Jared's Fall Jottings: Maryland, UNC-Wilmington, and Virginia (Part 2)

The fall tour is over, and I am sad! Well, I'm not sad, but I'm more ready for the college season to be back in full swing. There were plenty of fun games to go to this fall to see some incredible players and draft talent over the next few years. I covered the Rutgers vs. Georgetown scrimmage in the first part of my fall jottings. In Part 2, we dive into the two Virginia scrimmages I was able to attend.

The first scrimmage Virginia had was on October 20th vs. Maryland. We all know how talented Virginia is. They have one of the best lineups in the country and are absolutely loaded with bats that will hear their name called the 2025 MLB Draft. Maryland is always an underrated squad. Like Virginia, their lineup is constantly loaded with bats. While the pitching isn’t as strong, they were highlighted by a healthy Kyle McCoy on the bump. They also have some intriguing freshmen like Jake Yeager, who stepped onto campus and should position their pitching staff in a better place in the future. 

The second scrimmage was on October 27th vs. UNC-Wilmington. The prized prospect for the Seahawks is first baseman Tanner Thatch, who has started to draw tons of attention after a solid 2024 season and performance in the Cape Cod League this summer. The Seahawks also had plenty of intriguing arms who came in and threw in this game as well. All these teams will be fun to watch in 2025. 

2025 MLB DRAFT

LHP Kyle McCoy - Maryland

Last time I saw McCoy pitch was in 2023 during his freshman year. The 6’6 left-hander was an imposing presence on the mound and featuring some very intriguing stuff. Unfortunately, McCoy tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery that June. It was great to see him out there healthy in the fall scrimmage against Virginia where he threw two scoreless innings. He was consistently 90-93 MPH with his fastball and had some really good feel for his slider and changeup. Maryland has always been known for their development of bats, but McCoy could be one of the better arms they’ve had since Sean Burke. A healthy season for McCoy could have him rising up draft boards. This was a great start for what will hopefully be a good season for him. 

1B Tanner Thach - UNC-Wilmington 

Tanner Thach made a name for himself after a solid 2025 season and showed off some similar skills in the Cape Cod League this summer. Power has definitely been the name of the game for Thach thus far, although he didn’t show off much of it in the scrimmage against Virginia. He struggled to make hard contact and hit many weak ground balls. Thach’s timing was a bit off, leading to him struggling to find a barrel to play ball. Hitting the ball hard hasn’t been an issue for Thach in the past, so this could have easily been a one-off game. He sported extremely high barrel percentages and EVs last year, so this one game is likely not too concerning. The struggles for Thach usually come with his plate discipline, as he is very aggressive, which often leads to him chasing out of the zone and swinging at bad pitches. He swung through a lot of offspeed pitches during this one as he struggled to pick up spin. Thach is really going to have to hit to have an impact at the next level since he is likely landlocked at first base. Although he did show some good athleticism overall, some think he could make his way to a corner outfield spot. 

RHP Trace Baker - UNC-Wilmington

Baker showed up and was one of the most impressive arms to throw in Virginia’s scrimmage vs. UNC-Wilmington. Fastball was an easy 93-94 MPH and even topped out at 96 MPH. It has heavy, sinking-two-seam action, which helped him induce a lot of groundballs. He paired that with a low-80s slider that had some quality bite with late sweep that flashed a lot of potential. He also threw one change-up. There was a ton to like with Baker’s stuff. Ultimately, he is missing a pitch to put people away with. The slider has that potential, but he could benefit from sharpening it a bit. Either way, there was a ton to like, and I, like many others, I am sure, want to see more—a guy to watch to see if he can build on this outing. 

RHP Aubrey Smith - UNC-Wilmington

Like his teammate Trace Baker, Smith was another intriguing arm who caught my attention for UNC-Wilmington. Smith didn’t pitch last year during his Sophomore year, but I'm unsure why. He did throw 20.2 innings his freshman year, but the numbers weren’t great. Things seemed much better in this one. He went one inning and the stuff was quite impressive. His fastball was consistently 94 MPH and he paired that with a slider that was mid-to-high-80s with some decent life to it. It was definitely his go-to pitch to generate swing and miss. He also rounded out his pitch mix with a good mid-80s changeup that had some depth and even flashed a curveball once. Despite his freshman numbers, things looked to have improved for the junior, and if the stuff holds, he could be very intriguing for the 2025 MLB Draft. 

1B/OF Henry Ford - Virginia

Ford, nicknamed “Model-T”, made a name for himself as one of the best college bats in the 2025 MLB Draft after an extremely impressive 2024. He found himself in the heart of the lineup of a stacked Virginia lineup as a true freshman where he slashed .336/.409/.597 with 17 HRs and 69 RBI. Ford is a physical presence in the box and has tons of strength which he showed off in both scrimmages against Maryland and UNC-Wilmington. The ball was loud off his bats and even his outs were hit extremely hard just at defenders. His pop is backed up by the data as he had some of the best EVs in the country last year. The only knock on Ford last year was he was a tad aggressive in his approach and would expand the zone from time to time. He showed a bit of a better approach in the scrimmages and laid off a good amount of spin out of the zone. Defensively, Ford is expected to play right field for the Cavaliers which could help him shed the “first base only” narrative. He’s athletic enough to play out there. Ford only DH’d in the two scrimmages and only saw some time on the field during warmups where he took grounders at first base. 

2B Henry Godbout - Virginia

Godbout just flat-out hits. There might not be a more polished bat in the country, especially on fastballs. As Tyler mentioned in our top 75 prospects list, Godbout established himself as one of the best fastball hitters in the entire country, only whiffing 5% on heaters in 2024. He showed off these skills more in the second game than the first. Against Maryland, his timing just seemed off and he had trouble picking up spin, but it seemed more related to just having a bad game than any major issue in his skillset. He was a complete 180 in game two, as he made tons of hard contact and even hit a pullside homerun. Godbout’s bat is the real deal, but defensively, he is likely stuck at second base. He has decent range and acceptable arm strength that plays well at the position. He doesn’t have a ton a speed, but he also won’t be a clog on the base paths. Despite that, his bat will carry him on draft day, and given his elite contact rates there is a good shot he gets taken pretty high with a strong 2025. 

OF Harrison Didawick - Virginia

Harrison Didawick is a powerful left-handed outfielder known for his impressive ability to leverage his lower half and generate torque in his swing. With strong bat speed from the left side and the capability to drive the ball to all fields, Didawick showcases big pull-side power and a well-rounded offensive profile. While he can be prone to strikeouts due to susceptibility to spin, he has kept his chase rate in check and remains a consistent force in a potent lineup. Defensively, he has solid range and strong instincts, likely projecting as a left fielder due to his good first step, efficient routes, and highlight-reel catches. Didawick decided to return to Virginia after not being draft and will likely be a guy teams are in on in the 2025 MLB Draft. 

RHP Alex Markus - Virginia

Markus flashed some very intriguing stuff against Maryland. While he his a bit older being a grad transfer from William & Mary there was at least some aspects that caught my eye. His fastball was 90-94 MPH and topped out at 95 MPH. He paired that with a low-80s slider with some decent bite and a change up in the mid-80s. The biggest knock on Markus is that the command and control of all his pitches waivers quite a bit and there is a lot of effort on the mound. He could use some polishing of his delivery to get some more consistency which would help significantly with some of the command issues. Regardless, the stuff and the data behind it make him at the very least an intriguing arm for later in the draft in 2025. 

OF Aidan Teel - Virginia

If this last name sounds familiar, that’s because Aidan is the younger brother of former Cavalier and Boston Red Sox top prospect Kyle Teel. Aidan is going into his sophomore year after not playing a ton for Virginia last year since they were so stacked. He mostly pitched for them and flashed a low-90s fastball with some intriguing offspeed stuff. It seems like this year, Teel will be manning centerfield for them, which is very interesting. People started to take notice of the bat after he had a strong summer in the Northwoods League, where he slashed .387/.455/.671 with 11 2B, 11 HR, 42 RBI, and 18 SBs. Although the league is pretty hitter-friendly, that is still impressive. In the two scrimmages I saw Teel, he showcased a fairly aggressive approach where he was first pitch swinging a lot. Although, he did temper that a lot in game two. What was most impressive was that regardless of his aggressive approach, he made a ton of contact and still worked a lot walks. It’s a small, compact frame, so he is unsure how much power he will tap into, but the makeup is intriguing nonetheless. In centerfield, Teel utilized his plus speed to track down balls, and he had a cannon of an arm. He kept a lot of potential doubles into singles because of it. He misread one ball in the air but could utilize his athleticism to correct himself and make a diving catch. The bat will be the question mark for Teel going into 2025, but with what seems to be a starting role, if he catches fire, he could make some noise.

2026 MLB DRAFT 

INF Chris Hacopian - Maryland

The younger of the Hacopian brothers, Chris has really put himself on the map after an incredible freshman year where we slashed .323/.431/.579 with 10 2Bs, 15 HRs, 42 RBIs while walking more than he struck out. This game was no exception. Hacopian was finding barrel with ease and hitting the ball to all parts of the park. All the kids do is make contact as well. He can pair that with good plate discipline, as he didn’t chase out of the zone a ton and can easily draw a walk. He played third base last year for the Terrapins but was manning shortstop in this one after Maryland senior Kevin Keister graduated and is no longer with the team. He showed good range at the position and seemed comfortable. It will be interesting to see how he grows there and if he can stick there full-time. If so, that will also do wonders for his draft stock. Keep this name on your radar as he should make a ton of noise for the 2026 MLB Draft if he can have another strong season. 

RHP Bryson Moore - Virginia

Bryson Moore was your prototypical large-framed pitcher with a strong lower half. He had a fairly easy delivery but sometimes struggled to repeat it. His arm would fall a bit behind, and he wouldn’t finish. He still filled up the zone regardless, but when he lost his confidence on the mound a bit, his command waivered, and he’d catch too much of the plate, hanging his secondary pitches. His fastball was 89-92 and it had some cutterish action to it. He also threw a low-to-mid-80s changeup with some late depth to it which seemed to be his go-to secondary. He also flashed a couple of curveballs, which had some good downward action but were a work in progress. He’s athletic, and there it is a lot to dream of with his frame. If he can tap into some more velocity with his ability to throw strikes and polish up his secondaries a bit, there could reach another level. 

2027 MLB Draft 

RHP Jake Yeager - Maryland

Yeager was a guy we thought might go in the 2024 MLB Draft because of his physicialty and loud summer outings, but he ended up heading to campus. It’s a very strong frame and he is also very athletic. He faced the heart of the Virginia order (Chris Arroyo, Henry Ford, Harrison Didawick) and threw a clean inning. There was some effort to his delivery, but he threw a lot of strikes in this one. The fastball had a ton of riding action up in the zone. He paired that with a high-70s slider that had some late, sweeping life, which was his go-to secondary. He also had a mid-80s changeup that was pretty firm but played well off his heater. He will need to iron out some of his secondaries to stick as a starter, but he will have plenty of time to try and develop them at Maryland. A great get for Maryland, and some more development could increase his stock for the 2027 MLB Draft. 

OF James Nunnallee - Virginia

Nunnallee might have been the most impressive kid I saw in both scrimmages. The name might sound familiar since he was taken in the 14th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers but opted to head to Virginia. I’m sure Brian O’Connor is stocked about that. He’s an extremely twitchy athlete and is likely hit over power, but boy, can he hit. It’s a barrel party for this kid. His ability to make contact and hard contact at that was quite impressive.On top of that, Nunnallee looked good in the outfield. He ran down the ball well and used his speed to do so. He also looked great on the basepaths. He led off in the second scrimmage against UNC-Wilmington and looked far from overmatched in the leadoff spot in a stacked Cavaliers lineup. He’s the definition of a table-setter and if he grows into some more pop over the years, he will definitely be having his name called much earlier in the draft. 

On The Clock: Coach's Corner with Kentucky Baseball Head Coach Nick Mingione

In this episode of "On The Clock," Jared Perkins and Monty Taylor host Kentucky Baseball's head coach and 2024 SEC Coach of the Year Nick Mingione, who takes listeners on a journey through his evolution as a coach. Mingione recalls a pivotal moment from his youth baseball days when a Little League assistant coach recognized his leadership potential and encouraged him to guide his teammates with enthusiasm. This experience shaped Mingione’s lifelong passion for coaching and helped him understand the power of uplifting others. He reflects on this transformative moment as the catalyst that led him to pursue a coaching career, eventually culminating in his leadership role at Kentucky. Throughout the episode, Mingione emphasizes how personal values and impactful mentors, such as his college coaches and colleagues, have influenced his approach to leadership.

Central to Mingione’s coaching philosophy is his commitment to developing well-rounded individuals, not just skilled athletes. He explains how his experiences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which focused on fostering growth academically, personally, and athletically, became the foundation of his coaching methods. This holistic philosophy drives Mingione’s work with the Kentucky baseball program, where players are nurtured not only as athletes but as students and individuals. He describes the importance of cultivating a culture rooted in teamwork, accountability, and mutual support, highlighting how the family atmosphere extends beyond the field. Mingione’s wife and child are actively involved in the team environment, embodying the program’s emphasis on building meaningful relationships.

The conversation also delves into challenges facing modern college athletics, such as increased roster turnover and evolving NCAA regulations. Mingione speaks candidly about adapting to these changes while maintaining a strong team culture. He outlines how he and his staff navigate shifts in roster limits, scholarship rules, and the integration of analytics, balancing data-driven decisions with a human-centered approach to coaching. Mingione’s dedication to creating a positive, cohesive environment for players stands out as he discusses the delicate balance of embracing change while remaining true to the core values that drive his program’s success. Throughout the interview, Mingione’s passion for mentoring and genuine care for player development is evident, offering listeners a glimpse into the heart and soul of Kentucky’s baseball program.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2025-coachs-corner-kentucky-baseball-head-coach-nick/id1733326436?i=1000676481458

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dFrbElhbnUkD54mBOGG5n?si=2FoTnNzDQDiavAVCEfru1g

2025 MLB Draft Top 75 Collegiate Prospects: Conference Breakdowns (SEC - Part 2)

We recently released the top SEC college prospects within our Top 75 and throughout the fall we have been bringing you the top prospects within each conference. For this edition, we continue to dive into some top prospects with part two of our SEC breakdown.

