Photo Credit: Sun Devil Athletics
Joint article by Jared Perkins and JD Cameron
Tyler Jennings has been crushing it with the 2025 MLB Draft boards and recently released his top 75 college prospects. Over the next few weeks, we will bring you some top prospects within each conference. For this edition, we will dive into some of the top prospects for the Big 12 Conference.
You can dive into our full Top 75 Collegiate Prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft list here: https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2024/9/21/2025-mlb-draft-top-75-collegiate-prospects
HITTERS - Big 12 (by Jared Perkins)
OF Brendan Summerhill - Arizona
Prospects Live Ranking: #6
Summerhill is a kid who has been rising up draft boards after an incredible year with Arizona last year and a strong performance in the Cape Cod league this summer. Our very own Brian Switzer covered much of his Cape performance in one of his latest article. Summerhill flashes solid tools across the board, starting with the bat. He tore it up with the Wildcats last season, slashing .324/.399/.550, and continued that performance in the Cape this summer, where he slashed .286/.358/.441 with eight extra-base hits in 95 plate appearances. His ability to put up numbers comes from his elite contact rates, 87% in 2024, and his ability to hit the ball hard as he had a max exit velocity of 109.6 MPH in the spring. Defensively, Summerhill has plus speed to help him track down balls in centerfield and he couples that with a solid ability to track and read balls and good route running, which should help him stick there. He’s going to be a fun one to watch as he goes into his junior year and he should play a massive role for a strong Arizona team.
1B/OF Nolan Schubart - Oklahoma State
Prospects Live Ranking: #23
Power is the name of the game for the Cowboys left-hander. Coming in at 6’5, 233 pounds, Schubart is an absolute presence in the box, and some projection remains. Schubart possesses some of the best exit velos in the country as his 90th percentile exit velo was 111 MPH, and his max exit velo was 114.7 MPH—just insane juice from the lefty. Most of that pop is to his poolside. On top of that, he was in the 99th percentile in barrel percentage. Contact is where Schubart struggles as he had a 63.3% contact rate last year. He’s struggled with velocity up in the zone, and Whiff’s is much more than desired. He offsets that with a good feel for the strike zone and generates a good amount of walks. Defensively, Schubart played some outfield and has the arm to stick there. Given his size, he lacks the needed route-running ability and might be destined to play first base. Schubart will quickly find himself rising up boards if he can improve the hit tool department.
OF Brandon Compton - Arizona State
Prospects Live Ranking: #58
Arizona State is absolutely loaded with MLB draft talent going into the 2025 season and on the offensive side of the ball, that list is led by OF Brandon Compton. He was another Big12 bat that had a breakout on the Cape and our Brian Switzer also covered him in his latest article. Compton tore it up for Cotuit, slashing .331/.414/.489 with nine extra-base hits and 30 RBI in 38 games—some insane numbers. Compton’s biggest weakness was his ability to get on-base via the walk, but he improved on those numbers over the summer and it will be interesting to see if that continues going into 2025. An improvement in his ability to make contact will benefit Compton offensively as well as he sported a 71% contact rate last year. Defensively, Compton played mostly left field in the Cape and held his own due to efficient route running and a solid ability to track the baseball. He’s not super-rangey but makes up for it with a fairly strong arm. The power is real, and if he can make real improvements in the hit tool department, it will be hard to ignore Compton on draft day.
2B Mason White - Arizona
Prospects Live Ranking: #63
White just hits the ball hard. It is some of the best pop in the entire country. With a max EV of nearly 114 MPH, White is just powerful. He has some legit bat speed and can drive the ball all over the field. The biggest issue with White is his ability to make contact as he sported a contact rate below 70% last year. He tends to chase too much out of the zone. He’s very aggressive and has a lot of movement to his swing, which he could benefit from toning it down just a bit. He really struggled with the strikeout in the Cape this summer as he struck out 39 times in 118 plate appearances. Defensively, White is likely to stick at 2B due to his limited range. He also lacks speed and isn’t a massive threat on the base paths.
OF Damian Bravo - Texas Tech
Prospects Live Ranking: #68
As Tyler Jennings noted in his Top 75 list, Bravo was originally a two-way player when he arrived at Texas Tech but has shifted to hitter only. The most impressive part about Bravo’s offensive game is his ability to hit the ball all over the field. He covers the field with the best of the best. He pairs that with an excellent ability to get barrel-to-ball and solid exit velocity numbers. His 90th percentile EVs 105 MPH. Bravo does chase and whiff a bit more than you’d want to see, but there is plenty of time to improve in those areas. Defensively, Bravo played all three outfield positions last year and is likely destined for a corner OF spot. His above-average speed and decent route running should help him stick there. If he can polish up his abilities in the hit department, Bravo will become even more intriguing.
OF Isaiah Jackson - Arizona State
Prospects Live Ranking: #69
Another Sun Devil bat, Jackson has been an intriguing prospect regardless of being so polarizing. Jackson was taken by the Houston Astros in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of high school but opted to head to Arizona State. He’s full of athleticism and has a strong, well-built frame already. He has sold out a bit for power and has reached 110 MPH with his exit velos. While his ability to make contact and high chase rates are somewhat concerning, his bat and hand speed are a scout's dream. On the defensive side of the ball, Jackson has the athleticism and abilities to handle center field. It’s an average arm, but he possesses above-average speed that helps him track down the ball. He will need to improve the hit tool quite a bit, but if he makes any solid adjustments to his approach, the sky is the limit for Jackson.
