It’s the end of the summer, so it’s time to expand our college board!
As fall ball ramps up across the country, we’ve been working very hard on our rankings on both sides of the amateur landscape. While we said we’d only do 50 players in our last post, we’ve decided it would be better to expand to 75 players and add some more spice to our coverage. The college class is dominated by outfield bats at the top, though the emergence of Aiva Arquette has added a unique wrinkle to our opinions. Tyler Bremner is the top arm, though Jamie Arnold is not far behind. There’s some tantalizing talent up and down the board, though this class is admittedly weaker when compared to the 2024 class.
In this update, the top twenty free to read with the remainder of the list available on our Patreon at the “MLB Draft Enthusiast” level for $5/ mo. Our prep board will be updated in due time!
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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, 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 split time between all three outfield positions in 2024, though he logged a majority of his innings in center. His size, actions, and arm strength are suited better for a corner outfield position and that's where scouts envision his future home.
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 roadblock 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. There was a noteworthy change in Cannarella's approach in 2024, as he upped his fly ball rate and tapped more into his pop, as his average exit velocity was ~91 MPH. This led to higher swing and chase rates, though his bat-to-ball skills didn't waver much and his swinging strike rate was under 8%. That'll play. Cannarella figures to stick in center field long term, as his instincts, routes, and glove grade highly and give him the tools to handle the position. He also has above-average speed, though he didn't flash it this past spring due to a labrum injury he suffered in February. Assuming he returns to the field with a clean bill of health in 2025, Cannarella has the toolset to be a top-ten pick.
3. 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
The best mid-major arm in this class, Bremner has a legitimate shot at being the first arm off the board thanks to fantastic athleticism, starter traits, and exceptionally loud stuff. Bremner's body is uber-projectable with skinny, lanky limbs and the delivery is as easy as it can get, featuring little to no effort and excellent body control down the bump. His case for best arm in the class gets better with the arsenal. Bremner's fastball has seen a jump in velocity, sitting in the mid-90s presently and flashing 97-98 MPH in shorter stints with Team USA this summer. He can vary the shape of the heater, showcasing quality carry upstairs with some flatness and more tailing action at the knees. His change-up is his bread and butter, a double-plus offering with screwball-esque shape, high spin, and excellent velocity separation off the heater in the low-80s. Bremner has huge confidence in the pitch and can command it exceptionally to both sides of the plate. The slider has taken a jump forward, as well, becoming a two-plane monster with late bite in the upper-80s this summer. There's a chance for three above-average or better offerings with above-average command.
4. 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 with strength throughout his frame, 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. Taylor's pitch recognition is strong and his pure contact improved, jumping to a rate just under 80% in 2024 with chase rates that grade out as average. He's short to the baseball with a ton of bat speed and strength, allowing him to tap into his above-average to plus power in-game. His power plays to both sides of the field, utilizing the opposite field more this past spring, though the power plays better to his pull-side. There's a good likelihood that Taylor will get some playing time in center field for the Hoosiers in 2025, though his average arm and speed, paired with his route running, likely relegates him to a future left field role. If he can prove to handle the "eight" in 2025, he may wind up being the first college bat off the board.
5. LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State
Height: 6’1
Weight: 192
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 in 2024, Arnold's average velocity jumped to ~94 MPH and topped out at 97 MPH. His release point averages 54 inches in total and his heater has solid carry and run with flatness, allowing the pitch to jump on hitters quickly and miss bats aplenty. His mid-80s sweeper is his best secondary, landing the pitch for strikes consistently and averaging over ten inches of horizontal movement. He commands the pitch well and there's some backfoot capabilities to righties. It's as dynamic of a one-two punch as you can find in the amateur landscape. Arnold has feel for a mid-80s cambio that has some depth and fade to righties, though he's shown struggles commanding the offering. Given the arsenal, command, and starting traits, Arnold's chances of being the first arm off the board are high.