35 players from 11 different schools hail from the nation’s premier college baseball conference with our Top 75 prospects list. Defending national champions Tennessee lead the way with six players while Arkansas is just behind the Vols with five. LSU and Texas A&M each had four. 

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

HITTERS

C Easton Carmichael - Oklahoma

Prospects Live Ranking: #43

Easton Carmichael has been a mainstay behind the dish for the Sooners since he arrived on campus as a freshman in 2023, appearing in 112 games over two seasons. The talented backstop enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, slashing .366/.406/.563 with an impressive 31 extra base hits as Oklahoma earned an NCAA Regional hosting bid. The power seems to have improved over the last year, but Carmichael appears to be more of a gap-to-gap hitter than home run slugger. His 10 doubles in 127 at-bats up in the Cape this past summer was good for second in the league as his contact rate and gap power continued to be on display even with wood bats. Despite the contact rate, he’s an aggressive hitter that’s seen his chase rate rise over the last year. Defensively, he needs to improve his arm strength behind the plate if he hopes to remain a catcher at the next level.   

Returning All-American, Easton Carmichael 🫡@3aston_11 // #CHAOUS pic.twitter.com/UvgkW7fdh5

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 14, 2024

2B/SS Jayden Davis - Vanderbilt

Prospects Live Ranking: #48

A former freshman All-American at Samford, Jayden Davis struggled with an injury throughout 2024 but still impressed over 46 games for the Commodores during his sophomore campaign as he hit .315 with 15 extra-base hits. Despite the drop in power numbers from 2023, Davis posted an 82% contact rate at Vanderbilt and features an above-average hit tool. His high ground ball rate both in the SEC and up in the Cape indicates that he’s unlikely to produce much more in terms of power, but if he can make an adjustment that results in lifting the ball more, we could see his draft stock rise. He displayed prowess for extra-base hits on the Cape this summer, mashing eight doubles and two home runs in just 125 at-bats for Chatham. He appeared to be a bit more aggressive as he struck out 25 times over the summer vs just 21 times at Vanderbilt last spring. Defensively, Davis does not project as a shortstop at the next level, but more as an average second base prospect with decent range.

C Lucas Steele - Auburn

Prospects Live Ranking: #49

Like Jayden Davis, Lucas Steele is another former All-American freshman from Samford who transferred into the SEC. Playing primarily as an outfielder during his freshman season, the Hoover, Alabama native hit .315 with 15 doubles and 16 home runs en route to winning the 2023 SoCon Freshman of the Year award. His transition to catcher as a sophomore may have led to a regression in his offensive numbers, but the bat also suffered from some significant bad BABIP luck and slashed just .245/.364/.520 in 2024. Expect Steele to have a bounce-back season offensively in 2025 as he transfers into the SEC. The switch-hitting backstop features explosive hips and good bat speed that should play well in his new conference. Defensively, Steele will compete for playing time behind the plate with fellow catcher Ike Irish, though both are expected to be in the lineup every day as valuable hitting prospects. Steele has seen a little bit of time in the outfield this fall, though he’s been primarily employed at catcher and first base.       

2B/SS Blake Cyr - Florida

Prospects Live Ranking: #61

Middle infielder Blake Cyr arrives in Gainesville as a transfer following an injury-plagued 2024 in which he only played 25 games for the Miami Hurricanes. As a true freshman in 2023, he hit .305 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 60 games as Miami hosted an NCAA Regional. The highly touted second baseman appeared poised to stamp his name as a household draft prospect in 2024 when various injuries ended his season in early April. He still managed to slash .284/.397/.537 in 95 at-bats. Cyr earned ACC Player of the Week honors in early March following an 8-16 stretch that included 3 home runs and 11 RBIs highlighted by a go-ahead grand slam against Virginia that capped off a nine-run comeback for the Canes. At 5 '11, the smaller-framed slugger features impressive pull-side power and elite bat speed. Defensively, he doesn’t have physicality or the arm strength to play shortstop at the next level, but he’s got a solid first step and displays good range to play second. With Cade Kurland deployed at second base for the Gators, it’ll be interesting to see where Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan decides to play Cyr.  

Your future ACC Freshman of the Year Blake Cyr with a MOONSHOT. 🔥👀

Canes blowing out Florida. pic.twitter.com/MBENNaokYT

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 5, 2023

2B Cade Kurland - Florida

Prospects Live Ranking: #64

Speaking of second base for the Florida Gators, Cade Kurland checks in as the last SEC position player on our Top 75. Another former Freshman All-American, Kurland saw his offensive numbers regress as a sophomore following his fantastic 2023 campaign. In 62 games in 2024, Kurland slashed .245/.457/.346 with 22 extra-base hits while striking out 73 times. His aggressive approach seems to have toned down in the Cape this summer, as he struck out just 20 times while reaching base on balls 15 times. He’ll need to continue to reign in that aggression and cut down on the chase rate to climb up the rankings. Despite the regression in 2024, his impressive power to all fields remained as he slugged 14 home runs while displaying quick hands and elite bat speed. Defensively, he’ll likely remain at 2B in 2025, even with the addition of Blake Cyr and projects to stay at the keystone at the next level.   

PITCHERS

RHP Chase Shores - LSU

Prospects Live Ranking: #41

Chase Shores was one of the most highly-touted prospects to reach campus in 2023, and he looked the part early as a freshman in Baton Rouge. The 6’8” righty appeared in just seven games for the Tigers during their National Championship season before being injured and required Tommy John surgery, impressing with a 1.96 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 18.1 innings pitched. Shores missed all of 2024 and hasn’t thrown in a live game since his injury, but he features all of the tools and physical attributes to become a star at the next level. His fastball routinely hit triple digits and even reached 102 MPH at times. As a freshman, he had some command issues with his pitches but had the least problems with the fastball. The Texas native employs a high 80s changeup and a low 80s breaking ball, but neither were particularly sharp during his freshman campaign. If he gets the chance to start and has a healthy 2025, Chase Shores could rocket up the rankings and into the first round with improved command and secondary pitches.

LHP Shane Sdao - Texas A&M

Prospects Live Ranking: #42

Shane Sdao underwent elbow surgery this past September and will miss the entire 2025 season, so his draft stock may plummet a bit. The 6 '2 lefty enjoyed a breakout campaign for Texas A&M in 2024, going 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA over 48.2 innings pitched while striking out 55 and only walking 9. Sdao features a low 90s fastball that is capable of reaching the mid-90s while a low 80s slider keeps hitters off balance and generates a ton of swing and miss. The Texas native also works in a good mid-80s changeup that he commands well. With three good pitches in his repertoire and his projectable attributes, a number of MLB organizations should be eager to draft him. 

LHP Cade Fisher - Auburn

Prospects Live Ranking: #44

After two up-and-down seasons at Florida, Cade Fisher arrives at Auburn with heightened expectations. After going 6-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 49.1 innings as a freshman in Gainesville, Fisher saw his numbers plummet as a sophomore, going 4-3 with a 7.13 ERA in 59.1 innings. He struggled with command and control and an inconsistent release height that must be addressed to succeed in 2025. He threw 5.2 innings for the Cotuit Kettleers on the Cape this past summer, and only gave up one earned run while striking out six. The low-slot southpaw features a low 90s fastball with slight carry and a devastating low-80s sweeping slider that has the potential to be his best pitch. He also has a changeup that he hides well and should see his draft stock rise with a bounceback season at Auburn in 2025.  

RHP Nate Snead - Tennessee

Prospects Live Ranking: #45

Nate Snead was a key piece of the Tennessee bullpen in 2024, going 10-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 75.1 innings pitched while striking out 61 hitters en route to the Vols’ National Championship win. He displayed a bit more swing-and-miss as a freshman at Wichita State in 2023 when he struck out 53 batters over 42.2 innings pitched but otherwise saw no regression from the jump in competition after transferring into the SEC. The Wisconsin native features a mid-90s fastball that reaches into the triple digits on shorter outings. He also employs a low 90s cutter and mid-80s breaking ball that needs some improvement to be more consistent. He supposedly has a changeup as well, though it's rarely utilized. Snead will likely be a starter for the defending champs in 2025, so he can improve his draft stock with improved command and consistency in his secondary pitches.   

LHP Zach Root - Arkansas

Prospects Live Ranking: #46

Zach Root enjoyed a breakout campaign as a sophomore for the ECU Pirates in 2024, teaming up with Trey Yesavage to create a lethal 1-2 punch atop Coach Cliff Godwin’s weekend rotation. In 11 starts last season for ECU, Root went 5-2 with a 3.82 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 63.2 innings pitched. He’ll make the jump in competition to the SEC, where he’ll join an Arkansas program known for developing top-class pitching. The stocky southpaw has a bit of a funky delivery, but has elite off-speed stuff. His fastball sits in the low 90s and can get up to 97, but the changeup is elite with good command. He also has a mid-80s cutter/slider combo and an upper 70s curveball. If Arkansas can continue to help Root develop those potential plus secondaries and improve his command, Root could find himself flirting with the first round next July. 

LHP Liam Doyle - Tennessee

Prospects Live Ranking: #50

Much like teammate Andrew Fischer, Liam Doyle spent one year in Oxford playing for Ole Miss before transferring to Tennessee. As a sophomore, he didn’t post the best numbers as he went 3-4 with a 5.73 ERA over 14 appearances, but he did strike out 84 hitters over 55 innings pitched. The New Hampshire native features an electric fastball that sits in the low-90s, but frequently touches 96-97 MPH with a lot of armside tail and vertical carry. He commands the heater well and generates a ton of whiffs with it. He needs to improve his secondaries, but the potential is there as he employs a low-80s sweeper and a mid-80s cutter that pairs well with the elite fastball. A fourth pitch, an upper-70s splitter, is developing and adds another dangerous weapon to Doyle’s arsenal. Improvement on those secondaries and a big season in Knoxville for the Volunteers should see Doyle shoot up draft boards ahead of July.

RHP Gage Wood - Arkansas

Prospects Live Ranking: #51

Gage Wood has yet to have standout numbers in Arkansas. However, he’s been a pretty reliable reliever over his first two seasons in Fayetteville, going 5-2 with a 4.61 ERA over 70.1 innings pitched. His command showed massive improvement between his freshman and sophomore years, reflected by the 56/8 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 2024. He may get a chance to start at Arkansas in 2025 and his standout performance up in the Cape indicates he could be in for a breakout junior season. In five of his six outings for Falmouth this summer, Wood threw over 50 pitches and dominated with his fastball/slider combination. He throws his fastball almost 70% of the time. It sits in the mid-90s and generates a lot of swing and misses. He often complements the heater with a mid-80s slider and also boasts a splitter and a changeup. Gage Wood could fly up the draft rankings with command of the secondary pitches and consistency as a starter.

Gage Wood has begun pic.twitter.com/VDGQ2mAVzC

— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) April 16, 2023

RHP Christian Foutch - Arkansas

Prospects Live Ranking: #54

Christian Foutch is another Arkansas relief arm who enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore in 2024. The Colorado native went 1-0 with a 0.81 ERA over 22.1 innings pitched while striking out twenty batters and only walking seven. He’s appeared in 34 games for the Razorbacks over two seasons but has yet to earn a start. He’s a 6’3 right-handed pitcher with a great frame and delivery, and he should see his draft stock improve if he gets a starting role. He displays a smooth delivery and hides the ball well. His arsenal features an upper-90s fastball with sinking action that can sometimes reach triple digits. While he’s primarily a fastball pitcher, Foutch mixes in a slider and splitter to complement the heater, but the command of those pitches is still being developed. Even without a starting role in 2025, the development of those secondary pitches could see Foutch rising into the late first/early second-round area.

RHP Anthony Eyanson - LSU

Prospects Live Ranking: #56

Anthony Eyanson, a transfer from UC-San Diego, is one of the biggest transfer names making noise this fall as he settles into his surroundings in Baton Rouge at LSU. Eyanson enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign in the Big West, going 6-2 with a 3.07 ERA over 82 innings pitched for the Tritons while striking out 85 batters. Most impressive is that he held opposing hitters to just a .190 batting average over his 14 appearances on the mound. The California native’s arsenal features a low-90s fastball that can reach 97 MPH, but the breaking balls are his bread-and-butter. He commands a low-80s slider with bite and a mid-70s curveball well. Reports indicate he’s been very impressive during fall ball with LSU and should be in line for a rotation spot. If he continues his success against top competition in the SEC and adds velocity to the slider, Eyanson’s stock will only rise.

UC San Diego RHP Anthony Eyanson has entered the transfer portal, per source.

The 6’2 righty pitched last week at Collegiate Team USA Trials and is 2025 draft eligible with top three round buzz.

4-seam fastball 95-97, slider 83, curveball 77-79 pic.twitter.com/y3MwsNPR7d

— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) July 2, 2024

LHP Myles Patton - Texas A&M

Prospects Live Ranking: #57

Like Eyanson, Myles Patton is another California arm who has found his way to the SEC after transferring to Texas A&M this past summer. His season ended in late April due to injury, but the southpaw was enjoying a fantastic season for Long Beach State before he went down. In 66.1 innings pitched, Patton went 4-3 with a 3.26 ERA while striking out 85 batters. He pitched into the 6th inning or later in 9 of 11 starts and amassed double-digit strikeout totals three times. He arrives in College Station with two years of starting experience and should slot into the Aggies’ weekend rotation. He boasts an effective fastball/slider combination that misses a lot of bats, even though his average fastball velocity hovers just on the wrong side of 90 MPH. Patton also features a changeup and curveball, but both pitches must be developed further to be as effective.    

