - Auburn
Prospects Live Ranking: #44
After two up-and-down seasons at Florida, Cade Fisher arrives at Auburn with heightened expectations. After going 6-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 49.1 innings as a freshman in Gainesville, Fisher saw his numbers plummet as a sophomore, going 4-3 with a 7.13 ERA in 59.1 innings. He struggled with command and control and an inconsistent release height that must be addressed to succeed in 2025. He threw 5.2 innings for the Cotuit Kettleers on the Cape this past summer, and only gave up one earned run while striking out six. The low-slot southpaw features a low 90s fastball with slight carry and a devastating low-80s sweeping slider that has the potential to be his best pitch. He also has a changeup that he hides well and should see his draft stock rise with a bounceback season at Auburn in 2025.
RHP Nate Snead - Tennessee
Prospects Live Ranking: #45
Nate Snead was a key piece of the Tennessee bullpen in 2024, going 10-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 75.1 innings pitched while striking out 61 hitters en route to the Vols’ National Championship win. He displayed a bit more swing-and-miss as a freshman at Wichita State in 2023 when he struck out 53 batters over 42.2 innings pitched but otherwise saw no regression from the jump in competition after transferring into the SEC. The Wisconsin native features a mid-90s fastball that reaches into the triple digits on shorter outings. He also employs a low 90s cutter and mid-80s breaking ball that needs some improvement to be more consistent. He supposedly has a changeup as well, though it's rarely utilized. Snead will likely be a starter for the defending champs in 2025, so he can improve his draft stock with improved command and consistency in his secondary pitches.
LHP Zach Root - Arkansas
Prospects Live Ranking: #46
Zach Root enjoyed a breakout campaign as a sophomore for the ECU Pirates in 2024, teaming up with Trey Yesavage to create a lethal 1-2 punch atop Coach Cliff Godwin’s weekend rotation. In 11 starts last season for ECU, Root went 5-2 with a 3.82 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 63.2 innings pitched. He’ll make the jump in competition to the SEC, where he’ll join an Arkansas program known for developing top-class pitching. The stocky southpaw has a bit of a funky delivery, but has elite off-speed stuff. His fastball sits in the low 90s and can get up to 97, but the changeup is elite with good command. He also has a mid-80s cutter/slider combo and an upper 70s curveball. If Arkansas can continue to help Root develop those potential plus secondaries and improve his command, Root could find himself flirting with the first round next July.
LHP Liam Doyle - Tennessee
Prospects Live Ranking: #50
Much like teammate Andrew Fischer, Liam Doyle spent one year in Oxford playing for Ole Miss before transferring to Tennessee. As a sophomore, he didn’t post the best numbers as he went 3-4 with a 5.73 ERA over 14 appearances, but he did strike out 84 hitters over 55 innings pitched. The New Hampshire native features an electric fastball that sits in the low-90s, but frequently touches 96-97 MPH with a lot of armside tail and vertical carry. He commands the heater well and generates a ton of whiffs with it. He needs to improve his secondaries, but the potential is there as he employs a low-80s sweeper and a mid-80s cutter that pairs well with the elite fastball. A fourth pitch, an upper-70s splitter, is developing and adds another dangerous weapon to Doyle’s arsenal. Improvement on those secondaries and a big season in Knoxville for the Volunteers should see Doyle shoot up draft boards ahead of July.
RHP Gage Wood - Arkansas
Prospects Live Ranking: #51
Gage Wood has yet to have standout numbers in Arkansas. However, he’s been a pretty reliable reliever over his first two seasons in Fayetteville, going 5-2 with a 4.61 ERA over 70.1 innings pitched. His command showed massive improvement between his freshman and sophomore years, reflected by the 56/8 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 2024. He may get a chance to start at Arkansas in 2025 and his standout performance up in the Cape indicates he could be in for a breakout junior season. In five of his six outings for Falmouth this summer, Wood threw over 50 pitches and dominated with his fastball/slider combination. He throws his fastball almost 70% of the time. It sits in the mid-90s and generates a lot of swing and misses. He often complements the heater with a mid-80s slider and also boasts a splitter and a changeup. Gage Wood could fly up the draft rankings with command of the secondary pitches and consistency as a starter.
