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2025 MLB Draft Preview: Top College Baseball Prospects

Fantasy BaseballDynasty Fantasy BaseballMLB Prospects
Richard Haake
Author: Richard Haake
60 min.read
2025 MLB Draft Preview

With the 2025 MLB Draft coming up in July, the time is now to start learning about the prospects that will be selected in the draft. In this article, you will find all the breakdowns from the weekly standouts throughout the season all in one place. This will help you get a leg up when the draft comes around on the value of the prospects taken as well as post-draft as they start their climb to the show. Ultimately this will help set the groundwork for the FYPD in the off-season and help you dominate your leagues.

If you aren’t playing your dynasty leagues on Fantrax, you’re missing out on the deepest player pool and most customization around. Just starting out in a dynasty league? Then check out our Top-400 Overall Fantasy Prospects and Top-500 Dynasty League Rankings.

MLB Draft Eligible Prospects

For the full analysis of each player just click on the + next to the player name, then you can minimize that info by clicking the – sign.

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[accordion title=”Liam Doyle, LHP Jr. Tennessee” load=”hide”](5 GS, 25 IP, 53 K, 0.72 ERA, 2.5 BB/9, 19.1 K/9)

Recently transferred from Mississippi, Liam Doyle is a hard-throwing left-hander who has put up some impressive numbers in his first two starts with the Vols. Standing 6’2” and 220 pounds, Doyle has a starter’s build and a solid four-pitch mix to remain a starter long-term. The four-seam fastball sits at 96 mph and tops out at 98 mph early this spring while the 83 mph slider has excellent horizontal movement. The 88 mph cutter works well against lefties, but the command can vary at times. Rounding out the arsenal is an 82 mph change-up that gets firm at times and is a work in progress.

The first start of the season for Doyle came against Hofstra as he struck out 11 batters over five innings pitched, allowing just one hit with 58 pitches. Doyle’s dominance continued over to the Samford start as he struck out 14 batters over 5.1 innings pitched, allowing two hits, one earned run (home run), and a walk with 81 pitches. It seems like the Tennessee touch might have been all Liam Doyle needed to take his game to the next level, we will see how he fares as the season goes on.

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[accordion title=”Aiva Arquette, SS/2B Jr. Oregon State” load=”hide”](18 GP, .358/.458/.597, 3 HR, 17 R, 17 RBI)

The first season with Aiva Arquette with Oregon State is underway! The 21-year-old second baseman played previously at Washington where he slashed .325/.384/.574 with 12 home runs, 45 runs scored, 36 RBIs, and six stolen bases in 48 games played. Standing 6’5” and 220 pounds, Arquette has a build for power but has been graded out as an average power contributor although he grades as a plus bat-to-ball skill and defensive player. After the 2024 season, Arquette played in the Cape Cod League where he slashed .291/.357/.437 with three home runs, 15 runs scored, 21 RBIs, and two stolen bases in 29 games played for Chatham.

All eyes are on Arquette this season as he has already shown some improvements and upside on the diamond. Now healthy from wrist surgery, look for Arquette to push for above-average power now with a great development school like Oregon State.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Kyson Witherspoon, RHP Jr. Oklahoma” load=”hide”](5 GS, 28.1 IP, 47 K, 1.91 ERA, 1.9 BB/9, 14.9 K/9)

Coming out strong to start the season with the Sooners has been Kyson Witherspoon. Standing 6’2” and 206 pounds, the right-hander has some electric stuff. Witherspoon features a four-seam fastball that sits 95 mph and has topped out at 100 mph in short bursts, the 86 mph slider can ramp up to the low 90s with excellent movement and depth, both offerings grade out as plus offerings. The change-up lags behind the fastball and slider development as it sits at 87 mph but is inconsistent with repeating movement, making this a project pitch in 2025.

Starting the season against Lehigh, Witherspoon went five innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out nine on 90 pitches. The main adjustment that needed to be made this season was bringing down the walks from the 2024 season. Across 80 innings pitched for the Sooners, Witherspoon walked 40 batters, good for a 4.5 BB/9. With this being said, Witherspoon limited the walks in his second game against Minnesota. Across seven innings pitched, he allowed three hits, one of them being a solo home run while striking out 12 batters on 90 pitches. The early results are good thus far for Witherspoon, who could push for one of the top pitching arms available come draft day.
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[accordion title=”Marek Houston, SS Jr. Wake Forest” load=”hide”](21 GP, .410/.505/.783, 8 HR, 31 R, 39 RBI, 10 SB)

Watching Marek Houston play for Wake Forest in 2024 was fun to watch as the infielder showed off excellent defensive prowess while being effective with the bat, and so far this season might propel Houston to go in the first round. Houston stands 6’3” and 185 pounds with above-average bat-to-ball skills and has started to see the below-average power grades trend towards average long-term. In 54 games played with Wake Forest in 2024 Houston slashed .326/.434/.516 with eight home runs, 57 runs scored, 39 RBIs, and four stolen bases.

After the season was through, Houston headed to the Cape Cod League where he went on to slash .306/.465/.329 with 17 runs scored, eight RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 27 games played with wood bats. The bat has been electric thus far with Houston going off against a solid Notre Dame team for 10 RBIs tying a Wake Forest school record. If this level of play continues look for Marek Houston to keep climbing the MLB Draft ranks.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Gavin Kilen, 2B Jr. Tennessee” load=”hide”](20 GP, .433/.556/.985, 9 HR, 31 R, 24 RBI, 5 SB)

Tennessee replaced first-round pick Christian Moore with a potential first-round transfer in Gavin Kilen at second base this season. Kilen stands 5’11” and 187 pounds transferring from Louisville where he slashed .330/.361/.591 with nine home runs, 41 RBIs, and one stolen base in 54 games played. Unlike Moore from the season prior, Kilen isn’t a power threat as he grades out as a below-average power bat long term. What makes Kilen’s game is his excellent bat-to-ball skills paired with plus defense at second base.

After the 2024 season, Kilen went to the Cape Cod League where he slashed just .253/.33/.341 with two home runs, 19 runs scored, and 10 RBIs in 24 games played. The struggle with the batting average with the wood bats is slightly concerning, but the production since starting the season has turned the skepticism around. Currently across 20 games played with the Vols, Kilen is slashing .433/.556/.985 with nine home runs, 31 runs scored, 24 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases. If these improvements continue, we could see Kilen make his way up toward the first round with a good season in Tennessee.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Logan Lunceford, RHP Jr. Wake Forest” load=”hide”](5 GS, 27 IP, 50 K 1.33 ERA, 3.0 BB/9, 16.7 K/9)

Fresh from the transfer portal, Lunceford played two seasons at Missouri with middling success before making the move to Wake Forest this season. Standing 5’10” and 190 pounds, Lunceford is a bit undersized for a starter, though the stuff has proven early to be something to take notice of. Lunceford has a mid-90s fastball with riding life up in the zone, the curveball comes in at 73 mph with excellent break while the slider sits at 80 mph with solid horizontal movement down in the zone. Coming up last is the change-up that has improved tremendously since arriving at Wake Forest. The four-pitch offerings have been helped by above-average spin rates and a deceptive low release height from Lunceford so far this season.

Luceford started his season against Long Island where he struck out seven batters, allowing two walks, and just one hit over four innings of work, totaling 76 pitches. Just one hit against Long Island was a welcome sight as what has hurt Lunceford in his time at Missouri was allowing too many hits. This was evident in his 10.8 H/9 and 7.5 H/9 in 114.2 innings pitched in 2023 and 2024 combined. In his start against St John’s, Luceford struck out 13 batters over 5.1 innings pitched, allowing two walks and just one hit on 93 pitches.

If he can keep up this level of production throughout the college season against stronger competition, look for Luceford to push the top two rounds of the draft in July.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Brendan Summerhill, OF Jr. Arizona” load=”hide”](19 GP, .423/.500/.680, 2 HR, 20 R, 20 RBI, 4 SB)

Popping up on the college players to watch early this season is Brendan Summerhill. Standing 6’3” and 200 pounds, batting from the left side of the plate, Summerhill is known for his above-average bat-to-ball skills, speed, and defense in the outfield. In 2024, with Arizona Summerhill played 58 games, slashing .324/.399/.550 with eight home runs, 50 runs scored, 59 RBIs, and seven stolen bases. Not necessarily the amazing numbers, but not bad as a whole, what sent him soaring up rankings is what he did in the Cape Cod League over the summer.

