2025 MLB Draft: Top 30 Collegiate Prospects

With the overlapping of draft class occurring this summer, it’s only right that we begin to introduce our 2025 lists as the summer circuit is ramping up. Today, we’ll release our initial Top 30 College list and for the readers, it’s open to the public! As the summer progresses and we get more looks, we’ll expand this list (and our Top 30 Prep list) to 50 players in a system similar to how we navigated the 2024 cycle.

We’ve gotten some eyes on the 2025 class already and it’s mostly comparable to the 2024 class as a whole. Jace LaViolette, a huge thumper out of Texas A&M, leads the way, followed closely by a couple of other notable outfield prospects. There’s a few players on this list in the transfer portal and they are denoted properly in their reports. As we get a better grip on understanding this class, expect plenty of changes in due time.

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1. of jace laviolette, texas A&M

height: 6’6

Weight: 230

b/t: L/L

Draft Day age: 21 yr 7 mo

hometown: Katy, TX

At 6'6, 230 pounds, LaViolette is an extremely physical left-handed bat with some of the most robust power in the entire country. LaViolette has already cranked 50 home runs in his collegiate career and he may end up amongst the likes of Eddy Furniss and Frank Fazzini on the all-time list in the NCAA ranks. It's a controlled, yet violent, left-handed swing with a ton of bat speed and an optimal bat path for doing damage, as he's a legitimate all-fields power threat and has cleared the 115 MPH exit velocity threshold in 2024. His hips clear out quickly, allowing him to get leverage in his swing and do significant damage. The plate discipline is also solid, as he rarely expands the zone and has a knack for racking up the walks. Yes, strikeouts are part of his game, but he's got time to polish up the bat-to-ball skills. Despite his size, he moves quickly on the basepaths and in the field. He's manned center field for the Aggies in 2024, though a move to a corner outfield position is likely in the near future.

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2. OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson

height: 6’0

weight: 180

b/t: L/r

draft day age: 21 yr 10 mo

hometown: Hartsville, sc

Cannarella stepped onto campus as an infielder, but a road block in the Clemson infield gave him an opportunity in center field that he has not relinquished. A gamer in every sense of the word, Cannarella is a dangerous hitter with some of the best contact skills in the entire country. It's a lovely left-handed swing built more for line drives right now, but he's shown flashes of raw power to the gaps and to his pull-side. He did become a bit more aggressive in 2024 compared to 2023, but he has quality barrel control and shows patience, drawing walks aplenty. He's got above-average speed, though he didn't flash it a ton on the bases due to an injury this year. However, that speed translates to center field, where he has excellent route-running and quality defensive chops. Expect Cannarella to go high in this draft.

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3. OF Devin Taylor, Indiana

height: 6’1

weight: 215

b/t: L/R

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Cincinnati, OH

A physical left-handed bat, Taylor is a legitimate power threat with burgeoning raw juice and he lets his quality athleticism play on the field. He built upon a stellar freshman campaign at Indiana with a .357/.449/.660 slash line and blasting twenty home runs, the first Hoosier to do so since Alex Dickerson smacked twenty-four in 2010. His swing features substantial bat speed and he'll deposit the baseball to both sides of the field, utilizing the opposite field more in 2024. He's already displayed exit velocities touching the 110 MPH barrier, as well. He does expand the zone a bit, but there's little warts to his contact skills and he draws a copious amount of walks. He'll likely get a chance to man center in a bigger capacity in 2025, though given his average speed and route-running, he may be a better fit in left long term. It's hard not to like this profile.

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4. C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina

height: 5’10

weight: 197

b/t: s/R

draft day age: 21 yr 7 mo

hometown: Haddon Heights, NJ

A switch-hitting catcher out of New Jersey, Bodine has been one of the best pure hitters in college baseball. Bodine's barrel awareness and bat-to-ball skills are top of the charts from both sides of the plate, as he ran a contact rate of 89% in 2024, including a 94% (!) in-zone contact rate. He has quick hands from both sides and will prioritize an all-fields approach, rarely selling out for power. His power likely grades out more as fringe-average to average, though he'll run into a home run every once in a while. He has the prototypical size for a backstop and has impressed in his time on campus. It's a solid throwing arm with improving blocking skills and he has athletic movements behind the plate. Most believe he'll stick back there long term as a result.