6. OF Brendan Summerhill, Arizona
Height: 6’3
Weight: 195
B/T: L/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 8 MO
Hometown: Chicago, IL
If you're looking for an outfielder that flat-out hits, look no further than Arizona's Brendan Summerhill. A long-levered, projectable athlete, Summerhill broke out in a big way in 2024, slashing .324/.399/.550 with 32 extra-base hits in 58 games for the Wildcats. It's a beautiful left-handed stroke with easy motions, lightning-quick bat speed, and an uncanny ability to backspin the baseball. There are very little holes in Summerhill's swing, as he has posted elite whiff rates (87% contact rate in 2024) and possesses great barrel feel. Summerhill likes to utilize the gaps often and there's legitimate pull-side juice in the stick, getting up to the 110 MPH barrier this past spring and given the projection, there may be more in the tank. Summerhill has posted above-average to plus run times and his defensive instincts give him a solid chance of playing center field, though he may get moved off to a corner spot in due time. He has the arm strength to handle right field if such a move occurs. All in all, Summerhill is in line for a massive junior campaign and has put himself into legitimate first-round conversation.
7. SS/3B Aiva Arquette, Oregon State
Height: 6’4
Weight: 220
B/T: R/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 8 MO
Hometown: Kailua, HI
Born in the same town as former New York Met Sid Fernandez, Arquette made the trek to the West Coast and flourished in his sophomore campaign for the Washington Huskies, slashing .325/.384/.574 with 27 extra-base hits. With Jason Kelly returning to the SEC, Arquette went south to Oregon State, where he'll suit up for Mitch Canham's group in 2025. Arquette's tall and projectable frame stands out on film and while he's played shortstop recently, he fits better at third base long term, where range, strong arm, and instincts will play. Offensively, there's not a ton of warts. Arquette's feel to consistently backspin the baseball to all fields is impressive and the overall power profile is robust, recording an average exit velocity of 93 MPH with a maximum of 112.9 MPH. That will come down a tick in pro ball, but it's every bit of above-average to plus pop. The contact skills are strong too, handling velocity and spin well. He does get overly anxious and is in no rush to take a free base, something that scouts want to see ironed out in 2025. Overall, it's a potentially robust offensive profile with the defensive chops to handle the hot corner.
8. 1B/OF 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 a ton of bat speed and loft, allowing him to tap into legitimate plus power in-game. Ford does a great job of handling velocity, especially against 95+ MPH, though his overall swing decisions and spin recognition need work. Ford loves to swing the bat and will be aggressive with his approach, expanding the zone often, especially against breaking balls. His front foot and leg lift may give him some fits on adjustability, too. It'll be interesting to see what changes Ford can make to fend off some strikeouts in 2025. Defensively, Ford has been subjected to first base on campus due to Virginia's offensive depth, though it's been confirmed that he will be tasked with handling right field for the Cavaliers in the spring. Shedding the first base label will help take pressure off the bat and improve his draft stock.
9. C/OF Ike Irish, AUburn
Height: 6’2
Weight: 201
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. Irish's swing plane and bat path are relatively flat, which makes him conducive for a hefty amount of ground balls. He does showcase leverage at times and can tap into average or better power to his pull-side, though he'll need to find a bit more consistency with that to avoid a ground ball rate over 50% like he had on the Cape. With that said, he has solid contact abilities and fends off strikeouts, though his high swing rate and aggressive nature means walks don't pile up often. Irish's defensive abilities behind the plate have gotten better, though there's a chance he's moved to a corner outfield spot. His receiving and blocking skills are fringe-average right now, though he's got a very strong arm that would certainly play in right field. This is a bat-first prospect with a lengthy track record of hitting that can't be ignored.
10. 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. Offensively, scouts have raved about the bat. Stevenson can get a bit overwhelmed by spin, but he possesses excellent barrel feel with quick hands and legitimate power to both sides of the field. He's already posted multiple exit velocities above the 110 MPH echelon in Chapel Hill and there's feel to lift the ball consistently. It's hard to find a catcher with these kind of tools on both sides of the ball, but Stevenson certainly has them.