In 24 games played with Wareham in the CCBL Summerhill slashed .286/.358/.441 with two home runs, 19 runs scored, 14 RBIs, and finished with 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts. The increase in stolen bases paired with the performance with wood bats in the CCBL is an encouraging sign of improvements for this season. So far this season, Summerhill has been effective in slashing .423/.500/.680 with two home runs, 20 runs scored, 20 RBIs, and four stolen bases in four attempts. With a profile as a safe bat-to-ball outfielder with above-average to plus defense, look for Summerhill to remain high on draft rankings.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Patrick Forbes, RHP Jr. Louisville” load=”hide”](5 GS, 25 IP, 45 K, 2.16 ERA, 2.5 BB/9, 16.2 K/9)

Hailing from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Forbes stayed close to home, attending the University of Louisville, and quickly stood out as a name to watch this season in his first two starts. The right-hander has a starter’s build standing at 6’3” and 220 pounds with a three-pitch mix. Grading out as a true double-plus offering is a four-seam fastball that sits at 96 mph and has topped out at 100 mph over the summer in the Cape Cod League.

With excellent spin rates on the fastball, Forbes generates a ton of swing and miss thanks to the movement he generates at such a high speed. Aided by the spin on the fastball, Forbes slider grades out as a plus offering sitting in the low 80s with excellent movement. Last is the change-up that shows inconsistencies sitting 88 mph with a solid fade but hasn’t been easy to throw for strikes consistently.

The 2025 season will be Forbes’s first season as a starter for Louisville and the early results have been excellent as he gets stretched out. In his first matchup against a tough Texas squad, Forbes picked up the win by pitching five innings allowing five hits with two earned runs (one home run), walking one, and finishing with 11 strikeouts on 84 pitches. The second match-up came against Western Michigan as Forbes struck out nine batters over five innings pitched, allowing just two hits and no walks on just 74 pitches. Limiting the walks is key for Forbes to continue climbing rankings boards but his performances this season thus far have been encouraging.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Ethan Conrad, OF Jr. Wake Forest” load=”hide”](21 GP, .372/.495/.744, 7 HR, 30 R, 27 RBI, 4 SB)

Coming to Wake Forest from Marist College, a MAAC conference school, Ethan Conrad looks to do what Seaver King did last season and make some waves leading up to the MLB Draft. In 2024 Conrad played 55 games slashing .389/.467/.704 with nine home runs, 55 runs scored, 52 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. Standing 6’3” and 200 pounds, Conrad is a bat-to-ball prospect with speed and above-average defense that can play in the outfield as well as first base. The power is average for Conrad coming from the left side of the plate, though the early exit velocity readings have looked impressive with Wake Forest.

After finishing the season with Marist in 2024, Conrad headed to the Cape Cod League to get more work in. Across 30 games played for Bourne Conrad slashed .385/.433/.486 with two home runs, 27 runs scored, 19 RBIs, and stole 19 bases in 23 attempts. This success with the wood bat in the CCBL has begun to push Conrad up heading into his first season with Wake Forest. To this point so far Conrad is slashing .372/.495/.744 with seven home runs, 30 runs scored, 27 RBIs, and four stolen bases in five attempts. There is easy power in the swing as we saw Conrad hit the ball 106 mph off the bat for his second home run of the season. Keep your eyes on Conrad as the season wears on.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Pierce Coppola, LHP Jr. Florida” load=”hide”](3 GS, 12.2 IP, 23 K 1.42 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, 16.3 K/9)

Imposing pitchers with solid mechanics can dominate opposing batters and New Jersey native Pierce Coppola is no exception. Standing 6’8” and 245 pounds, throwing from the left side, Coppola has cast fear into the eyes of opposing batters so far in his first two starts. Working with a four-pitch-mix, Coppola sits 95 mph with the four-seam fastball and regularly hits the upper 90s early in starts. The slider sits at 83 mph while the curveball comes in at 78 mph and pitches Coppola has refined over the years, aiming to get more spin and movement. As for the upper 80s change-up, it’s at least an average offering.

In the first start against Air Force, Coppola got the win by striking out 12 batters while allowing just one walk and hit across five innings of work on 70 pitches. The dominance on the mound was encouraging for Coppola who made only eight starts for Florida in 2024 and struggled with the walks, finishing with a 4.6 BB/9 in 23.2 innings pitched. His second start of the season came against Dayton where he struck out eight while allowing two earned runs, on three hits, and walked one over five innings pitched needing just 74 pitches. Not as highly touted going into the season, there could be something here to watch this season in Pierce Coppola leading up to draft season.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Joseph Dzierwa, LHP Jr. Michigan St.” load=”hide”](5 GS, 31.2 IP, 46 K, 1.42 ERA, 2.0 BB/9, 13.1 K/9)

Standing at 6’8” and 200 pounds of intimidating lefty dominance, Joseph Dzierwa is making good on the pre-season predictions of a front-runner for pitcher of the year in the Big 10. The local kid from Otsego High School has made year-over-year strides at Michigan State but none more than the level of production we have seen thus far. Dzierwa is not overpowering with the fastball as it comes in at 90 mph and has topped out at 92 mph this spring, but he locates it well and sets up his big looping curveball coming in at 76 mph. The deception helped by a three-quarter arm slot and lowering the walks has proven to propel Dzierwa so far this season.

Across his first three games of the season, Dzierwa has shown dominance with the strikeouts while limiting hits and walks, something that has limited his upside in seasons past. In his most recent start against Harvard, Dzierwa struck out 10 batters over six innings pitched, allowing four hits, one earned run, and no walks with 88 pitches thrown in the game. This was his first earned run on the season and came on a solo home run, but overall the outing was solid for Dzierwa. Starts like these will continue to propel Dzierwa up draft boards in July.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Korbyn Dickerson, OF Jr. Indiana” load=”hide”](20 GP, .385/.467/.791, 10 HR, 30 R, 36 RBI, 1 SB)

Coming into his first season with Indiana, Korbyn Dickerson was poised to raise his draft stock and so far he is on the right track. Dickerson has plus speed that has helped his excellent defense in the outfield, but when it comes to the base paths we haven’t seen his full potential just yet. There is some potential for above-average pop in the bat thanks to his quick hands through the zone, generating great bat speed, and has shown a propensity to make solid contact.

During the Northwest Diamond Series over the summer, Dickerson showed the potential pop in his bat as well as applying the natural plus speed to the base-paths. Across 53 games played he slashed .269/.352/.477 with nine home runs, 38 runs scored, 50 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. Thus far we have seen the success of the summer league translate into Dickerson’s play with Indiana. Currently, Dickerson is slashing .385/.467/.791 with 10 home runs, 30 runs scored, 36 RBIs, and one stolen base.
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[accordion title=”Griffin Hugus, RHP Jr. Miami (FL)” load=”hide”](5 GS, 27.1 IP, 41 K, 3.95 ERA, 3.0 BB/9, 13.5 K/9)

Transferring to Miami from Cincinnati this season, Griffin Hugus has shown excellent strikeout numbers early on for the Hurricanes. Standing 6’2” and 195 pounds, Hugus throws from the right side with an uptick in his velocity this season. The four-seam fastball has been sitting between 93-94 mph while featuring a mid-80s change-up with solid fade, but the mid-70s curveball has above-average spin rates. This three-pitch mix has been simple yet effective for Hugus early on.

Coming off a solid summer in the Cape Cod League, Hugus pitched for Bourne where in 11 appearances he struck out 24 batters over 23.1 innings pitched and finished with a 2.31 ERA while walking just four batters. The walks were a concern for Hugus back at Cincinnati as he walked 21 batters over 33 innings pitched in 2024. The toughest start so far this season came in week three against a tough Florida lineup. Across five innings pitched, Hugus struck out 10 while allowing four hits, two earned runs, and three walks in 95 total pitches. This could be a pitcher whose stock could fall in the third or fourth-round range if he can maintain solid production in the ACC.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Brody Donay, C Jr. Florida” load=”hide”](20 GP, .382/.512/.838, 8 HR, 22 R, 18 RBI, 4 SB)

Catching prospects tend to be ones that dynasty managers put off for last, but when they have multiple position flexibility and show a potential plus bat, we must take notice. Brody Donay is tall for a catcher standing at 6’5” and 235 pounds. Originally, Donay started his collegiate career at Virginia Tech, his freshman season, and played in 39 games with solid success slashing .260/.352/.585 with 12 home runs. For his sophomore season, The Florida native transferred to the University of Florida and appeared in 49 games and crushed 14 home runs.