LHP Landon Beidelschies - Arkansas

Prospects Live Ranking: #60

After an impressive freshman season as a reliever at Ohio State, Landon Beidelschies excelled for the Buckeyes in a starting role in 2024. In 15 starts on the mound, the lefty went 6-7 with a 4.15 ERA over 84.2 innings pitched while striking out 91 hitters. Beidelschies heavily relies on his fastball/slider combination, throwing them almost 90% of the time. The fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s and has occasionally reached upwards of 98 MPH. The mid-80s slider is firm with good bite. Both pitches generate a ton of whiffs. He also has a mid-80s change-up that’s rarely utilized. He’ll need to develop that third pitch and improve overall command to improve his draft stock. A successful year transferring into the SEC will also help, however. 

LHP Ryan Prager - Texas A&M

Prospects Live Ranking: #62

Ryan Prager is the third Aggie arm in our rankings, but the only one that was drafted in 2024. After a monster season leading the Aggies pitching staff as they played for a National Championship, Prager was drafted in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft for the Los Angeles Angels. The lefty ace went 9-1 with a 2.95 ERA over 97.2 innings pitched while striking out 124 and only walking 20 batters. Prager’s fastball isn’t particularly impressive, as it averages around 90 MPH with slight cutting action. And yet, it still finds ways to miss bats at a 30% rate. He also has a low-80s slider and a vulcan change-up in the upper-70s that generate whiffs. With the exceptional command ability he’s showcased in past years, Prager should continue to dominate at the college level. Whether or not he’ll be able to improve his draft stock, given his age and injury history, is a different question. 

On The Clock: Interview with 2025 MLB Draft Prospect Cam Cannarella

In this episode of On The Clock, hosted by Prospects Live's Jared Perkins and Monty Taylor, Clemson baseball player and top 2025 MLB Draft prospect Cam Cannarella shares his journey through the world of amateur baseball. Growing up in Hartfield, South Carolina, Cam describes his early love for the game, his dedication through high school, and how his hard work paid off with an opportunity to play at Clemson University. He recalls his recruitment experience with former Clemson coach Monty Lee and why the campus community and team culture at Clemson felt like the right fit. Known for his impressive athletic tools, Cam reflects on his favorite aspects of the game, from making web gem catches to big hits, like his memorable home run against Florida.

Cam also delves into the challenges he faced in 2024 due to an injury that required surgery, sidelining him for a season and preventing him from joining Team USA. The setback taught him resilience as he worked through physical therapy, leaned on friends and teammates for support, and stayed connected to the game mentally and emotionally. His friends, who kept him busy and motivated through recovery, were essential in helping him stay positive. With recovery progressing, Cam looks forward to returning to the field, resuming his training, and focusing on new goals for the upcoming season.

Looking ahead, Cam shares his aspirations for the 2025 season, setting sights on taking the Tigers to Omaha and building a stronger team connection. He’s also aiming for a top spot in the MLB draft and hopes to lead his team by example, influenced by former teammates who were dedicated on and off the field. Outside of baseball, Cam enjoys basketball, hanging out with friends, and spending time outdoors, especially at the lake. His passion for the game is clear, and his lighthearted, driven personality shines through as he looks forward to bringing his best to the field for Clemson and his future baseball career.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2025-mlb-draft-of-cam-cannarella-clemson/id1733326436?i=1000675891881

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2sXQ7lojyEyBMc5Cd0HXk3?si=3017fc2640bb48c4

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

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

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

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

HITTERS

CAM CANNARELLA, OF - clemson

Prospects Live Ranking - #2

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

HENRY FORD, OF/1B - virginia

Prospects Live Ranking - #8

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

LUKE STEVENSON, C  - north carolina

Prospects Live Ranking - #10

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

ETHAN CONRAD, OF - wake forest

Prospects Live Ranking - #11

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

HENRY GODBOUT, INF - virginia

Prospects Live Ranking - #15

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

MAREK HOUSTON, SS - wake forest

Prospects Live Ranking - #21

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

KANE KEPLEY, OF  - north carolina

Prospects Live Ranking - #52

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

DREW FAUROT, SS - Florida state

Prospects Live Ranking - #65

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

MAX WILLIAMS, OF - Florida state

Prospects Live Ranking - #66

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

CLAY GRADY, SS - Virginia tech

Prospects Live Ranking - #71

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

KYLE LODISE, INF - Georgia tech

Prospects Live Ranking - #72

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

LUKE GAFFNEY, 1B/C - clemson

Prospects Live Ranking - #74

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

PITCHERS

JAMIE ARNOLD, LHP - Florida state

Prospects Live Ranking - #5

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

Jamie Arnold is such a fun, fun arm.

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

— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 27, 2024

CAM LEITER, RHP - florida state

Prospects Live Ranking - #13

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

MATT SCOTT, RHP - stanford

Prospects Live Ranking - #31

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

PATRICK FORBES, RHP - louisville

Prospects Live Ranking - #59

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

On The Clock: Interview with 2025 MLB Draft Prospect Ben Jacobs

In this episode of On The Clock, hosts Tyler Jennings and Jared Perkins interview Ben Jacobs, a rising left-handed pitcher from Arizona State University and 2025 MLB Draft prospect. Ben starts by sharing his journey from playing youth baseball in Southern California to becoming a top collegiate prospect. He discusses how he fell in love with baseball early on, choosing pitching as his primary focus during high school, and reflects on his experiences with Team USA, which he describes as a dream come true. Ben explains how playing for the national team allowed him to learn from some of the best pitchers in the country, picking up valuable tips and improving his splitter and other pitches along the way. He highlights the importance of seizing opportunities to learn and grow, noting how crucial it was to build confidence and enjoy the moment, especially on bigger stages like national tournaments.

Ben also emphasizes the mental side of baseball, describing how maturity and conversations with his coach at Arizona State, Willie "Bloomy” Bloomquist, helped him develop resilience. He details a pivotal meeting with Bloomy after a rough outing, where the coach encouraged him to trust the process and focus on daily improvements rather than dwelling on setbacks. This conversation marked a turning point for Ben, helping him build a stronger mindset that led to more consistent performances. Away from baseball, Ben finds balance through hobbies like surfing and pickup basketball, which offer him a break from the pressures of competition. He believes these activities help him stay grounded and maintain a positive outlook, both on and off the field.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Ben expresses excitement for the Sun Devils’ potential, citing improvements in the pitching staff and a strong lineup. He’s particularly eager about competing in a new conference and facing challenging teams like Oklahoma State. Ben wraps up the conversation by sharing some personal favorites: his top MLB pitchers, favorite strikeout moments, and dream batters to face, such as Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. He also gives a nod to his go-to walkout song, “90210” by Travis Scott, which he plans to keep for the upcoming season. The episode offers an in-depth look at Ben's career, mental growth, and ambitions, providing fans with a glimpse into his personality and passion for the game.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2025-mlb-draft-lhp-ben-jacobs-arizona-state/id1733326436?i=1000674990484

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3pOtTEbIP2AhO1vhFhCaBd?si=dJHm71cET1KvPzLYPIVRNg

Recca's Fall Notebook Part 2: Lafayette v East Stroudsburg Scrimmage

I joined colleague Jake Bargery on a rainy, overcast day to watch Lafayette College’s scrimmage against DII East Stroudsburg. Not having seen either school in the 2024 season, this was a great chance to get familiar with both Pennsylvania programs.

Lafayette’s baseball program often loses top talent to the transfer portal, with two of their hardest-throwing pitchers, Luke Craytor (Virginia Tech) and Mason Koczwara (Florida SouthWestern), leaving this offseason. The previous year, it was Alex Walsh (Maryland), and before that, future major leaguer Jake Bloss (Georgetown). Building a solid pitching staff will be challenging, but several promising arms show potential for growth. On offense, Lafayette brings more stability with a mix of proven hitters and emerging talent, led by JR Ethan Swidler, a potential Patriot League star and draft prospect. The lineup’s strength should allow Lafayette to compete well in-conference, and if the pitching develops, they could be a dark horse.

East Stroudsburg, a consistent DII contender, competes in the highly regarded PSAC conference alongside top programs like Millersville, Seton Hill, and West Chester. Draft talent coming out of the PSAC in any given year is not uncommon, and it was only two drafts ago that ESU had a player chosen in RHP Tom Reisinger. The Warriors have finished with a winning percentage of 67% or higher in each of the last three seasons. Longtime ace Brent Francisco, hard-throwing Nick McAuliffe, and lockdown reliever Carson Renner (now at Penn State) will be tough to replace, but Coach John Kochmansky and company have a knack for piecing together highly effective pitching staffs. The Warriors have finished no lower than 3rd in ERA from 2022-2024 in the PSAC. Despite some turnover on offense, several veteran players look poised for breakout seasons. Whether future pros are in this ESU squad remains to be seen, but they’re a respected program with strong scouting interest year after year.

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Lafayette College

ETHAN SWIDLER

Position: Catcher

Year: JR: | Draft Age: 21.07

B: Right | T: Right

H: 6’1 | W: 200

Photo Credit: Hannah Ally

The Leopards offense will be led by JR catcher Ethan Swidler. Getting a live look at Swidler prior to the 2025 season was a priority after he made the All-Patriot League First Team last spring. Swidler split time between catcher and first base as a sophomore and finished the year with a .327/.460/.572 line which included 9 homers and more walks (39) than strikeouts (35) in 202 plate appearances. Beyond the box score stats, Swidler also stood out in several data categories:

Average EV: 90 MPH | 85th percentile

90th Percentile EV: 105 MPH | 81st percentile

Barrel Rate: 24% | 78th percentile

Contact Rate: 82% | 79th percentile

Chase Rate: 12.7% | 98th percentile

Swinging Strike Rate: 6.1% | 89th percentile

That’s an extremely well-rounded offensive game that covers contact ability, power, and plate discipline. In 2024 there were two other Patriot League hitters with similarly versatile data profiles, Bucknell’s Sean Keys and Lehigh’s Rafe Perich. Keys was drafted in the 4th round by the Blue Jays while Perich went to the Rangers in the 7th. Here’s how the three stack up:

Obviously, Swidler is in good company. A continuation of this level of production will be enough to put him on the draft radar though whether or not he is ultimately a day-two selection like Keys and Perich will depend on other factors. But just looking at Swidler the size, physicality, and strength at the plate are clear. He starts out in a crouched stance, somewhat closed, with high hands, and the bat angled slightly upwards. Swidler coils up with a short stride, really digging in his front foot to the ground to generate good torque and plenty of bat speed. Swidler was walked multiple times during the game and it was evident from my view behind home plate that Swidler was identifying pitches early, allowing him to remain in the strike zone. He did square one pitch (GIF below), a high breaking ball that he lined directly at the shortstop. While a collection of plate appearances resulting in walks isn’t great for content, it was useful information for both myself and Jake. Overall, the physicality, the approach, and the few swings we did see were enough for us to determine that Swidler isn’t just a player who looks good on a spreadsheet, there are legitimate tools for the next level.

Of course, the burning question for amateur catching prospects will be whether or not they can stick at the position. Last year Swidler played 31 games at first base and 19 at catcher. He was behind the plate during this scrimmage and I have to imagine that he spends the majority of his time back there in 2025. Now I’m no catching expert. I never played the position and I rely heavily on other sources such as scouts and coaches when trying to piece together a player’s defensive profile. In other words, take my opinion with a grain of salt. However, sometimes you “know it when you see it” and in this look, I did not see it. Swidler made some good blocks in the dirt but it was a little inconsistent. There were some good flashes on the receiving end but again, it wasn’t consistent. Swidler showed good arm strength but the throwing mechanics were, you guessed it, inconsistent. I included some of his receiving and a throw down between innings in the video below. Context is important here. Swidler is still relatively inexperienced at the position and this was a fall ball scrimmage on a wet, dreary day. Making a firm call on his defensive future based on this single game would be a mistake. The way I look at it, this game sets a baseline. We can compare where he was on this day to what he looks like in April or May. Is there progress? How much? Will it continue? Until we’re able to answer those questions, Swidler’s future defensive home remains up in the air. But going back to Sean Keys and Rafe Perich for a moment, it’s not like those two were defensive stalwarts either. Their bats carried the overall profile and the same will be true for Swidler. He’ll be an early favorite for Patriot League Player of the Year and a player who scouts will check up on throughout the spring.

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Outside of Swidler, SR third baseman Michael Zarrillo and SO shortstop Matt Colella should be integral pieces of the everyday lineup. Zarrillo is a switch hitter with superb physicality at 6’1-220. He has well above-average power and a strong arm that fits at the hot corner. He’ll need to reign the swing-and-miss but Zarrillo has 17 homers over the past two years and is a double-digit home run threat for 2025. Colella has a very different profile than Zarrillo with a smaller 5’9-175 build. Colella finished his freshman year with a .252/.368/.329 line and an impressive 89% contact rate. He lacks impact power but he makes pitchers work and puts pressure on the defense with his bat-to-ball ability. He was adequate defensively at shortstop but the profile might be a better fit at second base. Colella is a good bet to improve substantially during his second year on campus.

The final player who stood out offensively for Lafayette was third-year outfielder Bode Grieve. Grieve is the son of nine-year veteran and 1998 Rookie of the Year, Ben Grieve. Bode has made stops at Baylor and New Mexico State but never received game action with either squad. That will certainly change this year as Bode looked like a quality athlete with good size at 6’3. He was on base often with a couple of walks and a pulled line drive double down the left field line. We’ll have to see how he holds up over the course of a full season, but Grieve is a nice wild card for a program like Lafayette. Grieve has some upside and could bolster the top of the Leopards lineup this spring.