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5. RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara

height: 6’2

weight: 180

b/t: r/R

draft day age: 21 yr 2 mo

hometown: san diego, CA

Highly projectable, super athletic, burgeoning stuff. That's the menu for Bremner, who turned in a stellar sophomore campaign in the Big West, striking out 104 batters and walking just 21 in 88.2 innings. His stuff took a big jump during the pre-season, with his fastball sitting in the mid-90s with significant carry up in the zone. He should be throwing in the upper-90s more consistently in due time, as he’s already touched 98 MPH this summer. His slider took a huge step forward after struggling his freshman year, jumping into the mid-80s consistently with late bite and sweep. The change-up is unique with high spin traits, though he shows a ton of confidence in the pitch and it dives hard to the dirt in the low-80s, acting almost like a screwball. It projects as a double-plus offering. Let’s not forget that Bremner commands the zone really well. There’s potential for three above-average or better pitches with above-average command. He’s our SP1 right now for that reason.

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6. LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State

height: 6’1

weight: 191

b/t: l/l

draft day age: 21 yr 3 mo

hometown: Tampa, fl

After a rough freshman campaign in Tallahassee, Arnold exploded onto the draft scene in 2024, striking out 159 batters in 105.2 innings to the tune of a 2.98 ERA. Arnold generates a ton of scap retraction in his delivery, but he's on time with his arm and he creates a tough angle to the plate with a slingy release. His fastball rarely cracked 90 MPH in 2023, but he's now into the mid-90s with a very low release height and a flat approach angle that has allowed the heater to miss bats aplenty. His mid-80s slider can be downright diabolical, flashing late bite and sweep. It tunnels well off the heater and he's shown an ability to backfoot it to righties consistently. His change-up lags behind the one-two punch, thrown roughly 4% of the time in 2024 with slight fading life and will need more development in 2025. He'll need more of a tertiary offering to keep hitters off the FB/SL, but the whole package screams starter. He’ll be wildly popular in 2025.

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7. c Ike Irish, Auburn

height: 6’2

weight: 203

b/t: l/R

draft day age: 21 yr 7 mo

hometown: Hudsonville, MI

One of the most decorated recruits to make it to campus after the 2022 draft, Irish has cemented himself as one of the best SEC hitters in two years since. Irish has a beautiful left-handed swing that's direct to the baseball with quick hands and loud bat speed. He's begun to pull the baseball more in 2024 after displaying more of a gap-to-gap approach in 2023, tapping more into robust raw power. He does swing at a high rate, meaning his walk rate isn't too high, but he doesn't strike out a ton, either. Defensively, he's shown a loud arm behind the plate and has improved on his blocking skills. He'll see more time back there in the future and he could man first base or a corner outfield spot, too. It's a bat-first profile with a ton like offensively.

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8. OF Gavin Turley, oregon State

height: 6’1

weight: 185

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 21 yr 8 mo

hometown: Chandler, AZ

One of the toolsiest players in the entire class, Turley is an impressive athlete with a ton of power at his disposal. It's extremely loud bat speed and pull-side juice with leverage and loft, tapping into it easily in-game already. His hips open explosively thanks to his twitchy nature, which allows him to possess these kind of tools at the plate. With that said, he's struggled with contact in Corvallis and while the contact improved slightly in 2024, strikeouts are a huge concern in his game and he'll need to polish up the bat-to-ball skills. Turley is a very strong runner and displays a cannon right arm in the outfield, which will allow him to handle right field at the next level. If Turley hits in 2025, he'll be one of the first names off the board.

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9. RHP Matt Scott, Stanford

height: 6’7

weight: 247

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Redding, CT

A walking mountain of a human being, Scott is an uber-physical right-hander that traveled across the country to attend Stanford. There's not a ton of warts in his mechanics. They're loose and easy, showcasing quality body control for his size, and there's little effort overall. The fastball jumped in velocity over the off-season, topping out at 98 MPH and sitting consistently in the mid-90s. The pitch possesses insane carry on the top rail, averaging above 20 inches of vertical movement. He does have a steeper angle to the plate due to his high release, but the pitch still misses bats at a high rate. His primary secondary is a cutter-esque slider in the upper-80s with two-plane break and late bite. He'll tinker with a splitter, as well, which has graded out well. His command comes and goes, but one would expect him to grow into more of it given the mechanics.