Over the last two seasons, Donay has gone to the Cape Cod League and has had less than great results in the wood-bat league offensively. So far this season, though we have seen Donay flourish playing in 20 games thus far, slashing .382/.512/.838 with eight home runs, 22 runs scored, 18 RBIs, and four stolen bases. With the extra base pop comes swing and miss in the past for Donay, so this will need to be something he cracks down on this season, and thus far it seems to stay low.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Pico Kohn, LHP Jr. Mississippi St.” load=”hide”](5 GS, 29.2 IP, 43 K, 3.03 ERA, 1.5 BB/9, 13 K/9)

The build-up has been gradual for Pico Kohn since his freshman season at Mississippi State. Standing at 6’4” and 200 pounds, Kohn has a true starter’s build on the mound, In his sophomore season Kohn took to the rotation appearing in nine games while starting eight. Across 29.1 innings pitched, he struck out 35 while walking 11 and finished the season with a 3.38 ERA. Kohn missed his 2023 season due to Tommy John, but with the results from the 2024 season, he looked poised to take a big step forward. His four-seam fastball sits 92 mph but touches 94 mph, the change-up is an average offering with solid fade while the slider has a ton of horizontal movement to it, inducing a lot of swings and misses as a true out pitch.

This season Kohn has looked solid in his first two outings, striking out 22 over 11.1 innings pitched, allowing just five hits and one earned run against Manhattan and Missouri State. The match-up against Rice was a bit more challenging for Kohn, who struck out six over 6.1 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, and walked two, needing 93 pitches. If Kohn can get back to his first two outings, this could be a solid grab in the third round of the MLB draft.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Mason Neville, OF Jr. Oregon” load=”hide”](20 GP, .329/.416/.781, 10 HR, 29 R, 23 RBI, 5 SB)

Pushing for College Baseball’s leader in home runs thus far, Mason Neville has made major strides this season and is emerging as a batter to watch closely. Standing 6’3” and 197 pounds batting from the left side, Neville looks like he is built for power with room to add still more muscle to his frame. Neville started his college career at Arkansas as a Freshman but didn’t do much in the 19-game sample size slashing just .11/.250/.148 in 33 plate appearances. The transfer to Oregon brought more playing time and better results as he slashed .269/.369.664 with 16 home runs, 36 runs scored, 43 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 56 games played.

This season, Neville has looked like a more complete ball player. Across 20 games played, he is slashing .329/.416/.781 with 10 home runs, 29 runs scored, 23 RBIs, and five stolen bases. Neville should continue to position himself into early first-round conversations as spring rolls on.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Andrew Fischer, INF Jr. Tennessee” load=”hide”](20 GP, .286/.494/.714, 7 HR, 24 R, 21 RBI, 1 SB)

Big-time power is what Andrew Fischer brings to the table and so far he has brought every bit of it to the Tennessee Vols in 2025. Standing 6’1” and 210 pounds batting from the left side of the plate, Andrew Fischer started his collegiate career out at Duke University where he set the Freshman home run record at 11 starting what would be his profile as a potential plus power bat. Despite scout grades of below-average bat-to-ball skills, Fischer followed up his Freshman year by transferring to Mississippi, where he slashed .285/.397/.643 with 20 home runs across 55 games played.

This season everything seems to be improving as Fischer has played in 20 games thus far slashing .286/.494/.714 with seven home runs, 24 runs scored, 21 RBIs, and one stolen base for the defending national champion Vols. Defensively Fischer could be bound for a corner outfield spot thanks to an above-average arm, but more than likely would be a solid first base option once drafted.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Zach Root, LHP Jr. Arkansas” load=”hide”](5 GS, 24.1 IP, 39 K, 4.44 ERA, 3 BB/9, 14.4 K/9)

Dominating in his first season with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Zach Root was a solid lefty at East Carolina University, but this is just fun to watch. Standing 6’2” and 210 pounds, throwing from the left side, Root has an effortless release and a solid five-pitch mix. The fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 95 mph, while the curveball comes in at 78 and drops off the table similar to Cole Ragans with the Royals. Coming inside to lefties is an 88 mph cutter with solid movement and can back the velocity down adding break mirroring a slider around 85 mph. The change-up is no slouch coming in at 83 mph with excellent tumble late, and he trusts the pitch throwing it 22% of the time off the four seam 47%.

Root cruised through tough starts against Washington State and TCU striking out a combined 18 batters over 10 innings pitched allowing just two hits, three walks, and two earned runs. Week three was problematic against UNC Charlotte as he allowed three runs, in five hits across 5.1 innings pitched, striking out a total of eight with 97 pitches thrown. This week we saw a massive bounce back as Root cruised against Portland tying a season-high in strikeouts with 10 across six innings while allowing three hits, one walk, and no earned runs in a 10-0 victory.

This profile and production make Zach Root one of the top left-handers to watch this season with a complete pitch mix that could transition quickly to professional ball.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Anthony Eyanson, RHP Jr. LSU” load=”hide”](5 GS, 27.2 IP, 40 K, 3.90 ERA, 2.0 BB/9, 13.0 K/9)

The recent transfer of Anthony Eyanson to LSU is paying off so far for his draft stock. Standing at 6’2” and 195 pounds, Eyanson played the first two seasons of his collegiate career at UC San Diego, averaging over a nine K/9 with a walks per nine under 2.5. The fastball averages 95 mph and has topped out at 97 early in starts, but the difference maker is a 12-6 curveball that comes in at 78 mph with excellent movement. Eyanson has a slider that comes in at 84 mph with solid horizontal and vertical action that is most similar to a slurve in shape.

After a dominant first two outings this season against Purdue and Omaha, Eyanson hit a snag in week three against Nebraska. Across six innings he struck out seven, while allowing seven hits, one walk, and five earned runs, ultimately earning the win in an 11-6 win. This week, however, Eyanson bounced back strong against North Alabama, striking out 15 over seven innings pitched, allowing just two hits, two walks, and two earned runs, earning the win in a 6-2 finish.

Throughout his collegiate career, Eyanson has done a solid job limiting the walks, this season has been no exception as he currently has a solid two BB/9 while striking out a strong 13.0 K/9 across 27.2 innings pitched. Look for his draft stock to continue to climb as the season wears on.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Alex Lodise, SS Jr. Florida State” load=”hide”](19 GP, .456/.506/.772, 5 HR, 20 R, 19 RBI, 3 SB)

Standing out as one of the top college shortstops in this season’s upcoming MLB draft Alex Lodise has continued to expand upon a solid collegiate career at the University of North Florida and currently at Florida State. Lodise stands 6’1” and 190 pounds and bats right-handed for the Seminoles showing a smooth swing with quick hands through the zone. The power has remained steadily average in his first two seasons hitting 14 each season but this season we have seen an uptick in the extra base power as well as the exit velocities. Stolen bases have not been a large part of Lodise’s game as he has swiped 12 total before this season but profiles as an average runner.

Over the summer Lodise played in the Cape Cod League which switched it up from metal bats used in college to wood bats similar to the Minor and Major leagues. Across 15 games played for Hyannis Lodise slashed .295/.339/.410 with one home run, seven runs scored, four RBIs, and one stolen base in four attempts. Coming off the solid performance in the CCBL Lodise has put together a solid season thus far. In 19 games played, he is slashing .456/.506/.772 with five home runs, 20 runs scored, 19 RBIs, and three stolen bases in as many attempts. This performance will continue to push Lodise up draft boards leading up to the MLB draft but don’t be surprised if his stock continues to climb post-draft in professional ball.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Luke Stevenson, C So. UNC” load=”hide”](20 GP, .309/.500/.647, 7 HR, 20 R, 21 RBI, 2 SB)

Standing out as one of the top catching prospects available in the 2025 MLB Draft is sophomore Luke Stevenson. Standing 6’1” and 200 pounds batting from the left side Stevenson has above average to plus pop coming from the catcher position and thanks to the plus arm and fielding grades we have seen from him he should stick behind the plate long-term. Although there is not a large sample size for Stevenson in college we did see him win the starting catcher position as a freshman and the results were solid. Across 64 games played Stevenson slashed .284/.420/.535 with 14 home runs, 43 runs scored, 58 RBIs, and two stolen bases.