SR RHP Joe Skapinetz made the start for Lafayette and received two innings of work. The 6 '5 righty topped out at 92 MPH and sat in the 89-91 MPH range. He also threw what appeared to be a mid-80s cutter, an upper-70s slider that he used to record two strikeouts and one changeup. He moved well down the mound for his size, getting well above average extension in his delivery which allowed his stuff to play up. Skapinetz hasn’t had much success in previous seasons but looked like a potential rotation anchor in this viewing.

A handful of underclass arms showed some positive traits. RHP Sophomore Tristan Helmick is probably the one with the most upside and draft potential. He’s highly projectable with a lanky build at  6’6-185. Helmick gets extended well and flashes a heavy sinker that sits around 87 MPH, topping out at 90. He filled out his arsenal with a low 80s cutter, a mid-70s curveball with above-average depth, and a low 80s changeup. None of his secondaries stood out in this appearance but there is potential with each offering as he continues to grow and begins to harness his pitchability. Helmick is a work in progress, but there’s loads of development potential, making him a good name to follow. Joining Helmick as potential follows are righties Ben Waterman and Kellen Moore. Waterman is a sophomore transfer from DIII Hamilton College with a solid 6’2-190 build. Waterman showed decent feel for a three-pitch mix and was up to 90 MPH while sitting 87-89. Moore meanwhile, is a prized recruit for the Leopards and looks ready to contribute out of the gate. The 6 '4 New Jersey native sat 89-90 MPH with a highly effective changeup in the 80-82 range while also mixing in a mid-to-upper 70s slider.

Tristan Helmick, RHP

Sophomore

Photo Credit: Hannah Ally

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East Stroudsburg

Getting the Start for ESU was Charleston Southern transfer RHP Ryan Cavanaugh. The redshirt FR has good length to his leaner frame and has the potential to be a long-term building block for Coach Kochmansky’s pitching staff. He opened up in the 89-90 range before sitting 86-88 in the second inning. Cavanaugh has been up to 92-93 in the past and with the physical projection that he possesses, it would not be surprising if he was sitting in that low 90s area in the future. He complimented his fastball with a slider in the 82-84 range that had cutter shape, a 76-78 MPH slurve, and a changeup between 78-81 MPH.

Two more righties that caught my attention were JR Jaden Newton and SR Caden Parker. Newton showed the most velocity for any ESU arm touching 92 MPH while working in a low 80s slider that showed flashes of being an effective weapon and a changeup in a similar velocity band. Consistent strikes have been a concern in the past but the 6 '4-215 righty has quality arm strength and the blueprint for a competent three-pitch mix. Meanwhile, Caden Parker showed why he was such an effective weapon late in games for the Warriors in 2024. The UMES transfer secured 12 saves during his first season with ESU with a 2.25 ERA. He won’t blow you away with velocity but he mixes his 88-90 MPH fastball and 78-80 MPH slider effectively with plenty of deception in his delivery. Finally, I liked what I saw from SO Peyton Brannock. The projectable 6’1 lefty tossed two shutout innings during the scrimmage while striking out a pair of batters. Brannock is a good mover on the mound and I liked the slight crossfire action to his delivery. He topped out at 89 MPH and sat 87-88 with good life. He also showed solid feel for spinning his upper 70s curveball and added a changeup that flashed some fading action. It’s more control over command for now but Brannock has a lot of positive traits and his development will be worth tracking over the next year and change.

Shanley Wall, CF

Junior

Photo Credit: Dave Janosz

The Warriors offense is led by redshirt JR first baseman Parker Frey. The 6’2-225 lefty slugger is coming off a strong 2024 season that saw him hit .339/.425/.514 with 5 homers and more walks (26) than strikeouts (16). While there is plenty of raw pop, Frey doesn’t sell out for power as he’s more than comfortable taking what pitchers give him. He scorched a ball the opposite way and another towards the middle of the field for extra-base hits. It’s a mature approach from a seasoned hitter with enough strength to boost his home run total in a major way this spring. The biggest hit of the day was courtesy of redshirt SO infielder Walker Zampella. A righty bat with a strong, thick build, Zampella smacked a no-doubter to his pull side. He’s coming off a .309/.413/.463 season and has experience playing both up the middle positions on the dirt. Lastly, JR centerfielder Shanley Wall will be a major focal point of the Warriors offensive attack. Wall is the younger brother of former St Joseph’s OF Conlan Wall who was a spark plug and consistent performer throughout his college career. Shanley is in the same mold. He has a short, stout build at 5’9-185 and gets the most out of his physical tools. He’s a pesky hitter who is coming off a phenomenal 2024 season that saw him hit .401/,472/.553 with 4 homers, 21 extra-base hits, and a 22:12 B-to-K ratio in 233 plate appearances.

Jared's Fall Jottings Part 1: Georgetown vs. Rutgers

Nothing beats being at the ballpark in the fall for some college baseball scrimmage. My first stop was at a scrimmage between the Georgetown Hoyas and Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Capital One Park in Tysons Corner, VA. While both are smaller schools, they’ve both been sneaky programs that have produced some decent draft talent over the past couple of years. 

In 2024, Georgetown's ace left-hander Everett Catlett (Colorado Rockies) was selected in the 12th round, and Rutgers had guys like Joshua Kuroda-Grauer (3rd Round, Oakland Athletics) and Donovan Zsak (8th Round, Cleveland Guardians) go in the top 10 rounds. Georgetown even had their third-rounder in the 2023 MLB Draft, Jake Bloss (Houston Astros), who has already made his major league debut and was a big piece in the Yusei Kikuchi trade. Rutgers also had a second-rounder in Ryan Lasko (Oakland Athletics) in the 2023 MLB Draft. 

While Georgetown now doesn’t possess as significant an arm as it did in the past two years in Catlett and Bloss, it still had some names to watch. Rutgers was fully loaded with intriguing bats and a couple of arms worth monitoring. 

2025 MLB DRAFT - RUTGERS

1B Ty Doucette

Doucette has easily catapulted himself into the top 100 bats in all of college baseball with his performance last year. He had a max EV of 112 MPH last year, and his ability to get barrel with ease is quite impressive. It was another barrel party for him against the Hoyas as hit smoked a double and homerun. Georgetown pitchers were no match for him. The only negative to Doucette’s offensive profile is he can be quite aggressive and chase at times, but he offsets that with a pretty good feel for the strike zone. Defensively, Doucette is a first-base-only profile, which means he will really have to hit at the next level. He’s somewhat athletic over there, but there is definitely room for improvement. Either way the bat is good enough that teams will be calling and he could easily find success in pro ball. 

OF Trevor Cohen

Cohen is a very fun player at the top of the Scarlet Knights lineup. A truly scrappy player who sort of does just about everything right in terms of the little things. While he’s not loaded with tons of power, he does an incredible job at making contact and setting the table. It’s fairly quick hands that helps him to get the ball. Cohen can get a little bit chase happy at times, but his ability to make contact helps offset some of those concerns. You’d like to see some more consistent hard contact from Cohen and he’s likely a tweak or two away from making that happen. He’s got a good amount of speed that helps him make things happen on the base paths and gives him the ability to man the outfield. He has the ability to possibly be a centerfielder at the next level, although Rutgers had him in right field for this contest against Georgetown. He will be on the radar of a few teams on draft day. 

2025 MLB DRAFT - GEORGETOWN

RHP Andrew Citron

Citron will likely be the closer for the Hoyas after putting up stellar numbers in 2024 to a 2.45 ERA while striking out 36 batters in 43 innings pitched. Citron is an interesting development story as he came to campus as a two-year player and strictly focused on pitching last year. He’s currently a two-pitch pitcher that consists of a fastball and curveball, although he’s flashed a changeup here and there. The fastball has been in the 89-93 MPH and has topped out a 94 MPH. In this outing, he was 88-91. While the velo was a bit done compared to what we are used to, he still had some pretty good carry on the pitch up in the zone. The curveball is Citron’s go-to pitch outside of the fastball. It ranged from 73-78 MPH but had some good bite. Command of both pitches is still a work in progress. He walked 30 batters last year, so the command and control issues aren’t new, but they are expected from a guy who has just started to focus on pitching full-time. Citron is a reliever-only type profile and if he can find some more velocity in his fastball, he might suffice as a two-pitch guy. If not, he could benefit from the development of his changeup. 

C - Owen Carapellotti

Carapellotti played a massive role for the Hoyas last year and will likely be a steady producer in the heart of the lineup in 2025. He was draft eligible in 2024 and even competed in the MLB Draft League over the summer, but ended up going unselected and returns to Georgetown. He had the loudest base hit for the Hoyas in the scrimmage, reaching 104 MPH. It tracks with how hard he hit the ball in 2024 as he posted both solid average EVs and a really good max EV. Carapellotti is also fairly athletic behind the dish and has a strong arm to throw runners out. He easily looks like he is a guy who can stick behind the plate at the next level. Carapellotti will need to improve a bit on his ability to get barrel-to-ball, but overall he could be a really nice senior sign for a team on draft day.

2026 MLB DRAFT - RUTGERS

RHP Justin Shadek

A healthy Justin Shadek turned many heads in this fall appearance against the Hoyas. For me, he easily came away as the most impressive arm in game one. The fastball was consistently 93-94 in his outing, even though he ranged 90-94 MPH. He even topped out at 95. He paired that fastball with a curveball that had some serious bite. It ranged from 78-81 MPH and was definitely his go-to strikeout pitch during the game. He finished off his arsenal with a slider that was really tight and had some cutter-ish action to it. Overall, it was a very good two-inning outing for an arm who missed all of last year with an injury. He’s one I’ll definitely be monitoring and if he can stay healthy all year, he should play a massive role in the starting rotation for the Scarlet Knights. 

OF Peyton Bonds

Campbell transfer Peyton Bonds (nephew of San Francisco Giants legend Barry Bonds) looks like he will be playing a significant role for Rutgers in 2025. The outfielder was manning centerfield for the Scarlet Knights and hitting in the top of the order. Bonds is a physical, imposing presence in the box coming in at 6’5, 220lbs. When he is able to get barrel to ball, the sound is loud off his bat and he posted a very high max EV with Campbell last year. Bonds is a bit stiff with his stance in the box due to his side and could use an increase in his bat speed. It seems to hinder his ability to make solid contact, and he often misses the barrel. Regardless of the hit tool concerns, you can see how the power is real and Bonds has some athleticism on top of that. He’s far from a clog on the base paths and showed in this game he does have the ability to handle center. There are some building blocks to like here and if he can make some significant adjustments in the hit tool department, Bonds could make himself an intriguing bat for the 2026 draft. 

2026 MLB DRAFT - GEORGETOWN

INF Ashtin Gilio

Gilio is a guy who caught my eye over the weekend. Although he is a little undersized, he did show a solid ability to make contact and Rutgers arms had a hard time putting him away. He hit leadoff for the Hoyas and constantly was finding a way on base. The likelihood of him tapping into much power seems unlikely, but he has plenty of room to grow and could eventually put on some more strength. On top of trying to be a steady producer in the leadoff spot, Gilio is also learning a new position. The Hoyas have him at third base, and he’s quickly trying to find his way there. While nothing stands off the board a ton just yet, there is a lot worth monitoring to see if he takes steps to advance his game a bit more in 2025. 

2025 MLB Draft Top 75 Collegiate Prospects: Conference Breakdowns (SEC - Part 1)

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

35 players from 11 different schools hail from the nation’s premier college baseball conference with our Top 75 prospects list. Defending national champions Tennessee lead the way with six players while Arkansas is just behind the Vols with five. LSU and Texas A&M each have four. Below are the eighteen SEC players who ranked in the Top 40 of our Top 75.

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

HITTERS

OF Jace Laviolette - Texas A&M

Prospects Live Ranking: #1

Jace Laviolette is the prototypical left-handed power bat that MLB organizations love. He’s athletic enough to play centerfield, which is likely where he’ll remain for the Aggies as he anchors perhaps the nation’s best lineup. Strikeouts remain a small concern, but he’s improved since his freshman season in drawing walks and getting on base. The Texas slugger took the summer off following Texas A&M’s loss in the National Championship to Tennessee despite an invite to participate in Team USA for the second time. That rest will be critical as he looks to solidify his #1 overall pick potential. With his ability on the basepaths and in the field, Laviolette is a legitimate five-tool player at the college level. If the organization that drafts him can figure out a way to cut down on the strikeouts while maintaining his hit and power tool, the big lefty could be a future five-tool prospect at the pro level.

C/OF Ike Irish - Auburn

Prospects Live Ranking: #9

Ike Irish is the top-rated college catcher ahead of the 2025 draft. Unlike North Carolina’s Luke Stevenson, however, there are some questions as to Irish’s future at the position. The Michigan native is another left-handed hitter with a very good hit tool. As a freshman in the ACC, Irish hit .361 with 31 extra base hits. He struggled with a nagging injury at times during his sophomore campaign, but still managed to hit .319 and more than double his home run total from the previous season. Despite the plus hit tool and extra base hit numbers, there are concerns about his ability to hit for power given his tendency to hit ground balls at a high rate. Defensively, Irish has a strong arm and has improved his receiving skills, but it’s likely his future lies as a corner outfielder. Regardless of his future position, he’ll be the most feared bat in the Auburn lineup during the 2025 season. 

Ike, Ike, baby‼️

Just some Sunday yardwork for our guy.