11. OF Ethan Conrad, Wake Forest
Height: 6’4
Weight: 215
B/T: L/L
Draft Day Age: 21 YR
Hometown: Saugerties, NY
After two spectacular years at Marist, Conrad will make the jump to the ACC and join Wake Forest, where he'll fit in well with Tom Walter's system. After slashing .389/.467/.704 this past spring with a nation-leading thirteen triples, Conrad didn't skip a beat on the Cape, hitting .385 with two home runs and nineteen stolen bases. Conrad's left-handed swing is a thing of beauty, flashing very quick hands and bat speed with some loft. His swing plane is flatter right now and made more for line drives, but Conrad has displayed solid pull-side power when he lofts one. He'll need to lift the ball more in the spring. While Conrad's approach can be aggressive, he covers the zone exceptionally well, feasting on fastballs regularly and handling spin well. It's an advanced offensive profile. Conrad's speed is plus and will utilize it to be a menace on the base paths, as evidenced by his gaudy stolen base numbers. It's a right field profile with a solid arm and route-running. He'll have a big test in the ACC next spring, but he seems ready for the challenge.
12. 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. It's impeccable pitch recognition from both sides of the plate with an all-fields approach, though Bodine tends to expand the zone more as a right-handed bat. Bodine's overall approach from the left side is sublime and there's more power from this side of the plate, too. He did begin to tap into his power more in 2024, especially down the stretch, and it grades out as average at best. Finding a catcher with this kind of bat is not easy. He's got a very good shot of sticking behind the plate, too. His body is well suited for the position and he has the instincts and blocking abilities to keep passed balls to a minimum, plus there's an average or better arm. As a result, Bodine projects to be the best mid-major bat in the class and he's on track for a first round selection.
13. RHP Cam Leiter, Florida State
Height: 6’5
Weight: 234
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-80s/low-90s slider is a powerful offering, flashing cutter-esque shape, and became Leiter's go-to swing-and-miss offering. It projects better than the low-80s curveball presently, though that pitch has exceptional depth and spin, plus there's better command and feel. There's a mid-80s change-up in his arsenal, too, giving him a viable weapon against left-handed hitters. It has the makings of a power offering, though it can get a bit inconsistent. Assuming there's a clean bill of health and improved command, Leiter is trending toward a legitimate starter mold and should hold down the Saturday spot behind teammate Jamie Arnold.
14. 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. Fischer did up his swing rate against the SEC, jumping from 36% at Duke to 43%, which attributed to a heightened chase rate. He does have some issues with spin, though he did show better with Brewster in a smaller sample size and stayed in the zone more. Plus, Fischer absolutely annihilates heaters. It will be very interesting to see if this translates to the SEC in 2025. In the field, Fischer isn't the fleetest of foot and can get a bit clunky, leading to limited range, but he has the arm strength to handle the hot corner or a corner outfield position. He will join the defending champions in Knoxville for the 2025 season and is expected to be a catalyst for an offense that was poached hard in the draft.
15. 2B/3B Henry Godbout, Virginia
Height: 6’2
Weight: 190
B/T: R/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 8 MO
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
There may not be a more polished hit tool in the ACC than Godbout presently. After posting a contact rate of 82.8% in 2023, Godbout upped that number to 86% and established himself as one of the best fastball hitters in the entire country, only whiffing a measly 5% on heaters in 2024. Godbout loves to slash the ball to all-fields and he'll fight to fend off strikeouts, only recording 20 strikeouts in 51 total games. He has extremely quick hands and loves to turn on the ball, though he's still learning to lift the ball more. It's nothing more than fringe-average power right now, though his projectable frame suggests that he can get to average pull-side juice in due time. All in all, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better pure hitter in the country. An average runner, Godbout will likely see some reps at shortstop in 2025, though his future home is likely to be second base. He's got solid range and good arm strength, though his overall actions fit the position better than the hot corner.
16. 3B Dean Curley, Tennessee
Height: 6’3
Weight: 212
B/T: R/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 2 MO
Hometown: La Verne, CA
A draft-eligible sophomore, Curley played himself into a pivotal role in the Volunteers' lineup this spring, slashing .285/.386/.502 with 12 home runs as the everyday shortstop. Curley is a physical specimen with a pro-ready body that projects to handle third base long term. Offensively, Curley possesses one of the better approaches in the class. Curley's pure contact is exceptional and he stays within the zone often, rarely chasing pitches off the plate. Fastballs are no issue for Curley and he does plenty of damage in the air to his pull-side, as he possesses above-average to plus power with big bat speed. Curley has the tools to handle shortstop long term, though given the physical nature of his profile, he's destined for the hot corner. He has the arm strength to settle at the position, as well as soft hands, good range, and solid instincts overall.