This season, Stevenson has shown the potential plus pop and continues to impress with his patience at the plate. Through his 20 games played Stevenson is slashing .309/.500/.647 with seven home runs, 20 runs scored, 21 RBIs, and two stolen bases while walking 26 times in his 68 at-bats thus far. With the catching position seeing a renaissance in recent seasons, look for Stevenson to go in the first round if he can continue to perform at this high level in the ACC.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Wehiwa Aloy, SS Jr. Arkansas” load=”hide”](20 GP, .380/.484/.810, 9 HR, 25 R, 24 RBI, 2 SB)

Hailing from Wailuku Hawaii Wehiwa Aloy has put up solid numbers from Sacramento State as a freshman and is now in his second season at Arkansas. Standing 6’2” and 200 pounds Aloy has displayed solid defense at shortstop but is likely to move off to third base or second once drafted. There has been solid raw pop the borderlines above average in Aloy’s bat as he hit 14 home runs in each of his first two collegiate seasons while maintaining a batting average no lower than .270. Wehiwa’s brother Kuhio Aloy is currently a sophomore at Arkansas and the two brothers have come up big for the Razorbacks so far this season.

During the off-season, Aloy played in the Cape Cod League and showed solid results with the wood bat. Across 21 games played Aloy slashed .309/.352/.642 with eight home runs, 16 runs scored, 24 RBIs, and two stolen bases. Currently with the Razorbacks Aloy is slashing .380/.484/.810 with nine home runs, 25 runs scored, 24 RBIs, and two stolen bases. The increase in power output we saw in the CCBL has carried over to the regular season for Aloy as he has hit 16 extra-base hits in 79 at-bats thus far. To put this into perspective we only saw 23 extra-base hits in 237 plate appearances with Arkansas in 2024. With the numbers trending in the right direction look for Aloy to push for a back-of-the-first-round spot come draft day.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Jamie Arnold, LHP Jr. Florida State” load=”hide”](4 GS, 20.2 IP, 32 K, 0.87 ERA, 1.7 BB/9, 13.9 K/9)

Heralded as the best college pitcher going into the 2025 season Jamie Arnold got off to a slow start but has since turned it around and pushing to be at the top of the first-round consideration. Standing 6’1” and 188 pounds throwing from the left side Arnold has two plus offering in a mid-90s fastball that touches 97 mph with a rise up in the zone. The slider comes in at 85 mph with a ton of sweep to it thanks to the lower arm slot Arnold throws from and misses a ton of bats. When it comes to the change-up it’s a distant third offering showing the average shape and fade.

In 2024 Arnold had 19 appearances as a sophemore with 18 starts striking out 159 batters across 105.2 innings pitched, walking 2.2 BB/9, and finishing with a solid 13.5 K/9. This performance catapulted Arnold into the top five discussions going into the 2025 season. After missing the first start to the season Arnold has been dominant averaging eight strikeouts per start to this point. In four starts Arnold has struck out 32 batters over 20.2 innings pitched good for a solid 13.9 K/9 and is sporting a stellar 0.87 ERA. The walks that have come down each season at Florida State are now down to a 1.7 BB/9. As long as Arnold continues to dominate his competition look for him to push Liam Doyle for the first college arm selected come Draft Day.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Tyler Bremner, RHP Jr. UC Santa Barbara” load=”hide”](5 GS, 24.1 IP, 26 K, 2.96 ERA, 2.2 BB/9, 9.6 K/9)

UC Santa Barbara has developed solid pitching prospects in the past such as Guardians starter Shane Bieber and recent draftee Michael McGreevy of the Cardinals. Tyler Bremner looks to make his mark on the list of successful starters to make their mark in the major leagues. Standing 6’2” and 190 pounds throwing from the right side, Bremner features three plus to double-plus offerings in a 95 mph fastball that ramps up to 98 mph with an excellent ride up in the zone thanks to an easy and repeatable delivery. The change-up comes in the mid 80’s with excellent fade and tumble profiling as potentially Bremner’s best secondary offering but the 88 mph slider is no slouch with gyro movement he generates easy swing and miss.

During the 2024 season, Bremner worked as a starter and reliever with solid results. Across 19 appearances (five starts) Bremner struck out 104 batters over 88.2 innings pitched good for 10.6 K/9 while walking just 2.1 batters per nine innings, and finishing with a 2.54 ERA. This season the focus was to give Bremner a full season starting and thus far the results have been solid. In five games started Bremner has struck out 26 batters over 24.1 innings pitched good for a 9.6 K/9, while walking only six batters, and currently has a 2.96 ERA. To this point, the long ball has gotten him early as he gave up two to Seattle University and one in his most recent start against Hawaii.

The stuff is fantastic it will all come down to how Bremner continues to progress this season which will dictate what draft position or round he will fall to.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Lincoln Sheffield, LHP Jr. Kansas State” load=”hide”](6 GS, 34.1 IP, 39 K, 4.46 ERA, 1.3 BB/9, 10.2 K/9)
Standing at 6’1” and 220 pounds and throwing from the left side, Lincoln Sheffield might not stand out as a typical starter build, but he has been solid in his first season with Kansas State. Sheffield originally signed with Hinds Community College in Mississippi, where he had a career 4.24 ERA with 122 strikeouts over 129.1 innings pitched across his two seasons. The stuff is not overpowering with a 90 mph fastball paired with a slurvy curveball that sits 76 mph with horizontal movement and a low 80s change-up. All offerings have done a good job inducing weak contact and are helped by pinpoint control and command of his offerings.

In his first season with Kansas State, Sheffield has put up solid numbers against formidable competition. The two best outings of the season have been in his second start of the season against a solid TCU team as Sheffield went seven, striking out eight while allowing five hits and one earned run. In his start against Utah, Sheffield went seven, striking out a season-high of nine batters, allowing six hits and two earned runs. Due to the size and low velocity stuff Sheffield feels like a deeper draft prospect that relies on location over the high strikeouts, leading me to think he could be a solid long reliever someday.[/accordion]

[accordion title=”Braeden Sloan, LHP Jr. TCU” load=”hide”](7 GP, 25.1 IP, 34 K, 1.07 ERA, 1.4 BB/9, 12.1 K/9)
TCU has had success developing pitchers in the past but one that seems to be going under the radar with huge upside this season has been Braeden Sloan. Standing 6’4” and 215 pounds, Sloan has been dominant, but do not let the lack of starts this season deter you from adding him to your draft cards. Sloan’s upper-70s change-up is the star of the show, coming in at 78 mph and is filthy as a projected double-plus offering. There are two fastballs in the four-seam coming in at 92 mph and the two-seam at 87 with arm-side sink.

Despite coming out of the bullpen, Sloan has averaged 3.2 innings per appearance. Sloan’s longest outing came on a masterful performance against Fresno State, striking out seven over his five innings pitched with no earned runs and five hits allowed on 75 pitches. To me, this is a prospect that Major League teams love to draft and get more out of, like the Cleveland Guardians or, recently, the New York Mets. Sloan could be an interesting day 2 draftee for the right organization if he continues to dominate.[/accordion]

[accordion title=”Chase Shores, RHP Jr. LSU” load=”hide”](6 GS, 27.2 IP, 30 K, 4.88 ERA, 3.9 BB/9, 9.8 K/9)
Coming out of high school, Chase Shores was impressive for more than just his 6’8” and 252-pound frame. It was the high velocity on the fastball coming in at 98 mph that had scouts’ attention. The pitch mix for Shores is simply a four-seam fastball that has reached 100 mph in his freshman season but sits at 95-96 mph on average. Coming in at 84 mph, the slider has solid movement profiling as an above-average offering. As for the change-up, it can be firm coming in at 88 mph and lacking consistency and depth.