B6 | Auburn 6, UConn 2 pic.twitter.com/4LK7rWT8xA

— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball) March 3, 2024

3B/OF Andrew Fischer - Tennessee

Prospects Live Ranking: #17

After a year at Duke and a year at Ole Miss, Andrew Fischer is in Knoxville to play for Tennessee in his draft eligible year. Fischer joins fellow top draft prospects Dean Curley and Gavin Kilen in a loaded infield. It remains to be seen exactly where Fischer will play as Curley and Kilen are better defenders due to Fischer’s limited range. He could see time at third and first for the Vols, but perhaps his future lies in a corner outfield position at the next level. The New Jersey native enjoyed a breakout season at the plate for the Rebs last season, slugging 17 home runs in 49 games while hitting .282. Fischer, who mashes fastballs and likes to pull the ball, will likely eclipse 20 home runs for Tennessee in 2025. He’s yet to hit .300 as a college player, but playing in a loaded lineup should help boost his offensive numbers next season.  

3B Dean Curley - Tennessee

Prospects Live Ranking: #16

Dean Curley is a draft eligible sophomore who played shortstop for Tennessee on the way to winning their first National Championship in school history last season. The California native hit .285 with 23 extra base hits as a true freshman while stealing 9 bases. He became the first freshman in school history to hit three home runs in a game on March 6th against Kansas State. Curley is projected to play the hot corner at the next level but will likely stay at shortstop for the Vols in 2025 unless Ariel Antigua forces Curley to shift to 3rd base. After his fantastic first year, the former freshman All American is poised to have an even bigger sophomore campaign. His pull-side power and impressive bat speed should see him improve on his home run total and I expect to see his average rise well above .300 in this loaded Tennessee lineup.    

Dean Curley tonight:

Grand Slam ✅
3 Run HR ✅
2 Run HR ✅

True freshman. Rumor has it that his roommate is Tungsten Arm O’Doyle pic.twitter.com/sU9DoU9bw9

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 6, 2024

2B/SS Gavin Kilen - Tennessee

Prospects Live Ranking: #17

Gavin Kilen enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign for Louisville in 2024 as he hit .330 with 23 doubles and 9 home runs. He showed flashes of decent power last year, but is more of a gap-to-gap doubles hitter than a slugger. Five of his nine home runs last season came in a 10-day stretch between March 6th and March 16th. Kilen only hit three home runs in conference play but could improve on those numbers in a new environment. The Wisconsin native has the range, arm, and quickness to play shortstop at the next level, but it’s probable that Tennessee employs Kilen at second base with either Dean Curley or even Ariel Antigua manning shortstop. Don’t be surprised if Tony Vitello utilizes his high contact rate at the top of the order to serve as a table setter for the Vols’ big boppers. Wherever he hits in the lineup, he should produce solid offensive numbers while playing stellar defense at second.

UT RJ Austin - Vanderbilt

Prospects Live Ranking: #19

RJ Austin has been a mainstay in the Vanderbilt lineup since arriving on campus ahead of the 2023 season. In 122 career collegiate games Austin is a career .296 hitter with 39 extra base hits and 32 stolen bases. He has steadily improved since arriving on campus and has been showing signs of more power. The biggest mystery surrounding RJ Austin is determining what position he’s going to play. While representing Team USA and playing on the Cape this summer, he saw time at both third base and center field. He’s been dealing with a shoulder injury this fall, so Vanderbilt has been DHing him in scrimmages. Despite that lingering issue, he’s produced well at the plate with multiple hits. He’s athletic enough to play almost anywhere on the diamond for the Commodores but I really like the skill set he has for the outfield. Regardless of where he plays the field, his bat and baserunning capabilities will be essential to Vanderbilt’s success in 2025.

RJ Austin gets every stitch of this center-cut FB and hammers it over the Monster in LF for a 3-run HR. Easy bat speed, extends beautifully though the baseball, and does a nice job of really rotating and finishing his swing. pic.twitter.com/Ky45TYqmny

— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) February 16, 2024

SS/3B Jalin Flores  - Texas

Prospects Live Ranking: #25

Jalin Flores opted to come back to school instead of entering last year’s draft as an eligible sophomore. After struggling over 45 games as a freshman in which he hit .175 with just 6 extra base hits, Flores broke out in a big way in 2024. The San Antonio native started 60 games for the Longhorns and hit .340 while slugging 22 doubles and 18 home runs as Texas once again reached an NCAA Regional. He’s become a more aggressive and pull-happy hitter, but it’s led to major success. Flores will continue to play shortstop for the Longhorns and has the ability to play there at the next level, though he could shift to third base as a pro as well. New Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle must be ecstatic to have Flores and the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year Max Belyeu back on the team ahead of 2025. 

OF Max Belyeu - Texas

Prospects Live Ranking: #26

Much like teammate Jalin Flores, Max Belyeu enjoyed a breakout campaign as a sophomore in 2024. He only played in 15 games as a freshman, amassing just 20 at-bats, but won a starting job heading into his second year and flourished. The slugging outfielder hit .329 with 34 extra base hits and captured the Big 12 Player of the Year Award for his efforts. He’s an aggressive hitter that tends to lift the ball at a high rate, resulting in quite a few fly balls. Belyeu had a decent summer playing for Team USA and up in the Cape Cod League. He played center field for the Cotuit Kettleers while hitting a double and two home runs in 18 games. He’s likely a corner outfielder at the next level, but needs to continue to improve his defense heading into 2025. I expect to see even better offensive numbers from him in 2025 as he headlines a talented Texas lineup joining the SEC.

SS Wehiwa Aloy - Arkansas

Prospects Live Ranking: #28

Wehiwa Aloy transferred to Arkansas after an incredible freshman year at Sacramento State where he slashed .376/.427/.662 with 34 extra base hits enroute to winning the WAC Freshman of the Year Award. He took a bit of a step back as a sophomore in his debut season for the Razorbacks, slashing .270/.355/.485 with just 23 extra base hits. Aloy is a very aggressive hitter with great bat speed and above-average power that could lead to better numbers in 2025. The Hawai’i native flashed that power this summer in the Cape Cod League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox as he clubbed eight home runs in just 81 at-bats. His performance on July 4th against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks was the first three-homer game in the Cape since 2021 and the first YD three-homer game since 1982. It’s possible that Aloy has the tools and physicality to play shortstop at the next level, but it’s more likely he’ll shift to third or second base in the future. Given the adjustments to his stance ahead of the Cape season and the results that ensued, it’s reasonable to expect improvements on Aloy’s numbers in 2025.  

3B Tre Phelps - Georgia

Prospects Live Ranking: #30

Tre Phelps is a draft eligible sophomore who had a fantastic debut season in Athens for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2024. In 42 games, he slashed .355/.442/.686 with 23 extra base hits. While his incredible bat speed and power potential is impressive, what stands out is his ability to put the ball in play. He’s a little over aggressive in his approach and yet rarely strikes out– K-ing just 15 times in 136 at-bats in 2024. Phelps has the physique and tools to play at a number of positions, including third base where he’s spent most of his time with Georgia. There’s a good chance he could be a corner outfielder at the next level. The Bulldogs have an impressive roster heading into next season, but with Charlie Condon moving on to the next level, it’ll be Tre Phelps who becomes the most feared bat in the Georgia lineup. 

TRE PHELPS HOME RUN!!!!

📺 https://t.co/QaF81Klywx (ESPN+)#GoDawgs | @TrePhelps1 pic.twitter.com/8CmpHVOfw6

— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA) June 3, 2024

2B Daniel Dickinson - LSU

Prospects Live Ranking: #32

Daniel Dickinson is one of the latest blockbuster transfers that have made their way to Baton Rouge to play for Jay Johnson and LSU. In two years at Utah Valley, the middle infielder slashed .369/.458/.627 with 63 extra base hits and 42 stolen bases in 113 games. Dickinson will be making a jump in competition from the WAC to the SEC, but don’t be surprised to see him be a spark plug atop the LSU lineup. The Washington state product has elite contact ability and lines the ball to all fields with gap-to-gap power. When he gets on, his speed enables him to wreak havoc on the bases though I’d expect to see his stolen base numbers dip as the SEC has some elite defensive catchers. Michael Braswell will likely remain at shortstop for the Tigers while Dickinson– who projects as a second baseman at the next level anyways– will be his double play partner on the right side.    

1B/OF Ethan Petry - South Carolina

Prospects Live Ranking: #37

Ethan Petry has been known for his gaudy home run numbers since arriving in Columbia as a freshman in 2023 and he’s continued to produce for the Gamecocks throughout his career slashing .341/.471/.686 with 44 home runs in 124 games. It should be noted that some of Petry’s numbers dipped as a sophomore and his strikeouts rose. This regression could be attributed to some holes in his swing as pitchers adjusted to his weaknesses. The power will always be there, but the hit tool looks to be average at best. If his Cape Cod performance is any indication, however, he could play himself into a higher ranking with a big 2025. Over the summer Petry led the Cape in homers, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS enroute to winning both the MVP and Best Prospect Awards. In 31 games up north he slashed .360/.480/.760 with 7 doubles and 11 home runs. Defensively, he’s probably not a corner outfielder at the next level but could transition to a role at first base.

Folks, Ethan Petry has done it again.

Gets a breaking ball down in the zone and absolutely does not miss it for a grand slam to blow this game wide open. Easy swing, easy juice.

Dare I say it....1.1 2025? pic.twitter.com/x5JbrcyPPK

— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 7, 2023

2B Ryan Black - UGA

Prospects Live Ranking: #40

Ryan Black is another big name transfer heading from the WAC to the SEC for his draft eligible season. In two years at UT-Arlington, Black slashed .308/.413/.476 with 51 extra base hits in 113 games. He’s a line drive hitter with decent bat speed that puts the ball in play. He has decent pop for a college bat but provides value as more of a gap-to-gap doubles hitter. The Texas native’s tools make him an ideal tablesetter in a really good Georgia lineup. It’s worth noting that his numbers dipped significantly over his sophomore season as he hit and walked less. The jump in competition from the WAC to the SEC will be something to keep an eye on. Black doesn’t have the arm strength or the range to play shortstop at the next level, but he should be able to provide adequate defense at second base.

PITCHERS

RHP Kyson Witherspoon - Oklahoma

Prospects Live Ranking: #27

Kyson Witherspoon had a good debut season for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024 as a sophomore, going 8-3 with a 3.71 ERA over 11 starts. The Jacksonville native amassed 90 strikeouts in 80 innings while allowing 40 walks. In a short stint over the summer in the Cape Cod League, Witherspoon pitched 9 innings and gave up just one earned run while featuring the fastball/slider combo that’s been so successful. The righty ace’s fastball sits at 95 and reaches upper 90s, while the mid-80s slider features a tight break. When he misses with the fastball, it tends to sail up, which could get him in trouble. Witherspoon also has a solid changeup that sits in the high 80s. The arm action is a bit clunky and there are some command issues, but overall, Witherspoon is currently the top pitching prospect in the SEC ahead of 2025. He’ll need to continue to improve his command as Oklahoma joins the tougher SEC gauntlet.

RHP Kolten Smith - Georgia

Prospects Live Ranking: #33

Kolten Smith enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign under pitching guru and first year head coach Wes Johnson. While he had opportunities as a freshman in 2023 and threw 25.2 innings over 12 appearances, Smith was a bonafide key member of the staff in 2024. The Florida native went 9-3 while striking out 105 batters in 69.2 innings pitched last year. He walked just 20 hitters. Smith utilizes both a mid-80s slider and a low-80s curveball to complement a fastball that’s risen into the mid-90s. He also mixes in a decent changeup when necessary. The improvement of Smith’s command between his freshman and sophomore seasons might indicate the potential for another jump in production in 2025. Smith is the best pitching prospect in a loaded Georgia staff and has the mentorship of one of the best pitching minds in the country in Wes Johnson. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Smith emerge as a dark horse candidate for SEC Pitcher of the Year before the season is said and done.

RHP AJ Russell - Tennessee

Prospects Live Ranking: #35

AJ Russell had a disappointing 2024, as an elbow hampered him throughout the year. After an incredible freshman campaign that saw him go 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 24 appearances, Russell was supposed to be a key member of the weekend rotation. He dazzled with 10 strikeouts in 4.1 innings against Texas Tech on opening weekend, and went three shutout innings against Albany a week later. But after just two SEC appearances, Russell didn’t pitch again until the SEC tournament when he pitched against Vanderbilt and LSU. He did not take the mound during the CWS run. The big righty has an impressive fastball with armside life and a low 80s sweeping slider that complements the fastball well. Russell has a changeup as well, but needs to improve command and the pitch itself to make it more effective. If he can get healthy and take the mound in 2025, it’ll be a big boost both for the defending National Champions and his personal draft stock.

AJ Russell. 29 pitches. 25 heaters.

6 Ks to start the game 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/dyTDlNe2nZ

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) February 17, 2024

LHP Kade Anderson - LSU

Prospects Live Ranking: #38

Kade Anderson is a draft eligible sophomore that became a key piece on LSU’s pitching staff as a freshman when he went 4-2 with a 3.99 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 18 appearances. He was at his most impressive on March 6th, his third outing for the Tigers. Against Southeastern Louisiana, Anderson went five innings and gave up zero earned runs while striking out 13 hitters. His low 90s fastball can touch 96 and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts sitting closer to mid-90s as he continues to improve his craft. Anderson also features a high-70s curveball that could turn extremely lethal as he improves command. If you’re looking for a potential breakout sophomore pitcher that could vie for postseason awards, here is the guy as he looks to be part of LSU’s weekend rotation. A big sophomore season as a starting pitcher could propel Anderson into the first round of the 2025 MLB draft.