HITTERS - B10 (by JD Cameron)
OF Devin Taylor - Indiana
Prospects Live Ranking: #4
Taylor followed up an exceptional freshman campaign with an even better sophomore season in Bloomington, flourishing to become one of the standout college bats in the 2025 class. He followed up his 1.109 OPS, 20 home run season with an impressive performance (.907 OPS) on the Cape for Cotuit. An explosive, left-handed bat headlines Taylor’s profile. A thickly built lower half helps deliver plenty of bat speed and his swing is direct to the ball, allowing Taylor to access his plus power to all fields in games. His hit tool and pitch recognition skills have improved too, he posted a contact rate just south of 80% in 2024, although he can be tempted to chase at times (particularly fastballs).
While Taylor’s other tools are less exciting, it’s still average speed and an average arm. There’s a chance Taylor finds time in center field for the Hoosiers in 2025. If he manages the position effectively, it can be another asset in his already robust draft stock, although he’s likely a left fielder as a professional given the limitation of his supplementary tools and raw route running. The appeal is the bat here, and Taylor has a chance to have a mightily impressive resume by next summer that will likely position him for consideration as one of the first college bats off the board in July.
2B Jasen Oliver - Indiana
Prospects Live Ranking: #53
Oliver had an outstanding 2024 campaign as a true freshman in a formidable Indiana lineup, hitting .285/.362/.529 (.891) while sneakily launching ten home runs (20 extra-base hits) in a well-rounded offensive profile. Oliver’s production is backed up by his advanced numbers. He posted a 90th percentile exit velocity of 105 mph, paired with a 94% in-zone contact rate, buoying a toolset that marries a rare blend of extra-base impact with excellent bat-to-ball skills.
Oliver sets up in a low, crouched position at the plate, with some bat waggle in his stance. A mid-sized leg kick makes the operation at the plate a little noisy, but Oliver has fast hands and twitchy rotation in his swing, allowing him to be consistently on time and adjust when needed. Defensively, Oliver looks strong at second base. It’s a quick first step, good lateral movement, and enough arm strength to allow him some positional versatility and certainly afford him the luxury of staying on the dirt. Oliver is a draft-eligible sophomore who can climb even higher than his current ranking with another strong campaign in Bloomington.
3B Bryce Molinaro - Penn State
Prospects Live Ranking: #75
Molinaro redshirted at St. Johns before transferring to Penn State ahead of a 2024 season in which he came out hot. He mashed his way to a .329/.409/.560 (.970) with 11 home runs (25 extra-base hits) in 53 games. It’s hard to ignore batted ball events that reach 112 mph as a portent of plus power as a professional. Molinaro has an upright stance in the batter's box with a swing that’s loft-oriented and can handle fastballs in the upper third of the strike zone. Molinaro can look a little stiff at the plate, struggling more against breaking pitches, albeit without chasing at a concerning level.
Defensively, Molinaro looks solid, if not spectacular, at third base. He has the arm and range to stick at the position as a pro. The offensive profile has swing-and-miss and an excess of strikeouts. If Molinaro can refine his approach and adjust more effectively against spin, he could be a top-100 pick in July.
PITCHERS - Big 12 (by Jared Perkins)
RHP Gabe Davis - Oklahoma State
Prospects Live Ranking: #24
Davis is the best arm on this list, and it is apparent that it is because of his stuff and size. Coming in at 6’9, 225lbs, Davis is a massive presence on the mound, giving you a lot to dream about. The pitch mix is highlighted by a mid-90s fastball that gets tons of extension. The pitch has been up to 99 mph and has some cutter action to it. He pairs that with a solid slider which is easily his best pitch. It’s in the upper-80s and has more cutter action when it gets near the 90s. He generates a ton of Whiff and Chase on the pitch. He also has a change-up and a more looping curveball in the low-80s. Command is his most significant issue, but if he makes some improvements there, Davis quickly becomes one of the top arms on the board. The burgeoning stuff will still have many likely thinking about him in the first round.
LHP Ben Jacobs - Arizona State
Prospects Live Ranking: #36
Jacobs represents the highest-ranked Sun Devil on our Top 75 list, and it is for good reason. He saw limited time at UCLA, which led him to transfer to ASU, where he struck out 102 batters over 66.1 innings pitched—absurd numbers. The fastball is obviously Jacobs’ best pitch, and while the velocity sat in the low 90s, there is tons of carry to the pitch. He’s able to miss bats like crazy with that pitch. It’s a plus pitch, for sure. He’s got a solid slider to go along with his fastball. His curveball is better than his slider and has a ton of sweep. He also has a splitter in the low 80s and misses bats like crazy with that pitch. It’s just a solid four-pitch mix, and he commands all of them fairly well, although there is room for improvement. He’s a really fun arm and will likely be the Friday night guy for the Sun Devils this year. If he continues to improve his command on all his pitches, he could see himself being taken in the first round.
LHP Ben Abeldt - TCU
Prospects Live Ranking: #70
Ben Abeldt is another intriguing lefty in the 2025 MLB Draft class. It’s a very funky delivery that is Chris Sale-esque. It’s a sinker that ranges from 91-94 MPH but has topped out at 95 MPH, which comes from a low release angle. He gets a ton of chase with this pitch. He is a fastball-heavy arsenal, but he has an excellent slider that he pairs with it. It’s a bullet-style slider with a ton of bite and sweep on it. He also has a changeup he uses a lot less and mostly for righties, but rounds out his arsenal reasonably well. Abeldt struggles with his command and control, which has pushed him chiefly to a relief roll. If he can improve there, there could be a higher ceiling, but if not, there is still much to like as a reliever profile.