In his first season with the LSU Tigers, Shores appeared in seven games, starting four with 15 strikeouts over 18.1 innings pitched, good for a 1.96 ERA. Unfortunately, Shores went down with Tommy John, missing the remainder of the 2023 & 2024 seasons. This season, Shores seems to be getting back up to speed, but he is still shaking the rust off. Blow-ups against Sam Houston and Missouri have blown up his  ERA but the strikeouts have been solid in his starts, and the walks have not been out of control, something we have seen from returning TJ pitchers.

If Shores can finish the season strong in the SEC he could be a steal for the team by the fourth round and potentially higher if the results kick up.[/accordion]

[accordion title=”Jake Munroe, 3B Jr. Louisville” load=”hide”](23 GP, .432/.523/.705, 5 HR, 27 R, 25 RBI)
Louisville might have gotten an excellent steal this season with Jake Munroe transferring from Jon A. Logan College. Standing 6’2” and 230 pounds, Munroe has some above-average pop in his bat as he crushed 12 home runs in 52 games played at JALC as a freshman. We also saw solid bat-to-ball skills as he slashed .339/.466/.661 in 2023 and .415/.510/.881 in his final season in 2024.

Thus far, Munroe has continued to show excellent bat-to-ball skills at the hot corner. Across 23, Munroe is slashing .432/.523/.705 with five home runs, 27 runs scored, and 25 RBIs. Despite only five home runs to this point in the season, Munroe has popped 12 extra-base hits in 88 at-bats, which hints at more power to come. Munroe seems like a solid second-round selection, but he could push to comp rounds if the power starts to come through.[/accordion]

[accordion title=”Skylar King, OF Jr. West Virginia” load=”hide”](22 GP, .414/.512/.514, 1 HR, 14 R, 15 RBI, 8 SB)
One of the standouts this season from West Virginia University has been Skylar King, an outfielder with excellent bat-to-ball skills and a propensity to get on base. Standing at 6’1” and 180 pounds batting from the left side of the plate, King is no power threat, but the defensive and bat-to-ball skills with solid speed on the basepaths. Each season, the bat has gotten better with this year King taking it to a new level.

After the 2024 season, King went out to the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he saw success slashing .294/.294/.471 with one home run, three runs scored, and two RBIs, over 11 games played. This success in the CCBL has carried over into the season, across 22 games played, King is slashing .414/.512/.514 with one home run, 14 runs scored, 15 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 12 attempts. If these results continue, look for Kings’ stock to climb as the MLB Draft nears.[/accordion]

[accordion title=”Max Belyeu, OF Jr. Texas” load=”hide”](22 GP, .348/.448/.618, 5 HR, 19 R, 18 RBI, 3 SB)
The University of Texas has seen some prolific power hitters come out of their organization, but Max Belyeu might be one to watch. Standing 6’2” and 215 pounds, hitting from the left side of the plate, Belyeu started to show big power in his swing back in 2024. Across 59 games played, Belyeu slashed .329/.423/.667 with 18 home runs, 50 runs scored, 53 RBIs, and three stolen bases. In 210 at-bats, we saw 34 extra-base hits, giving us a glimpse into what could be around the corner. After the season was through, Belyeu made an appearance in the Cape Cod Baseball League. The focus is on how the college players perform with wooden bats as opposed to the metal ones used in college.

Across 18 games played for Cotuit in the CCBL, Belyeu slashed just .222/.307/.352 with two home runs, nine RBIs, and one stolen base in three attempts. The underwhelming numbers did not stop Belyeu from getting off to a solid start in 2025 with the Longhorns. In 22 games played, Belyeu is slashing .348/.448/.618 with five home runs, 19 runs scored, 18 RBIs, and three stolen bases in five attempts. There is still a lot of work to be done if Belyeu wants to push into the first round of the MLB Draft, but his profile thus far settles him into a second-round value play.[/accordion]

[accordion title=”Bryker Hurdsman, OF Jr. BYU” load=”hide”](23 GP, .429/.505/.679, 3 HR, 29 R, 16 RBI, 7 SB)
One of the best hitters in the NCAA this season has been Bryker Hurdsman of Brigham Young University. Despite the 6’4” and 200-pound frame, Hurdsman has not been known for his power in his lone season at Utah Tech and BYU. In fact across 63 games played prior to this season and 180 at-bats, Hurdsman hit just seven total. The bat-to-ball skills are what Hurdsman has been known for, as well as the ability to draw a walk, as we saw a solid performance from him as a sophomore in 2024.

Across 38 games played in his first season at BYU, Hurdsman slashed .272/.375/.476 with four home runs, 19 runs scored, 13 RBIs, and five stolen bases. What has continued to raise Hurdsman stock this season has been hitting the ball to all fields, as we have seen the extra base pop increase. This, paired with the bat-to-ball skills and improving his OBP and average, should get him pushing towards the first three rounds. If a team can get him to lift the ball more, this could be an interesting profile.
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[accordion title=”Trent Caraway, 3B So. Oregon State” load=”hide”](26 GP, .302/.339/.466, 3 HR, 24 R, 19 RBI, 4 SB)
Oregon State has a track record of turning out solid bats in the MLB Draft, and Trent Caraway might be one of the next names to make his mark. The 6’2” and 203-pound right-handed Caraway was impressive in his freshman season at Oregon State, playing in just 18 games but slashing .339/.431/.516 with two home runs, 16 runs scored, 10 RBIs, and four stolen bases. This solid performance carried over into the Cape Cod Baseball League, where we saw Caraway play for Falmouth, appearing in 28 games and slashing .276/.362/.449 with four home runs, 17 runs scored, 21 RBIs, and five stolen bases in six attempts.

The power boost in the CCBL was encouraging, as it was with wood bats and could be indicative of future power, making this a good sign as he entered his sophomore season. Thus far, we haven’t seen the power that showed up in the CCBL, but the extra base power has been a welcome sight for Caraway. If he continues to show solid performance this could be a major value to a team in the third to fifth round of the draft.

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[accordion title=”Kyle Lodise, SS Jr. Georgia Tech” load=”hide”](29 GP, .393/.500/.863, 12 HR, 44 R, 38 RBI, 7 SB)
Georgia Tech has to be happy with the performance Kyle Lodise has put in during his first season with the club. Brother to Florida State infielder Alex Lodise, Kyle Lodise has stood out as a power hitting shortstop with big upside with his approach at the plate. Standing 5’11” and 180 pounds, Lodise has increased his power output each season in both home runs and extra base hits. Across 48 games played for Augusta University in 2024, Lodise slashed .369/.498/.693 with 14 home runs, 55 runs scored, 49 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 29 attempts.

After the 2024 College Baseball season, Lodise played for Chatham in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Across 37 games played, Lodise struggled with the wood bat, slashing just .239/.394/.358 with three home runs, 19 runs scored, 12 RBIs, and nine stolen bases in 12 attempts. The bright spot was the 28 walks in 109 at-bats in the CCBL, an encouraging sign for his patience at the plate. This season the bat looks fantastic, and the plate discipline has been on full display as Lodise’s draft stock continues to rise. Look for him to push for a selection in the first or second round with a solid finish to the season.
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[accordion title=”Dominic Fritton, LHP Jr. NC State” load=”hide”](7 GS, 41.1 IP, 59 K, 2.16 ERA, 3.7 BB/9, 12.7 K/9)
The WolfPack of North Carolina State has to be happy with this season, as Dominic Fritton is putting together a strong case to be drafted in the first two rounds. Standing at 6’1” and 193 pounds, Fritton features a mid-90s fastball that has peaked at 97 mph, the curveball sits at 76 mph, while the change-up is an 82 mph offering with solid fade.

Fritton dominated as a freshman for the Wolfpack, appearing in 17 games while starting nine games with 75 strikeouts over 62.2 innings pitched, good for a 10.8 K/9, and finished with a 3.59 ERA in the ACC. The walks are and have been an issue for Fritton in his collegiate career at NC State as his sophomore season was overall a disappointment. This season, however, Fritton has strung together excellent outings like the 7.1 innings pitched against Pittsburgh, where he struck out 13 batters, allowing four hits, two walks, and two earned runs.