LHP JD Thompson - Vanderbilt

Prospects Live Ranking: #39

JD Thompson was a key member of Vanderbilt’s rotation as a sophomore last year, going 5-2 with 74 strikeouts versus just 18 walks in 52 innings pitched. His arsenal features a low-90s fastball from the left side that batters have trouble picking up on due to his ability to hide the ball. If he adds a little more consistent velocity to that pitch, it’s going to be one of the best fastballs from the left side in the country. The native Texan pairs the fastball with low-80s cambio and two breaking balls- a low 80s sweeping slider and a mid-70s curveball. It’s a legitimate four pitch mix that he can throw for strikes and all four pitches generate whiffs at a high rate. If he maintains his production for 2024 or improves on it, there’s no doubt Thompson will be a day one pick in the 2025 MLB draft.

On The Clock: Interview with 2025 MLB Draft Prospect Matt Scott

In this episode of On the Clock, Jared Perkins and Tyler from ProspectsLive host Matt Scott, a top 2025 MLB Draft prospect standout pitcher from Stanford University. Matt shares his journey from Connecticut to becoming a prominent pitcher at Stanford. He discusses his early days playing multiple sports before fully committing to baseball in high school. His recruitment process, which included a focus on East Coast schools, led him to Stanford, where he was drawn to the program's values and the campus atmosphere. Despite the distance, Matt is excited about Stanford’s transition to the ACC, which will allow him to play closer to home and give his family more opportunities to watch him play in person.

The conversation dives into Matt's pitching development and plans for the upcoming season. Matt aims to refine his pitch arsenal, focusing on better consistency with his fastball, slider, and splitter to remain effective throughout the long season. He discusses the physical and mental challenges of a grueling schedule, including cross-country travel and balancing schoolwork. Matt credits the support of his family and upperclassmen for his growth as a player and values the opportunity to be part of a talented pitching rotation at Stanford. He’s optimistic about the team’s chances in the ACC and sees this as a major challenge that will enhance his skills.

Off the field, Matt emphasizes the importance of maintaining a life outside baseball, with hobbies like golf, which helps him clear his mind. He's pursuing a major in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) at Stanford, reflecting his broad interests beyond the sport. Matt also shares personal highlights, such as his favorite strikeout moment against Utah and his “Mount Rushmore” of pitchers, including stars like Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander. The episode wraps up with rapid-fire questions, offering a fun look at Matt’s personality, preferences, and plans, including his walkout song choice for the upcoming season.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2025-mlb-draft-rhp-matt-scott-stanford/id1733326436?i=1000674135056

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/47gV253cyGm2bk3WDuSYup?si=35isP0iNR02tadM2_DRMpA

On The Clock: Interview with 2025 MLB Draft Prospect Gavin Turley

In this episode of On the Clock, Jared Perkins and Tyler Jennings interview Gavin Turley, a standout outfielder from Oregon State and 2025 MLB Draft prospect. Gavin shares his journey from a small town in Utah to a top-level baseball program, detailing how moving to Arizona in high school helped him face stronger competition. Now at Oregon State, Gavin reflects on his freshman year and playing alongside talented teammates like Travis Bazzana, who went first overall in the MLB Draft. Gavin credits Bazzana’s work ethic and focus for shaping his own approach, particularly around the importance of self-evaluation and process-oriented improvement.

Gavin talks about his time in the Cape Cod League, where he worked on refining his hitting, particularly a more disciplined approach with two strikes. He explains how keeping a detailed notebook of his at-bats and performance has helped him make faster adjustments and improve his swing. Heading into the 2025 season, Gavin is eager to adapt his refined approach to metal bats and focus on using the opposite field more effectively. He also discusses the uncertainty of Oregon State’s schedule now that the Pac-12 has dissolved, but remains confident in facing strong competition and maintaining Oregon State's presence in the baseball landscape.

Off the field, Gavin is passionate about ranching and outdoor activities, which help him maintain a balanced lifestyle. He shares stories about his love for working on projects around his home in Corvallis and exploring Oregon’s natural beauty. He also plays piano to unwind. In rapid-fire questions, Gavin reveals his favorite spots in Corvallis, his dream to one day own a ranch in Montana or Idaho, and his admiration for MLB players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Ramirez, and Aaron Judge. The episode concludes with Gavin’s optimism for the upcoming season and his aspirations for a successful career.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2025-mlb-draft-of-gavin-turley-oregon-state/id1733326436?i=1000669920563

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4k3FNlbi1BqPPp6CTuB1EK?si=4ba9a3193f10412c

On The Clock: Interview with 2025 MLB Draft Prospect Tyler Bremner

In this episode of On the Clock, Jared Perkins and Tyler Jennings interview Tyler Bremner, a right-handed pitcher from UC Santa Barbara who has become possibly the top pitching prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft. Tyler shares his journey from San Diego, where he tried various sports before focusing on baseball at the start of high school. He describes his experience playing for the USA Collegiate National Team over the summer, which included being part of a combined no-hitter—an experience he considers a highlight of his career. Tyler also talks about meeting other top players from across the country, particularly those from SEC and other major schools, noting how special it was to compete alongside them.

The discussion delves into Tyler's pitching arsenal, emphasizing his standout changeup, which is considered one of the best among his peers. He explains how he grips and throws the pitch, highlighting the tweaks he's made to increase effectiveness against top hitters. Tyler also talks about his efforts to improve his slider, a pitch that has been a major focus in bullpen sessions. He acknowledges the mental aspect of his development, emphasizing the need for confidence and aggressiveness on the mound as he heads into the 2025 season.

Off the field, Tyler enjoys downtime in Santa Barbara, playing guitar, going to the beach, and spending time with teammates. He shares insights into his training regimen, which emphasizes strength building and tailored routines to prepare for starts. In rapid-fire questions, Tyler reveals his favorite local spots, potential walk-up songs, and pitchers he admires, such as Rhett Lowder and Walker Buehler. The episode ends on an optimistic note, with Tyler discussing his goals for the upcoming season and excitement about his baseball future.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2025-mlb-draft-prospect-rhp-tyler-bremner-joins-the-show/id1733326436?i=1000668071861

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/34ZkCIuJ10n5oAUFhi5D0q?si=UPmrTBKzQOmFdg8v_qopTQ

On The Clock: Interview with 2025 MLB Draft Prospect Brendan Summerhill

In this episode of On the Clock, hosts Tyler Jennings and Jared Perkins sit down with Brendan Summerhill, a standout baseball player from the University of Arizona and one of the top prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft, to discuss his journey through amateur and college baseball. Brendan shares how he fell in love with the game during his early years, initially playing competitively in travel ball. He details his recruitment process, which started in Kentucky before he ultimately ended up at Arizona. During his freshman year, he made significant adjustments, particularly in his batting stance, which helped him become one of the top hitters in his class. Brendan talks about the challenges of adapting to the college level of play and how he embraced a simpler approach at the plate that emphasizes consistency over power.

As the conversation progresses, Brendan reflects on some of his most memorable moments on the field, including a key at-bat against Oregon State that helped Arizona clinch the Pac-12 Championship. He describes the intense mindset required to excel in clutch situations and how his brother Colin, a fellow baseball player and current minor leaguer with the Los Angeles Angels, has been a pivotal influence on his development. Brendan explains that having his brother as a mentor and hitting coach has been invaluable, providing a support system that keeps him grounded and focused. They often exchange insights on their swings and mental approaches, which has fostered a unique and supportive relationship between them.

Looking ahead, Brendan expresses his aspirations for the 2025 season, aiming for team success in the College World Series and a possible Big 12 championship. He is excited about the culture and camaraderie within the Wildcats' locker room, which he believes is a critical element in the team’s success. Brendan’s off-field interests include spending time with his teammates, enjoying Tucson’s warm weather, and relaxing by the pool. To wrap up, he shares his love for hockey, his go-to food spots in Tucson, and his favorite baseball walk-up songs, leaving listeners with a sense of his competitive spirit and passion for the game.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2025-mlb-draft-of-brendan-summerhill-arizona/id1733326436?i=1000673286069

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7nDtAPciPGBPozwddiVP5g?si=v9vUj76JQBSfCus_VE_P6g

2025 MLB Draft Top 75 Collegiate Prospects: Conference Breakdowns (Big 12/B1G)

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 and B1G Conferences. 

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. 

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

— Brian Switzer II (@BrianSwitzerII) June 24, 2024

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 - B1g (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.

Got some open-side cuts to post now.

.@IndianaBase OF Devin Taylor looked very solid at the plate in the first game, notching two hard-hit singles. Solid bat speed with thump, didn't chase often, and worked deep at-bats. He's one of the top prospects in the 2025 class. pic.twitter.com/JTwCektVym

— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) June 27, 2024

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. 

Ben Jacobs set the tone with the high heat in today's scrimmage. The pitching staff striking out nineteen while only walking three in today's scrimmage. 🔥🔥🔥

MPH: 93.4
Spin Rate: 2481 RPM
IVB: 23.1 In.
HB: -8.25 In. pic.twitter.com/qj9i9qC9iE

— ASU Baseball Analytics (@Devs_Analytics) October 19, 2024

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. 

2025 MLB Draft Top 75 Collegiate Prospects: Conference Breakdowns (Mid-Majors/Independents)

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 mid-major prospects across the NCAA.

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

SS Aiva Arquette - Oregon State

Prospects Live Ranking: #7

Arquette, a standout from Saint Louis High School and a rising star in college baseball, has captured the attention of scouts for his performance at the University of Washington and in the Cape Cod League. He’s been a massive get for Oregon State in this years transfer portal. He has been one of the biggest risers in the college ranks. Arquette is a huge physical presence at shortstop at 6’4, 220lbs adding another name to the “tall shortstops” category. Given his size and stature, he could move to third base in the future as he gains more physicality.  His offensive game saw major strides in his sophomore season, showcasing a balanced approach, impressive exit velocities, and the ability to hit to all fields. He’s got imense raw power, especially to the opposite field, but his patience at the plate needs some more development as he can get a tad aggressive. Regardless, there are a ton of tools to dream on and a solid season at Oregon State will likely have his name being called super early in the 2025 MLB Draft.

🚀Liftoff on Montlake🚀

INF Aiva Arquette takes Stanford RHP Matt Scott deep to LCF on a chilly night. Reaches for 93 up on the black.

Arquette ranks as the No. 107 prospect in the 2025 Draft at @FSS_PLUS. pic.twitter.com/QPGNm6n6N6

— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) March 9, 2024

C Caden Bodine - Coastal Carolina

Prospects Live Ranking: #12

Bodine is one of the most impressive bats at the plate due to his ability to get barrels easily, and he does it at an excellent level from both sides. He ran up some absurd contact rates and had a good feel for the strikezone. He can get overly aggressive sometimes, but he does a good job keeping that mostly in check. Bodine has started to tap into more power but has maxed out at 11 home runs in his freshman year. He struggled in a small sample size in the Cape Cod League this summer, but he was limited to six games, given he also spent some time with the USA Collegiate National Teams. Defensively, Bodine has all the tools to stick behind the plate. He’s a force behind the plate as he does a good job keeping the ball in front of him and has a decent arm to throw guys out. There is a lot to like here for teams looking at him in the 2025 MLB Draft, and another strong season should keep him high on draft boards. 

3B Trent Caraway - Oregon State

Prospects Live Ranking: #18

As you can see, Oregon State is chock-full of offensive studs in their lineup in 2025, just like they were in 2024. Trent Caraway is an athletic and versatile infielder who stands out for his strong defensive instincts and reliable glove work, particularly at shortstop and third base. He has solid arm stroength and thinks he should be able to handle the hot corner long-term in the future. Offensively, power is the name of the game for Caraway. He hits the ball HARD! He’s already maxed out at 113.1 mph with his exit velos. He has shown developing power potential but can be quite aggressive at times and is working on making more consistent contact. He’s shown some swing-and-miss and hits the ground on the ball too much, but he has improved his approach some recently. He has a decent amount of speed on the base paths and is far from a clog out there. His maturity and baseball IQ set him apart as a player with high upside and a promising future.

OF Nick Dumesnil - Cal Baptist

Prospects Live Ranking: #20

Dumesnil really popped off as one of the best mid-major bat prospects in the entire nations after his sophomore season at Cal Baptist. The outfielder slashed an absurd .362/.440/.702 with a 1.142 OPS, including 19 2B, 19 HR, and 45 RBI. While he had some solid production he can be pretty aggressive at the plate. Dumesnil excels at punishing fastballs but can struggle with spin, leading to higher ground ball rates on breaking pitches. His speed and strong defensive instincts make him a versatile outfielder, with center field being his most likely position. After impressing in the WAC and continuing his success on the Cape, he’s now a legitimate Day 1 prospect with first-round potential. His power, speed, and defensive ability give him a robust toolset, though cutting down on his aggressiveness at the plate will be key as he faces tougher pitching.

OF Gavin Turley - Oregon State

Prospects Live Ranking: #22

ATHLETE! That sums up the skillset Turley brings to the table. There is a lot to like with his toolset across the board. He’s got a ton of bat speed that generates a massive amount of raw power. Turley’s weakness has always been his ability to make contact, but he showed a new approach in the Cape Cod League over the summer that led to much success. He cut down on his whiff and did a good job of laying off struff out of the zone. It was pretty impressive to see how quickly the new approach worked, and I’ll be curious to know if he can carry that success into the 2025 season. Defensively, Turley’s athleticism plays well in the outfield. Thanks to his speed, he gets good jumps and reads and can track almost anything down. He has a plus arm, and his throws have a ton of carry and accuracy. The key for Turley is going to be to continue refining his approach and cutting back on the swing-and-miss. If he can do that, there is a good chance he could see his name called early on day one. 

3B Triston “Murf” Gray - Fresno State

Prospects Live Ranking: #34

Triston 'Murf' Gray gets your attention right away.

The 6-foot-4 3B has plus bat speed, above-average power and advanced in-zone contact skills.