RHP Christian Foutch - Arkansas
Prospects Live Ranking: #54
Christian Foutch is another Arkansas relief arm who enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore in 2024. The Colorado native went 1-0 with a 0.81 ERA over 22.1 innings pitched while striking out twenty batters and only walking seven. He’s appeared in 34 games for the Razorbacks over two seasons but has yet to earn a start. He’s a 6’3 right-handed pitcher with a great frame and delivery, and he should see his draft stock improve if he gets a starting role. He displays a smooth delivery and hides the ball well. His arsenal features an upper-90s fastball with sinking action that can sometimes reach triple digits. While he’s primarily a fastball pitcher, Foutch mixes in a slider and splitter to complement the heater, but the command of those pitches is still being developed. Even without a starting role in 2025, the development of those secondary pitches could see Foutch rising into the late first/early second-round area.
RHP Anthony Eyanson - LSU
Prospects Live Ranking: #56
Anthony Eyanson, a transfer from UC-San Diego, is one of the biggest transfer names making noise this fall as he settles into his surroundings in Baton Rouge at LSU. Eyanson enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign in the Big West, going 6-2 with a 3.07 ERA over 82 innings pitched for the Tritons while striking out 85 batters. Most impressive is that he held opposing hitters to just a .190 batting average over his 14 appearances on the mound. The California native’s arsenal features a low-90s fastball that can reach 97 MPH, but the breaking balls are his bread-and-butter. He commands a low-80s slider with bite and a mid-70s curveball well. Reports indicate he’s been very impressive during fall ball with LSU and should be in line for a rotation spot. If he continues his success against top competition in the SEC and adds velocity to the slider, Eyanson’s stock will only rise.
LHP Myles Patton - Texas A&M
Prospects Live Ranking: #57
Like Eyanson, Myles Patton is another California arm who has found his way to the SEC after transferring to Texas A&M this past summer. His season ended in late April due to injury, but the southpaw was enjoying a fantastic season for Long Beach State before he went down. In 66.1 innings pitched, Patton went 4-3 with a 3.26 ERA while striking out 85 batters. He pitched into the 6th inning or later in 9 of 11 starts and amassed double-digit strikeout totals three times. He arrives in College Station with two years of starting experience and should slot into the Aggies’ weekend rotation. He boasts an effective fastball/slider combination that misses a lot of bats, even though his average fastball velocity hovers just on the wrong side of 90 MPH. Patton also features a changeup and curveball, but both pitches must be developed further to be as effective.
LHP Landon Beidelschies - Arkansas
Prospects Live Ranking: #60
After an impressive freshman season as a reliever at Ohio State, Landon Beidelschies excelled for the Buckeyes in a starting role in 2024. In 15 starts on the mound, the lefty went 6-7 with a 4.15 ERA over 84.2 innings pitched while striking out 91 hitters. Beidelschies heavily relies on his fastball/slider combination, throwing them almost 90% of the time. The fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s and has occasionally reached upwards of 98 MPH. The mid-80s slider is firm with good bite. Both pitches generate a ton of whiffs. He also has a mid-80s change-up that’s rarely utilized. He’ll need to develop that third pitch and improve overall command to improve his draft stock. A successful year transferring into the SEC will also help, however.
LHP Ryan Prager - Texas A&M
Prospects Live Ranking: #62
Ryan Prager is the third Aggie arm in our rankings, but the only one that was drafted in 2024. After a monster season leading the Aggies pitching staff as they played for a National Championship, Prager was drafted in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft for the Los Angeles Angels. The lefty ace went 9-1 with a 2.95 ERA over 97.2 innings pitched while striking out 124 and only walking 20 batters. Prager’s fastball isn’t particularly impressive, as it averages around 90 MPH with slight cutting action. And yet, it still finds ways to miss bats at a 30% rate. He also has a low-80s slider and a vulcan change-up in the upper-70s that generate whiffs. With the exceptional command ability he’s showcased in past years, Prager should continue to dominate at the college level. Whether or not he’ll be able to improve his draft stock, given his age and injury history, is a different question.