Size-wise wise Fritton will have to show excellent stuff as he moves to professional ball, but the bounce-back season is a major help to his draft stock this July.
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[accordion title=”Blake Gillespie, RHP Jr. UNC Charlotte” load=”hide”](7 GS, 43.2 IP, 58 K, 3.92 ERA, 1.4 BB/9, 12 K/9)
The workhorse of UNC Charlotte, Blake Gillespie, has been solid for the 49ers, working deep into games this season. Standing at 6’2” and 205 pounds Gillespie was previously at Georgia working primarily out of the bullpen. This season was Gillespie’s first opportunity to start full-time, and the pitch mix works well as he features a mid-90s fastball with a solid 11-5 breaking curveball coming in at 78-80 mph, and the change-up has been solid at 87 mph with good tumble and fade.

Over the summer, Gillespie went to the Appalachian League to get more work in before heading to UNC Charlotte and the results were fantastic. Across five starts, Gillespie pitched 23.2 innings, striking out 26 batters, good for a 9.9 K/9, while walking just two batters and finishing with a 0.76 ERA. On 3/7 Gillespie was just the second 49er pitcher to throw a no-hitter in school history as he dominated James Madison, striking out 11 batters over his nine innings pitched with just one walk. This was not a one-off, as he has been solid against UTSA, striking out 13 batters over eight innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on five hits with no walks.

Finally, against Memphis, we saw Gillespie spin eight innings, striking out 11 batters with five hits, one run, and no walks. The profile looks like a solid SP four of five with potential as he gets more development as a starter, but overall, the mileage on the arm is not a concern at all.
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[accordion title=”Micah Bucknam, RHP Jr. Dallas Baptist” load=”hide”](7 GS, 40.1 IP, 53 K, 3.79 ERA, 3.1 BB/9, 11.8 K/9)
Hailing from Nelson, New Zealand, Micah Bucknam has been solid in his Junior season at Dallas Baptist. The 6’1” 212-pound right-hander previously pitched for LSU from 2023-24 out of the bullpen but with less than stellar results. Bucknam features a fastball that tops out at 97 mph in short bursts but regularly sits in the mid-90s, the sweeper has solid movement down in the zone coming in at 85 mph, and the change-up in the upper 80s with solid tumble and fade.

The last two seasons Bucknam has gone to the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he has seen steady results. This past year, pitching for Yarmouth-Dennis, he appeared in six games, starting five while striking out 24 batters over 21.1 innings pitched, good for a 10.1 K/9 and finished with a 4.22 ERA. Walks and earned runs plagued him in his short stint in the CCBL, but with Dallas Baptist, he looks to turn a corner. The standout game for Bucknam has been the seven-inning performance against Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where he struck out 14 while allowing three hits and walking just one batter with no earned runs.
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[accordion title=”Ike Irish, C Auburn” load=”hide”](35 GP, .353/.460/.692, 11 HR, 35 R, 36 RBI, 4 SB)
Power-hitting catchers stand out in dynasty circles, so it’s fair to say Ike Irish should be on our radars leading up to draft season. Irish stands 6’2” and 202 pounds, batting from the left side of the plate, and has been a standout at Auburn the last three seasons. As a freshman, Irish played in 58 games, slashing .361/.429/.546 with six home runs, 48 runs scored, 50 RBIs, and three stolen bases while having 31 of his 86 total hits go for extra bases. This level of production took a major step forward in his sophomore season as he played in just 47 games while slashing .319/.403/.627 and crushed 14 home runs, with 27 of his 59 total hits going for extra bases.

This season, Irish has not only hit for power but also improved his batting average and OBP. Across 35 games played, Irish is slashing .353/.460/.692 with 11 home runs, 35 runs scored, 36 RBIs, and four stolen bases. With 47 total hits, Irish has had 21 extra-base hits, continuing the trend of power gains. At the plate, he has improved his walk percentage to 12.4% while striking out just 16.1% of the time. This could be a well-rounded catching prospect for a team in the late first to early second round of the MLB draft, but do not be surprised if he hits the ground running in professional ball thanks to the advanced SEC pitching he faced.
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[accordion title=”Devin Taylor, OF Indiana” load=”hide”](41 GP, .378/.493/.701, 13 HR, 50 R, 49 RBI, 9 SB)
Indiana baseball has a difference maker in Devin Taylor as he makes his push for first-round consideration. Taylor stands 6’0” and 190 pounds and bats from the left side, producing above-average power and displaying a plus hit tool. The last three seasons have been excellent for Taylor, who slashed .315/.430/.650 with 16 home runs and 59 RBIs across 55 games played as a Freshman. This was just the beginning for Taylor, who started to tap into his raw power while making steady improvements to the bat-to-ball contact in his sophomore season. Across 59 games played, Taylor slashed .357/.449/.660 with 20 home runs, 67 runs scored, 54 RBIs, and swiped five bases.

Now in his Junior season, Taylor has continued to improve his game. In 41 games played, Taylor is slashing .378/.493/.701, with 13 home runs, 50 runs scored, 49 RBIs, and nine stolen bases. The walk percentage has gone up to 18.2% while the strikeout rate is down to a career low of 10.8%. This offensive output is pushing Taylor’s name further up draft boards as a name to watch when FYPD comes around.
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[accordion title=”Ethan Petry, OF/1B South Carolina” load=”hide”](42 GP, .333/.448/.613, 10 HR, 30 R, 34 RBI)
The slugger from the University of South Carolina is making his way to draft day. Ethan Petry has been a perennial power hitter, appearing near the top of the home run leaderboards since he was a Freshman back in 2023. Petry stands 6’4” and 230 pounds, playing both first base as well as outfield. Petry stood out as a Freshman as he played in 63 games and slashed .376/.471/.733 with 23 home runs and 75 RBIs. There is no doubt the plus power has been on full display in his time with the Gamecocks, which would translate into his Sophomore season as he would crush 21 home runs in 61 games played.

This season, however, Petry is looking like a more balanced hitter despite a dip in power production. Across 42 games played, he is slashing .333/.448/.613 with 10 home runs, 30 runs scored, and 34 RBIs. Petry’s eye at the plate has improved as he is walking 13.7% while cutting the strikeout rate to a career low 16.4%. This is a power bat to watch when the draft comes around, as the improvement to the strikeout rate and batting average will translate into professional ball, and the power should come back strong.
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[accordion title=”Dylan Mathiesen, RHP, Liberty” load=”hide”](14 GS, 56 IP, 76 K, 4.34 ERA, 12.21 K/9)
Liberty University is not known for producing top-tier Major League players. Regardless, the school has been improving the athletics department, and currently has a pitcher standing out on the NCAA strikeout leaderboards. Dylan Mathiesen stands 5’10” and 180 pounds, throwing from the right side, and features a solid four-pitch mix. The fastball tops out at 92 mph and sits at 91 mph with excellent ride up in the zone, his change-up is a great offering coming in at 83 mph with late fade. Two breaking pitches in the 82 mph slider with tight break and 79 mph curveball with two-plane depth round out the arsenal.

In his first season as a full-time starter, Mathiesen has been solid. Across 14 starts, he has 76 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched, good for a 12.21 K/9 while walking 4.18 BB/9, and currently has a 4.34 ERA. Don’t let the ERA fool you. Mathiesen has had some bad luck on the defensive side this season, as the 3.59 FIP would lead on. As of this article, Mathiesen is tied for 15th in the  NCAA for strikeouts and has been in this range all season, despite lower velocity. Mathiesen’s pitchability could make him an interesting draft pick in July.


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[accordion title=”A.J. Russell, RHP, Tennessee” load=”hide”](4 GP, 3 GS, 5.2 IP, 7 K, 0.00 ERA, 11.12 K/9)
Tennessee has been a powerhouse in college baseball for several seasons now, and this year, they have one of, if not the best, arms in the upcoming draft in Liam Doyle. However, A.J. Russell is lost in the mix. Standing 6’6” and 195 pounds, Russell is an imposing right-hander who dominates batters with an electric fastball that tops out at 98 mph but sits 94 mph with arm-side run up in the zone. The 83 mph slider has solid horizontal movement while the 85 mph change-up has good fade, but both lack consistency as compared to the fastball. Russell pitched alright for Tennessee back in 2024 in his first time in the rotation, striking out 21 batters over 14.1 innings pitched, good for a 13.19 K/9 and finishing with a 5.02 ERA across four starts and six appearances. His season was cut short as he underwent an internal brace surgery on his elbow.