The @FresnoStateBSB star was one of the top prospects on the Cape this summer. https://t.co/Prvk3posXR pic.twitter.com/drsOeyq4Ce

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) August 19, 2024

Coming in at 6’4, 220lbs, Murf Gray is a DUDE physically as he is built like a horse. The 2023 Mountain West Player of the Year earned this accolade because of his performance at the plate where he slashed .296/.358/.504 with 12 2B, 10 HR, and 52 RBI. He continued to produce at the plate this summer in the Cape Cod League against some of the better competition in the US. The power and contact skills combine make him an absolute threat at the plate. He couples excellent contact rates with solid exit velos thanks to his above-average bat speed, strength, and feel for the strike zone. Gray will eat up any fastball that comes his way, but can struggle with spin from time-to-time. He handles the hot corner pretty well and has a strong arm that helps him stick there. As of now, he will likely stick at third base, but there could be a possibility that he moves to the outfield in the future. Gray has day-one draft potential with his offensive upside if he refines his hit tool and maintains his value in other areas of the game.

C Brooks Bryan - Troy

Prospects Live Ranking: #47

Bryan is an absolute force at the plate. Bryan broke the RBI record at Troy with 85, which ranked fifth in the entire NCAA. He is one of the most powerful bats in the 2025 class as he combines explosive bat speed with plus raw power, especially from the left side. He posted significantly good exit velos his entire sophomore season as well. Bryan has some swing-and-miss to his game, but he does offset with a solid, disciplined approach at the plate. Behind the plate, he's a strong athlete with solid blocking skills and average arm strength, though he still needs to refine his framing and throwing out baserunners. Despite these areas for improvement, Bryan’s mix of power and athleticism make him a solid long-term catcher prospect.

OF Dallas Macias - Oregon State

Prospects Live Ranking: #55

Macias has transformed his profile since arriving at Oregon State, adding significant strength and bat speed to go along with his already impressive hit tool. Initially seen as more of a table-setter, he now boasts solid average raw power, especially from the left side, though his swing is more adjustable from the right. While Macias excels at making contact, his quality of contact against off-speed pitches, particularly from the left side, remains inconsistent, though he handles fastballs with ease. As a switch-hitter, he showcases versatility at the plate with an 86% contact rate and a chase rate below 25% during his time on the Cape. Defensively, Macias has experience across all outfield spots and has even played second and third base in spurts, but his average speed and arm strength suggest a future in left field. With his improved power and consistent contact ability, Macias is shaping up as a potential day-one pick in the 2025 draft.

1B/3B Michael Dattalo - Dallas Baptist

Prospects Live Ranking: #67

After a standout freshman season at Northwestern State, Dattalo transferred to Dallas Baptist and continued to showcase his offensive prowess, slashing .345/.395/.517 with eight home runs. His power and bat speed are undeniable, with aggressive swings producing high exit velocities, sometimes reaching 110 MPH. Though Dattalo occasionally expands the zone on breaking balls, his mature approach and ability to consistently make contact—evident in his 84% contact rate on the Cape—set him apart as one of the more promising hitters in his class. While primarily a third baseman, his defense can be inconsistent at times, and he’s also seen time at first base, where his athleticism and footwork face less of a challenge. Despite the defensive polish needed at the hot corner, Dattalo’s bat-first profile, with a mix of raw power and excellent barrel control, has firmly placed him on the radar as a prospect with considerable upside.

PITCHERS

RHP Tyler Bremner - UC Santa Barbara

Prospects Live Ranking: #3

After a solid sophomore year and an impressive showing at USA Collegiate National Taem, Bremner has skyrocketed to the top of list for pitching prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft. It’s been a contest between him and Jamie Arnold, but Bremner has set himself apart thus far. The stuff is electric. He’s got a mid-90s fastball that has topped 98 mph, which our Tyler Jennings caught at USA Collegiate this summer. The pitch has a ton of carry up in the zone and gets on batters quick. The changeup is his best pitch. It is a double-plus pitch with high spin rates and plays exceptionally well off his fastball. He’s also got a slider that has made many improvements since his freshman year and now has become a filthy third offering. Bremner has the makings of a solid three-pitch mix that are all above-average to plus offerings. It’s clear to most everyone why he might be the first arm off the board in the 2025 MLB Draft, especially if he has a solid junior season. 

RHP Justin Ellwanger - Dallas Baptist

Prospects Live Ranking: #29

Dallas Baptist always seems to be loaded with talent on the mound. Ellwanger was draft-eligible in 2023 and was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 19th round. He didn’t sign and made his way back to Dallas Baptist. Ellwanger followed his draft selection by absolutely dominating hitters in the box in the Cape Cod League where he struck out 22 batters in 13 innings to the tune of a 2.77 ERA. He’s got some electric stuff on the mound, led by his fastball, which touched 99 mph and sits in the mid-90s. He’s constantly missing bats with it. He pairs it with a mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball. He does better at throwing his slider for a strike than his fastball. He lacks chase with his curveball, but the pitch has some good depth to it. 

LHP Grant Richardson - Grand Canyon

Prospects Live Ranking: #73

As a fellow Arizonan, I always love seeing Grand Canyon guys on this last. GCU has been a sneaky good baseball program for years now. Richardson provides them with another intriguing prospect for the MLB Draft to continue the guys they’ve been able to produce in the past. Richardson underwent elbow surgery in July after transitioning into the rotation for the Lopes. The lefty is a physical presence on the mound coming in at 6’3, 220lbs. He’s got a solid fastball that sits in the mid-90s (92-95), but has been up to 97 mph. He isn’t afraid to work the pitch up in the zone on batters. He’s got a sharp slider with plenty of bite that he pairs with his fastball as it averages 85-87 mph and has been up to 89 mph. He’s flashed a changeup from time-to-time but the pitch is very inconsistent and still a work in progress. Command has always been a struggle for Richardson, but there is enough there for him to become a potential reliever. If he can polish his secondaries and hone some of his command issues, there could be a potential starter. 

Another masterclass on the mound from @grant_rich22 with 8 K's in a one-run effort. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MecalyBbWZ

— Grand Canyon Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) May 4, 2024

On The Clock: Interview with 2025 MLB Draft Prospect Devin Taylor

Photo Credit: Indiana Athletics

In this episode of the On the Clock podcast, Devin Taylor, an outfielder from Indiana and one of the top 2025 MLB Draft picks, shares his journey in baseball and the steps he's taken to become a standout player. From a young age, Devin and his brother practiced hitting daily with their father, instilling a work ethic that shaped his career. Devin also played basketball in high school but eventually focused on baseball. Off the field, he enjoys spending time with his teammates, playing video games, and exploring the beautiful Indiana campus, emphasizing the importance of balance between work and relaxation.

Devin discusses his experience playing for Team USA and his performance in summer leagues like the Cape Cod League. He highlights how playing with top-tier athletes helped him improve his game, especially as he focused on refining his outfield skills and maintaining consistency at the plate. Devin also mentions how his mentors, particularly his father and hitting coach Lance Durham, have been crucial in his development. Even during rough patches, such as struggling at the Cape Cod playoffs, he credits Durham for helping him regain his confidence and swing.

Looking ahead, Devin is excited for the upcoming college baseball season with Indiana University. With back-to-back regional appearances, the team is focused on advancing further, with hopes of reaching the Super Regionals or even Omaha. Devin also shares some personal insights through rapid-fire questions, from his favorite home run memory to his dream of facing MLB pitcher Zack Wheeler. The episode wraps up with Devin expressing his gratitude for his mentors and teammates, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and continual growth.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2025-mlb-draft-of-devin-taylor-indiana/id1733326436?i=1000671537786

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7alpOxYzAyu12RhXPKsISq?si=861605ea18634b53

On The Clock: Top 75 College Board and 2025 MLB Draft Prospect Miguel Sime, Jr. Joins the Show

In this episode of On the Clock, the hosts, Jared Perkins and Tyler Jennings, dive into college and MLB draft news, starting with Georgia Bulldogs' recent transfer acquisition, Devin Obee. Obee, a standout outfielder from Duke, turned down a significant offer during the MLB Draft to complete his education and transferred to Georgia. His defensive skills, power, and ability to fill a key center field position make him a crucial addition to Georgia's lineup. The hosts also discuss how Obee’s arrival, along with returning talent, positions the Bulldogs for a strong run in the upcoming season. They then discuss Shane Sdao of Texas A&M, who will miss the season due to Tommy John surgery, and how the Aggies' strong bullpen will need to compensate for the loss.

Lastly, they dive into a discussion of Florida State's top draft prospect, Cam Leiter, whose status remains unclear due to injury. They wrap up with a sneak peek of their top 75 college prospects for the 2025 MLB draft, showcasing standout players from across the country and offering insight into how fall ball will shape the spring season.

Finally, the Jared and Tyler are joined by Miguel Sime Jr., a highly touted right-handed pitcher from Queens Village, New York. Miguel shares his journey, starting from tee-ball at age three to becoming a top MLB draft prospect. He highlights a turning point in his career at 14 when he hit 92 mph at a tournament, which opened doors for him in college and professional baseball. Now throwing up to 100 mph, Miguel talks about his training regimen and goals, including refining his pitch arsenal and improving his command to go deeper into games. Committed to LSU, Miguel expresses his excitement about the coaching staff and the welcoming environment at the school, as well as the influence of his father and trainer in shaping his work ethic. The interview provides a personal glimpse into the life of an elite pitching prospect as he prepares for the next stage of his career.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/break-down-of-the-top-75-college-prospects-and/id1733326436?i=1000671274399

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1F1bXI4uPM0pfUD4AvMW8r?si=b88db01297804675

Deep Drives: Devin Obee Commits to Georgia

While the summer transfer portal has closed, that doesn’t mean that the movement within the college landscape stops. On Tuesday, ex-Duke outfielder Devin Obee, who received significant draft interest this past summer, made his commitment to Wes Johnson’s Georgia squad, beefing up an already impressive transfer class for the second-year skipper.

With the news of the transfer now public, I felt it was a good time to try something a bit different. Since Obee was a guy that I saw on plenty of occasions this past spring, it only feels right to write about the player and how the profile will translate to the SEC. It may be a tough transition, but Obee is the kind of bat that can be a middle-of-the-order thumper for a team that just lost Charlie Condon and his BBCOR HR record to Colorado. So, what is the toolset like? What are the expectations in Athens, and what does Duke do to replace such a power threat in their lineup? Let’s dive in.

Devin Obee’s Profile

As mentioned in the introduction, Obee had substantial draft interest and turned down a significant sum of money to complete his degree and enter the portal in August. Obee was ranked 229th on our final Top 300 board that dropped just before the draft. He’s still eligible to play in the 2025 campaign as a result of this late entry, unlike situations like Wake Forest RHP Luke Schmolke, who couldn’t pitch in 2024 after a late transfer from Georgia Tech.

Overall, Obee is one of the more gifted athletes in the country. He’s a physical brute at 6’2, 215 pounds and features a ton of strength throughout his frame. Despite his size, Obee is an incredible athlete and figures to handle center field for the Bulldogs in 2025. Obee made plenty of highlight reel plays at the “eight” for the Blue Devils and features above-average speed and average or better defense. It’s not Vance Honeycutt good, but it’s enough for me to believe that he’ll be tough to push off the position if he enters a professional organization. His route-running is very solid and he’ll cover plenty of ground with that speed. Obee only committed one error and posted a .991 fielding percentage in 2024, giving him a track record of consistency at the position.

With that said, 2024 was his only full season in a starting role at Duke. Obee saw some meaningful playing time in his first two years on campus, playing in 87 total games, but he only recorded a total of 184 plate appearances. That changed in 2024, as he secured a starting role and began the year on an impressive hot streak, posting a .476 batting average in non-conference play. As the ACC slate began, Obee began to be exploited a bit by more impressive pitching, though he’d finish the year with a .309/.399/.599 slash line and sixteen home runs. During Duke’s run to the ACC title in Charlotte, Obee recorded three multi-hit games and three home runs, earning Tournament MVP honors in the process.

Obee’s swing is a bit grooved and stiff, which has led to contact concerns. Obee posted a contact rate of 68% in 2024, which is well below-average in comparison to the rest of college baseball (the average is 77.3%). Obee struggled a ton with both velocity and spin, recording a whiff rate of 27% on heaters and a rate of 40% on sliders alone. This led to his inflated strikeout numbers, as he recorded sixty punchouts this spring, though Obee kept his chase rate near the average clip for college baseball, posting a 22.5% chase rate in 2024 (the average is 23.4%). This kept his walk rate to a respectable clip on the season and while his speed wasn’t utilized a ton on the bases, scouts raved about the power in the swing.

In the clip above, you can see what helps Obee generate a ton of his power. He’s a violent rotator with tons of bat speed and there’s natural loft to his swing, allowing him to lift the ball with ease. It’s legitimate all-fields power with Obee, grading out as above-average to plus with hefty exit velocities. Obee jumped the 110 MPH echelon on numerous occasions, maxing out at 111.3 MPH with one of his ACC Tournament home runs. It’s the calling card of his offensive profile and will be a valuable asset in the age of the long ball in college baseball.

While Obee is a college graduate, he will still be on the younger side of the upperclass bats in this year’s class. He was only 20 years and 9 months old on July 14th and won’t turn 22 years old until September 20, 2025, which bodes well for model-friendly teams. If there’s a solid performance against tougher competition in 2025, there’s a good chance that teams will view him somewhere in the latter half of Day Two, similar to the case this past summer.