17. 2B/SS Gavin Kilen, Tennessee
Height: 5’11
Weight: 185
B/T: L/r
Draft Day Age: 21 yr 3 mo
Hometown: Milton, wi
A highly decorated recruit out of high school, Kilen enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign where he slashed .330/.361/.591 with nine home runs in 54 games. His pure contact skills are exceptional, producing a contact rate of around 85% in 2024, including an astonishing 93% in-zone contact rate. Kilen feasts on heaters and seldom misses them. His power took a significant jump in 2024, as he now possesses average power to the pull-side and he'll hammer the gaps for doubles on the regular. His chase rates are extremely bloated due to his aggressive swing rate, as he swings over 50% of the time. He has the contact prowess to manage his production, but this is something to keep an eye on against SEC pitching in 2025. Defensively, Kilen has the chops to handle shortstop long term. He's got average to above-average arm strength that's paired with strong instincts, solid range, and prototypical size for the position. He'll join a highly talented Tennessee team that is looking to repeat as national champions for the 2025 season.
18. 3B Trent Caraway, Oregon State
Height: 6’2
Weight: 202
B/T: R/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 3 MO
Hometown: Dana Point, CA
One of the most prized prospects to make it to campus after the 2023 draft, Caraway would've been in contention for being the best freshman in the country had a broken finger not sidelined him for two months. He's a masher in every sense of the word. Uber-physical, loud bat speed, and robust power to all fields. He's already cleared the 110 MPH exit velocity threshold on numerous occasions and his barrel feel should continue to improve as he gets more at-bats under his belt. In his small sample during the spring, there were swing-and-miss concerns, but Caraway mitigated some of those concerns on the Cape, especially against fastballs. His approach looked much better and he cut down on his chases, though he does struggle with spin and hits the ball on the ground more often than not. Caraway has the skills and arm strength to handle the hot corner as a professional, though his size may force him to move into a corner outfield position as he physically matures.
19. 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 who 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, primarily first base. He got some run at third base and center field during the summer, two spots where he'd fit best defensively. He has a very solid arm across the diamond and the speed, routes, and instincts to make it work at the "eight." At the plate, he's grown into his power and has average or better raw juice in the bat. Most of that power will play to his pull-side and his higher-end exit velocities have cracked the 110 MPH echelon. Overall, it's a contact-over-pop profile with a love for heaters and while he's aggressive with his approach, Austin hovered around the 80% contact barrier throughout the spring and summer. Expect his profile to have some helium over the next calendar year.
20. OF NIck Dumesnil, Cal Baptist
Height: 6’2
Weight: 205
B/T: R/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 3 MO
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
After lighting the WAC on fire and earning first-team all-WAC honors, Dumesnil balled out with Brewster on the Cape, slashing .311/.378/.489 with sixteen extra-base hits. As a result, Dumesnil is now firmly a Day 1 prospect for 2025 and profiles as one of the best mid-major bats in the whole class. There's physicality in his 6'2, 205 pound frame and he has an extremely robust toolset. We'll start at the plate, where Dumesnil's bat speed and power stand out at first glance. It's a simple operation with little wasted movements and a subtle toe tap/weight shift that triggers the swing, followed by extremely quick hands and robust bat speed. Dumesnil's highly aggressive nature doesn't hamper his pure bat-to-ball skills a ton and he likes to punish the baseball to all fields, including hammering the gaps and showing off his plus speed. He does have some warts with spin and scouts want to see the aggression simmer down, but this is a robust offensive profile. In the field, Dumesnil has gotten chances in center field and right field, the former of which is his likely home. His speed allows him to cover plenty of ground and he's already an advanced route-runner with a solid glove. There's first round upside here.