This season, Tennessee has been taking their time bringing Russell back to full workload as he made an appearance back in February but didn’t pitch again till April. They have been bringing him in as a starter but putting him out for small one or two-inning bursts, but there might be some more in store for us yet. Across four appearances (three starts), Russell has seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched, good for an 11.12 K/9 while walking just 1.59 BB/9, and currently has a 0.00 ERA. Russell has managed to keep opposing batters to just a .105 batting average against in the limited sample size. Tony Vitello, the Vols skipper, said that he will be working Russell more into the games in middle relief as well as starting going forward.

This could be a massive value on the upside come draft day for a club looking for a pitcher with upside who hasn’t had many innings pitched in college. In Russell’s three seasons at Tennessee, he has only 50.1 innings pitched with 70 strikeouts and a career 1.97 ERA.
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[accordion title=”Jace LaViolette, OF Jr. Texas A&M” load=”hide”](44 GP, .291/.455/.633, 15 HR, 49 R, 52 RBI, 7 SB)
One of the most prolific power hitters in College Baseball has been Jace LaViolette of Texas A&M. Already in his Collegiate career, LaViolette has crushed 65 home runs, making him a name to watch in dynasty formats. LaViolette stands 6’6” and 230 pounds batting from the left side, and has stood out as an above-average defender in the outfield with a rocket for an arm. In his Freshman season, LaViolette played in 64 games, slashing .287/.414/.632 with 21 home runs (Freshman Record), 50 runs scored, 63 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 22 attempts. At the plate, LaViolette showed a keen eye at the plate walking 17.1%, but showing an aggressive swing and miss with a 26.8% strikeout rate.

During his sophomore season, there were improvements across the board for LaViolette. Across 68 games played, he slashed .305/.449/.726 with 29 home runs, 87 runs scored, 78 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in nine attempts. The walk rate rose to 19.2% while the strikeout rate dropped to 24.3%. This season, the results might not be at the level of 2024, but there is a lot to like here. In 44 games played, LaViolette has slashed .291/.455/.633 with 15 home runs, 49 runs scored, 52 RBIs, and has swiped seven bases in eight attempts. All this while continuing to raise his walk percentage to a career high of 22% and a career low strikeout percentage of 20.1%.

The overall package of LaViolette will be enticing for teams in the first round of the MLB Draft, as this kind of raw power isn’t always available. Despite the lower statistics this season, the approach has taken major strides in all three seasons as well as the bat-to-ball skills, leading me to believe that LaViolette could skyrocket up FYPD rankings post-draft once we see him play in the Minor Leagues, similar to Wyatt Langford with the Texas Rangers.

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[accordion title=”Dean Curley, SS/3B So. Tennessee” load=”hide”](45 GP, .302/.427/.535, 11 HR, 54 R, 35 RBI, 7 SB)
Standing out on a stacked Tennessee squad is not an easy thing to do, and Dean Curley has quietly put himself into the conversation of the first round. Standing 6’3” and 218 pounds, Curley bats right-handed and has shown in his two seasons with the Vols a potential for above-average pop. In his Freshman season, Curley played in 67 games for the Vols, slashing .285/.386/.502 with 12 home runs, 51 runs scored, 50 RBIs, and swiping nine bases. The plate discipline was fantastic for Curley, who walked 11.6% while striking out just 17.5% of his 268 total plate appearances. Speed isn’t a big part of Curley’s game, but he’s not a sitting duck out on the basepaths either, as we could expect double-digit steals at the professional level long term.

This season, everything in Curley’s game has taken a step forward. Across 45 games played, Curley is slashing .302/.427/.535 with 11 home runs, 54 runs scored, 35 RBIs, and has seven stolen bases in eight attempts. The improvements don’t stop there, as he has raised his walk percentage to 14.7% while maintaining a solid 17.1% strikeout rate. With a strong arm at shortstop and third base this season, Curley could be a value pick for a team in the second or first round of the MLB Draft.

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[accordion title=”JB Middleton, RHP Jr. Southern Mississippi” load=”hide”](11 GS, 70.1 IP, 82 K, 1.92 ERA, 10.49 K/9)
One of the major bright spots of the University of Southern Mississippi this season has been the dominance of JB Middleton. Standing 6’0” and 172 pounds, and throwing from the right side, Middleton has stood out for his three-plus offerings. The fastball sits 94 mph while topping out at 97 mph with solid sink low in the zone as well as the ability to throw it up in the zone for strikes. His slider comes in at 88 mph with two-plane break and solid movement while being able to adapt it into a harder cutter at times. Rounding out the arsenal, Middleton throws an 87 mph change-up that has solid tumble out of the zone and tunnels well off the fastball.

Middleton has had a solid career at Southern Mississippi, but none as good as we are seeing this season. In his first season as a full-time starter, Middleton has made 11 starts while striking out 82 batters over 70.1 innings pitched, good for a 10.49 K/9 while currently sporting a solid 1.92 ERA. The walks have been down this season as he has a 2.43 BB/9 while keeping batters to a solid .164 batting average against. Slightly undersized for a starting pitcher, Middleton could ultimately end up back in the bullpen as he transitions into a professional, but the results are encouraging heading into the draft to remain a starter long term.
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[accordion title=”Riley Quick, RHP RS So. Alabama” load=”hide”](10 GS, 40.2 IP, 41 K, 3.54 ERA, 9.07 K/9)
Alabama had success last season with Ben Hess, who the Yankees drafted 26th overall in the MLB Draft. This season, Riley Quick could be making a push for the first or second round. Standing 6’6” and 260 pounds, Quick is a redshirt sophomore who throws from the right side and features a plus fastball and slider combination as well as a solid change-up. The fastball sits 96 mph and tops out at 99 with sinking action to it, the slider comes in at 86 mph and has solid two-plane depth to it. The change-up has a solid fade to it and comes in at 88 mph.

Quick had a solid Freshman season as he made 16 appearances, striking out 26 batters over 22 innings pitched, good for a 10.64 K/9 while notching two saves and finishing the year with a 3.68 ERA. In his Sophomore season, Quick went down with an elbow injury in his first start, requiring Tommy John surgery, resulting in his redshirt status for the 2025 season. Now, Quick is moving up draft boards with a solid 2025 campaign, where he has made 10 starts while striking out 41 batters over 40.2 innings pitched, good for a 9.07 K/9 with a solid 3.54 ERA. The walks have been good for a pitcher coming back from TJ, as he has a 3.32 BB/9 and has kept batters to a .242 batting average against thus far.

The upside could be a middle-of-the-rotation starter or greater as he distances himself from TJ. We have already seen the Yankees get more out of Ben Hess since being drafted, and it could be the same for Quick as the MLB Draft creeps up.

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[accordion title=”Cameron Leiter, RHP Jr. Florida State” load=”hide”](7 GS, 35 IP, 56 K, 4.63 ERA, 14.40 K/9)
Going into the 2025 season, Jamie Arnold and Cameron Leiter were profiled as the best one-two punch in the rotation for Florida State. Standing 6’5” and 234 pounds, throwing from the right side, Leiter has a starter’s build with a solid four pitch mix with two grading out as plus offerings. The fastball and slider are electric, with the fastball topping out at 98 mph with an average of 95 mph, the slider comes in at 88 mph with massive spin rates creating a ton of swing and miss outside the zone. Rounding out the mix is an 80 mph curveball and an 87 mph change-up with solid fade.

Leiter started his collegiate career at the University of Central Florida, where he made 15 appearances, with 14 starts. Across 56.2 innings pitched, Leiter struck out 80 batters, good for a 12.71 K/9 while finishing the season with a 4.92 ERA. In his sophomore season, Leiter transferred to Florida State University, where he started seven games, striking out 56 batters over 35 innings pitched, good for a 14.40 K/9, and finished with a 4.63 ERA due to a shoulder injury. The recovery process for the shoulder injury has taken Leiter out of game action for over a season at this point, as he has not made his 2025 debut.