Outcomes for Georgia and Duke

For Georgia, the outcome of this commitment is pretty cut and dry. Obee fills a hole not only in the outfield, but also in the power department offensively. Of the 151 home runs hit as a team in 2024, 66 of them were hit by players taken in the draft (Condon, Corey Collins, and Fernando Gonzalez). Georgia’s portal additions help ease the pain of these losses, as Robbie Burnett, Ryland Zaborowski, and Daniel Jackson all recorded double-digit home run totals in 2024, plus Kolby Branch, Slate Alford, and Tre Phelps all return to Athens, too. There’s a chance that the 2025 team could outslug the 2024 squad, especially with the way the ball continues to fly out of the ballpark at an infinite clip. The pitching looks to be on the stronger side, as well. This is a team with Omaha aspirations after a campaign that fell one game short of that goal in 2024.

As for Duke, replacing Obee’s leadership and power will be a tough task. Duke was poached on the pitching side of the draft and while Alex Stone signed with Toronto, there’s a hefty amount of bats returning to campus in Durham. There won’t be any Zac Morris, but Ben Miller went undrafted and the likes of Macon Winslow, AJ Gracia, and Kyle Johnson will step foot in Jack Coombs in 2025. Two outfielders from the Northeast will travel south to Durham, as well, as Jake Hyde and Ben Rounds will test their tools in the ACC this spring. In the power department, Duke will be eager to get Sam Harris valuable playing time. Coaches have raved about Harris’ raw power and there’s a good chance that a healthy spring will equate to hefty power numbers from the sophomore from Iowa. This won’t be a team to sleep on and much like Georgia, the lofty expectations of Omaha may well and truly become reality.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Brian Switzer II (@BrianSwitzerII) June 24, 2024

Brendan Summerhill picks up another knock. Smooth lefty stroke has been barreling up balls all summer, continues tonight with this LD up the middle @WarehamGatemen @ArizonaBaseball #PGCape pic.twitter.com/JffCbqp5mA

— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) July 24, 2024

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

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

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

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

— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) July 5, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

EV: 98 mph
📏 401 ft

Mid 2
Cotuit 2
Hyannis 0 pic.twitter.com/QO5W7z9Gmg

— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 23, 2024

Devin Taylor ➡️ Dead Center

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

EV: 99 mph
📏 396 ft

Mid 3
Cotuit 4
Chatham 1 pic.twitter.com/4PLPBcMzeL

— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 20, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) July 25, 2024

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

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

🎙️: @benstrobermedia pic.twitter.com/tpspNVis9U

— Y-D Red Sox (@YD_RedSox) August 2, 2024

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

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

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

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

(18.4 K%)

MAREK HOUSTON (@WakeBaseball) ARE YOU KIDDING‼️‼️

1 more out…

Top 9 | 7-4 Bourne pic.twitter.com/1HKv82KK16

— Bourne Braves (@BourneBraves) August 9, 2024

Houston, I see no problem…

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

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

Bot 3 | 1-0 Bourne pic.twitter.com/FQPzsEUr8L

— Bourne Braves (@BourneBraves) August 8, 2024

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

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

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

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

— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) May 22, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

2024 MLB Draft: Day One Recap

DAY ONE WINNERS

Tyler’s Pick

Colorado Rockies

OF Charlie Condon (#3), RHP Brody Brecht (#38), OF Jared Thomas (#42)

Long story short, I felt like the Rockies did an exceptional job at locking down college talent/value. Condon not going to Cincinnati felt a bit shocking for us and I'm sure Colorado was super giddy to have that kind of power land right in their laps. Snatching Brecht at 38 was a great value pick. Yes, there’s a ton of warts here, but the Rockies development team has gotten better and I trust them to find a way to help Brecht tap into his upside more. Lastly, Thomas is a very underrated selection. He was set to play OF before the departure of Luke Storm, but he's got the tools to stick in a corner spot and the bat itself has a ton of offensive upside with a high contact, burgeoning power label slapped on him. 

Minnesota Twins

SS Kaelen Culpepper (#21), SS Kyle DeBarge (#33), 3B Billy Amick (#60), LHP Dasan Hill (#69)

Of the teams that had four picks on the first day, I think the Twins did an exceptional job at evaluating talent and securing it. Culpepper is a solid up the middle talent with a ton of athleticism, but the DeBarge pick really stands out to me. He's got the hit tool, power, and chops at shortstop to be a solid major leaguer if everything clicks. It's a fun analytical pick. Grabbing Amick at 60 is solid value, especially since he had suitors in the back of the first round, but the cherry on top was Hill. Hill is an incredibly lanky, projectable southpaw that's already tickled the mid-90s this spring and has the spin traits to project a solid slider. I really think highly of this class.

Detroit Tigers 

SS Bryce Rainer (#11), RHP Owen Hall (#49), LHP Ethan Schiefelbein (#72)

Upside galore here. Rainer falling to 11 was a dream come true for Scott Harris and company. There's Corey Seager comps with his profile and he'll learn to pull the ball and tap more into his power as he matures physically. However, Hall's selection at 49 might be my favorite of the class. He's exceptionally athletic with a big fastball that's already touched 98-99 MPH this spring and budding secondaries that he'll get better command of. Schiefelbein is another upside southpaw with innate tunneling traits and a fun 1-2 punch with deception and ease. It's a very fun class and even though it might be expensive, the upside buys are great to see.

Jared's Picks 

Miami Marlins 

OF PJ Morlando (#16), SS Carter Johnson (#56), RHP Aiden May (#70)

This was one of my favorite day hauls for day one. Lots of upside and a really fun arm in Aiden May. They started with Morlando who came in at #27 on our top 300 board. He puts up insane power numbers in BP, which was shown off at the MLB Draft Combine (4 balls over 110mp EV), but he has struggled to get into that power in game (somewhat due to being intentionally walked a lot). Lots of upside with this pick. They followed that picked with even more upside by taking Carter Johnson at 56, who comes in #32 on our board. The Alabama shortstop has a ton of upside at the plate due to his mature approach. The Marlins rounded out with taking right-handed pitcher Aiden May out of Oregon State. May really got himself on the map when he went toe-to-toe with Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith during his seventeen strikeout game. The Marlins have to be pretty happy with this day one haul. 

Pittsburgh Pirates

SS Konnor Griffin (#9), RHP Levi Sterling (#37), SS Wyatt Sanford (#47)

The Pirates might have one of the most exciting hauls that has plenty of upside. They started with Konnor Griffin who was basically the consensus top prep bat in the entire class. He’s got five tool upside that includes electric bat speed and tons of strength. The followed Griffin by taking right handed prep arm Levi Sterling who’s full of plenty of upside as well. He’s got a fastball with a ton of ride and run that goes along with his plus curveball and a very good slider. He repeats his delivery well. The rounded things off by taking another prep shortstop in Wyatt Sanford who some thought might go higher than 47. Sanford is one of the best defensive shortstops and will stick up the middle. There are some concerns with the hit tool, but plenty of room for growth and lots of time to rework his swing a bit once he gets to pro ball, 

Boston Red Sox

OF Braden Montgomery (#12), LHP Payon Tolle (#50)

If you’re a Red Sox fan, you have to love the value of Braden Montgomery here. Our #7 overall prospect feel right into Boston’s lap and it was likely easy for them to make this selection. He’s a switch hitter but has performed much better from the left side and there is a solid chance he’s a lefty only in the future. He’s got easy plus power he can tap into to all parts of the field. He threw 96 mph as a pitcher so likely ends up as a RF due to his cannon or an arm. They followed that by taking TCU lefty Payton Tolle who’s got some of the most insane metrics on his fastball. Tolle was a two-way guy in college, but the bat really struggled this year and he won’t be hitting at the next level. Regardless, it’s a great one-two punch on established college players who still have some upside left in them. 

DAY ONE LOSERS

Tyler’s Pick

Texas Longhorns/Virginia Cavaliers 

Unfortunately for these two college teams, their recruiting classes were raided at the top. The Longhorns lost Bryce Rainer, Theo Gillen, and Levi Sterling, as well as Jared Thomas. Virginia lost three recruits, too. Caleb Bonemer, Luke Dickerson, and Bryce Meccage were all selected, plus their lineup was hit hard with Griff O'Ferrall and Ethan Anderson going to the Orioles. It's a tough pill to swallow for both teams, though both are well-known for their development. It still stings, though.

Oakland Athletics

1B Nick Kurtz (#4), 3B Tommy White (#40), LHP Gage Jump (#73)

I'm a bit confused on what the A's draft strategy is right now. I'd imagine there's going to be an overslot third rounder coming later today, but I felt like they could've squeezed out more from their first three picks. Kurtz is a fine addition at an underslot price, but Tommy White felt like a weird fit and Gage Jump follows the same line. I'm curious to see how Oakland develops both, but it left a weird taste in our mouth. Let's see how today goes for them, but this is a disappointing class thus far. 

Jared’s Pick

Philadelphia Phillies

OF Dante Nori (#27), OF Griffin Burkholder (#63)

Well, Dante Nori was a pick. No one can argue with the Phillies there. Nori wasn’t a guy I expected to see have his name called in the first round. While Nori has a ton of athleticism and speed, there are definitely some concerns given him being almost 20 years old and mostly being filled out in his 5’10, 190lbs frame. The pick made more sense when they took Griffin Burkholder at pick 63. Burkholder is an incredible runner with tons of upside on the offensive side of the ball. He has insane bat speed and does much damage at the plate, coupled with solid plate discipline. So, if you’re a Phillies fan disappointed with the first-round pick, there is at least some upside with what they did next that you can be excited about. 

BIGGEST SHOCK

Tyler’s Pick

OF Braylon Payne

Circle this as a pick that I wasn't expecting. We had a feeling Milwaukee would go for a bat and they would make a strategy call, but Payne wasn't too high up on my board of guys who could surprise us. With that said, seeing what the Brewers did the rest of Day 1, it's not a bad pick. It screams underslot at 17 with Bryce Meccage and Chris Levonas expecting to garner big deals and Payne himself has a ton of upside. A toolsy outfielder with youth and athleticism on his side, he's a fun development get.

Jared’s Pick

RHP Chase Burns (Cincinnati Reds)

Reds fans, don’t worry. This isn’t an “I’m shocked” because it was a bad pick. I just thought Cincinnati was a lock to take Charlie Condon wi22th the second-overall pick. Many Reds fans were dreaming of Condon hitting homers at Great American Ballpark. But there is no reason not to like Chase Burns's pick. It’s three plus pitches from Burns that comes with a bulldog mentality on the mound. Burns was easily one of the top two arms, if not the top arm in this draft class and he could be a quick riser to the big leagues. Burns started what turned out to be a very intriguing day one of the draft by the Reds that included SS Tyson Lewis in the second and RHP Luke Holman in the CB-B round. 

BIGGEST REACH

Tyler’s Pick

OF Dante Nori (Philadelphia Phillies)

I think Jared hit the nail on the head above, but I'll still provide insight myself. It's a weird, weird pick. It makes more sense with Burkholder at 63, but we had Nori as a fifth rounder. He's a maxed out body type with a hit-over-power bat with speed that is an interesting archetype, but how much more can you squeeze out here? That's why he was lower for us and it's definitely a head-scratcher. I'd rather have Slade Caldwell if I'm the Phillies. 

Jared’s Pick 

C Ivan Luciano (Arizona Diamondbacks)

While this pick is a head-scratcher, it likely makes sense, given the guys the Diamondbacks took before that. Luciano wasn’t high on many’s rankings, including coming in at 220th with MLB Pipeline. He’s a defensive first type player as he pretty good behind the dish. It’s hit over power as he has a good approach at the plate. Given the DBacks took Slade Caldwell (prep), Ryan Waldschmidt (college), and JD Nix (prep) with the first three picks, they are likely spending significant money on them which led to the pick of Luciano who will likely be underslot to save them some money. He’s still got some upside. 

BEST VALUE

Tyler’s Picks

SS Tyler Bell (Tampa Bay Rays)

We had Bell as the 43rd best prospect in this class and while he's older for the class, it's a ton of bat speed and power potential with the switch-hitting shortstop. Him falling a bit led us to think that he might go to Kentucky, but the Rays got incredible value at 66. There's a solid chance he can stick as a switch-hitter and stay at shortstop long term. I really, really love this for Tampa Bay.

RHP Ryan Sloan (Seattle Mariners)

Sloan had legitimate first round value. I could just say that and walk away from my phone, but Seattle did an excellent job buying Sloan down to 55 after taking Jurrangelo Cijntje at 15. Sloan is a burly, yet projectable right-hander that's been up to 99 MPH this spring and has an excellent change-up and slider. It may just be the best value pick of Day 1.

SS Luke Dickerson (Washington Nationals)

Dickerson was another player with back of the first talent. I would've thought he was a comp pick at worst, but Washington got incredible value at 44. Dickerson's bat had a ton of helium this spring and there's a great mix of pure contact and power, which grades out above-average or better. He may not be a shortstop long term, but the bat was more of a selling point and many thought he wouldn't get this far. 

Jared’s Pick

LHP Cam Caminiti (Atlanta Braves)

The Braves front office have to be giddy that Caminiti fell into their laps at 24. Our 16th overall prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft is considered the best prep prospect pitcher on the board. Caminiti reclassified this year and is one of the youngest players in the class who’s already been up to 98 mph with his fastball. He’s super athletic and has a very easy, repeatable delivery. His secondary offerings are still a work in progress, but they have plenty of upside to them. This is a great pick for the Braves and there is lots to dream on with the potential of Caminiti 

OF Ryan Waldschmidt (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Waldschmidt might be my favorite OF bat in this class not named Condon or Montgomery. He fell a bit on boards as he started late this season due to an injury, but he came out fine blazing as soon as he was back. He’s posted some insane batted ball data and the tools speak for themselves. He pairs those high exit velos with an incredible approach at the plate and very good ability to make contact. The Diamondbacks have to be very happy with their one-two punch of Slade Caldwell and Waldschmidt to start day one of the draft.