The good news here is that he is currently on a throwing program at FSU and could appear in relief this season. He will more than likely make an appearance in the Cape Cod Baseball League if he is healthy. What was once a lock for a first-round draft pick, Leiter could surprise many if he can get back on the mound to finish the season healthy.

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[accordion title=”Henry Godbout, 2B Jr. Virginia” load=”hide”](42 GP, .306/.398/.459, 5 HR, 28 R, 30 RBI, 5 SB)
The amount of quality talent that has come out of the University of Virginia has been fantastic over the last three MLB Drafts, Now, Henry Godbout is pushing for first-round consideration. Standing 6’2” and 190 pounds, Godbout bats from the right-hand side of the plate and has stood out for his excellent on-base production as well as his low strikeout rate, making him a tough at-bat for any opposing pitcher. As a sophomore in 2024, Godbout slashed .372/.472/.645 with nine home runs, 51 runs scored, 47 RBIs, and six stolen bases across 51 games played. In his 217 plate appearances, Godbout walked 13.4% while striking out just 9.2% of the time.

This season, Godbout came into the season with a larger build, putting on muscle over the off-season. The power hasn’t translated to home runs thus far, but in 42 games played, Godbout is slashing .306/.398/.459 with five home runs, 28 runs scored, 30 RBIs, and five stolen bases. Across his 188 plate appearances, Godbout is walking 12.2% while lowering his strikeout rate even more to 7.4%. There seems to be a lot of untapped potential here with Godbout, with the frame he has, you could dream on 20 home runs at the Major League level with excellent plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills. This upside could be what entices a team to take Godbout in the late first round or in a comp round.

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[accordion title=”Jared Jones, 1B Jr. LSU” load=”hide”](49 GP, .349/.446/.667, 16 HR, 52 R, 60 RBI, 5 SB)

LSU continues to crank out prospects with a leg up heading into professional ball. Jared Jones stands 6’4” and 246 pounds, batting from the right side of the plate. In his three seasons at LSU, he has displayed an advanced approach to the plate, as well as potential plus power. Primarily a first baseman, Jones has played a few games at catcher and this season played some third base. Year-over-year, Jones improved his strikeout rate from 34.2% as a freshman in 2023 to 25.8% as a sophomore in 2024. Across his Sophomore campaign, Jones slashed .301/.454/.747, with 28 home runs, 56 runs scored, 59 RBIs, and two stolen bases in 66 games played.

This season, Jones has improved his bat-to-ball skills not only with his batting average but also by continuing to cut the strikeouts. Across 49 games played, Jones is slashing .349/.446/.667 with 16 home runs, 52 runs scored, 60 RBIs, and five stolen bases. The walk rate is at 13.3% while the strikeout rate is down to 21.9%. Despite the decline in home runs this season, we have seen Jones drive the ball more; of his 68 total hits, 30 have been for extra bases. Similar to what we saw last season from Blake Burke at Tennessee, Jared Jones could be a massive value pick in the late first round to the second round of the MLB Draft.
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[accordion title=”Nolan Schubart, OF Jr. Oklahoma State” load=”hide”](43 GP, .289/.441/.572, 12 HR, 42 R, 44 RBI, 2 SB)
Coming into this season, expectations were high for Nolan Schubart as he strung together two fantastic seasons at Oklahoma State. Schubart stands 6’5” and 223 pounds, batting from the left side of the plate with big raw power. In 2024 as a Sophomore, Schubart slashed .370/.513/.838 with 23 home runs, 55 runs scored, and 68 RBIs in 49 games played. The patience at the plate was fantastic; he walked 21.7%, but he struggled with the strikeouts, finishing with a 27.4% strikeout percentage.

This season it seems he hasn’t been able to get into the same rhythm as the 2024 season. The holes in Schubart’s swing are still an issue, as he is still sporting a 26.2% strikeout percentage across 195 at-bats. His power has diminished quite a bit as he is currently slashing .289/.441/.572 with 12 home runs through 43 games played. This could be a massive value in the MLB Draft for a club getting a bat that could be a 30-plus home run contributor, but the swing and miss will need to be adjusted for the best-case scenario to shine through.

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[accordion title=”Ian Umlandt, LHP Jr. Oregon” load=”hide”](14 G, 4 GS, 50.1 IP, 36 K, 1.97 ERA, 6.44 K/9)
Every year, we see teams draft relief pitching prospects in the later rounds of the MLB Draft and flock to pick them up once a Major League team drafts them and deploys the pitcher as a starter. The fewer innings on a pitcher’s arm have proven to be better for development once in the Minor Leagues. We have seen Christian Scott and many others make that transition to a starter and dominate. Ian Umlandt is currently tied for fifth in the NCAA for ERA, and the way Oregon has been deploying him has got me thinking this could be something to watch.

Across 14 appearances this season, only four have come as starts for Umlandt, who has 36 strikeouts over 50.1 innings pitched, good for just a 6.44 K/9, but he has cut his walks over last season to 2.32 and has a 1.97 ERA. Standing at 6’0” and 216 pounds, throwing from the left side of the mound. The fastball velocity might not be elite at 88 mph but the curveball coming in at 74 mph has been nasty, as well as the change-up coming in at 80 mph. With some professional development, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the strikeout rate climb with the quality command and control Umlandt has.

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[accordion title=”J.D. Thompson, LHP Jr. Vanderbilt” load=”hide”](12 GS, 66 IP, 88 K, 3.95 ERA, 12 K/9)
Vanderbilt has produced some of the top names in pitching over the years, and with top prospects like Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker making their mark in the upper Minor Leagues and Major Leagues. J.D. Thompson is a prospect to watch leading up to the MLB Draft for the strikeout upside, but has shown excellent control this season. Standing 6’0” and 193 pound,s throwing from the left-hand side of the mound, Thompson features a 93 mph fastball with excellent induced vertical break, his curveball drops in at 74 mph while his best pitch might be a 81 mph sweeping slider, and rounding out the mix is a 82 mph change-up with solid fade.

During the 2024 season, Thompson was used primarily as a starter, making 14 appearances with 12 as starts for the Comidores. Across 52 innings pitched, he struck out 74 batters, which was good for a 12.81 K/9 while walking 3.12 batters per nine, and finished the year with a 4.15 ERA. This season, Thompson has picked up where he left off, making 12 starts while striking out 88 batters over 66 innings pitched, good for a 12 K/9 with a 2.86 BB/9, and currently has a 3.95 ERA. The strikeout upside could be a solid pick for a team looking to bolster the farm with a quality arm come draft day.
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[accordion title=”Jared Spencer, LHP Sr. Texas” load=”hide”] (10 GS, 52.1 IP, 66 K, 3.27 ERA, 11.35 K/9)
In his first season with the Longhorns, Jared Spencer has improved his draft stock this spring. Previously pitching for Indiana State for the last three seasons, Spencer turned down a 14th-round selection by the Phillies during the 2024 MLB draft to transfer to the University of Texas. Standing 6’3” and 210 pounds, throwing left-handed, Spencer gets it done with a solid three-pitch mix headlined by a sweeping slider that averages 88 mph with a ton of horizontal movement. The fastball comes in at 95 mph and tops out at 98 mph, as for the change-up, it comes in at 87 mph with solid fade.

This season, Spencer has started 10 games, striking out 66 batters over 52.1 innings pitched, good for an 11.35 K/9 with a 3.96 BB/9, and has a 3.27 ERA. Walks have been an issue while at Indiana State, peaking at 5.60 BB/9 across 53 innings pitched back in 2024, so the improvement is a good sign for Spencer going into the MLB Draft. Due to his Senior status, he might not go in the first two or three rounds, but don’t sleep on Jared Spencer once he makes his professional debut.

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Richard Haake
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2 COMMENTS

  1. Surprised that Jace LaViolette is not profiled. His draft stock has been slipping, but he still seems like a 1st Round pick in the July draft.

    • Hey Chuck! he is one that will be profiled prior to the MLB Draft, Laviolette is definitely pushing first round and will get his breakdown soon. With this season long post I wanted to get a wide variety of draft eligible Prospects and space out some of the first round talent throughout. Really appreciate the post! thank you and stay tuned!

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