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10. 1b/3b henry ford, virginia

height: 6’5

weight: 220

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 20 yr 11 mo

hometown: Charlottesville, va

A draft-eligible sophomore, Ford is built much like an automobile mechanic. He's extremely physical with plenty of strength throughout his frame and he's a solid athlete despite his size. Ford has quality barrel control and has a ton of bat speed and loft, allowing him to tap into legitimate plus power in-game. He stays short and direct to the baseball and doesn't have a ton of swing-and-miss to his game, either. He's a first baseman right now given how deep Virginia is offensively, but his athleticism is good enough to get a shot to work at third base in the future. He's got the range and footwork necessary to make it happen, as well as a strong arm. He'll be an exciting prospect to watch next spring.

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11. OF Brendan Summerhill, arizona

height: 6’3

weight: 195

b/t: L/R

draft day age: 21 yr 8 mo

hometown: Chicago, il

Summerhill is a long, lanky specimen that saw one of the biggest jumps in production in this class. As a freshman, Summerhill struggled to make consistent contact and had a whiff rate of 30%. He slashed that number by over half in 2024, finding a more consistent bat path and whiffing at just a 14% rate in 2024. Summerhill's bat speed and loft are noticeable at first glance, pulling the ball in the air consistently and flashing above-average exit velocities. He's held his own against heat upstairs and spin, too. There's a lot to like with his offensive profile and he is in line for a monster 2025 campaign. In the field, he profiles as a future average runner with added muscle and with his strong arm, he's likely destined for right field.

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12. 1b/of Nolan Schubart, oklahoma State

height: 6’5

weight: 233

b/t: L/R

draft day age: 21 yr 2 mo

hometown: Durand, mi

A lanky, physical specimen from Michigan, Schubart has blasted the cover off the baseball in his two years in Stillwater. He has prodigious power from the left-hand side of the plate with a beautiful swing with great leverage and natural loft. He stays inside the baseball and will pummel it to all fields, eclipsing the 110 MPH exit velocity barrier regularly. He doesn't expand the zone often, chasing at a minute rate of 21%, but there's contact questions to be answered due to a hefty whiff rate. He'll need to polish up the pure contact skills this summer, but the power is the pure selling point. On the defensive side, Schubart has spent time in left field, though given the body and speed, he's likely destined for first base.

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13. ss marek houston, wake forest

height: 6’3

weight: 185

b/t: r/R

draft day age: 21 yr 2 mo

hometown: Nokomis, fl

Houston turned a corner in 2024, becoming one of the most improved bats in the entire class. After enduring some struggles as a freshman, Houston became a leadoff sparkplug for Wake Forest, slashing .326/.434/.516 and recording more walks than strikeouts. His plate discipline is pristine and features little warts. He has some of the best contact rates in the class and he stays inside the zone, slapping the ball to the all fields. He'll utilize his fantastic speed on the basepaths, as well, as he's recorded times to first base around 4.15 seconds. He's a surefire shortstop at the next level, as well. He has a great internal clock with excellent range and motions, as well as a strong arm. If there's one complaint, it's his 30-grade power, though with added weight, he may be able to get to 40-grade juice.

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14. LHP Shane Sdao, Texas A&M

height: 6’2

weight: 170

b/t: L/L

draft day age: 21 yr 9 mo

hometown: Montgomery, TX

An uber-projectable southpaw, Sdao turned heads in a loud sophomore campaign that has seen him split time between the bullpen and the rotation. Sdao's arm speed really stands out at first glance, maintaining it with all three of his pitches and working quickly down the bump with some deception. The fastball has solid carry up in the zone with some slight cut, working primarily in the low-90s, though Sdao has reared back for 96 MPH on occasion. The low-80s sweepy slider is the best secondary and got whiffs at a 44% clip in 2024. There's some lift in the pitch shape and he's shown an ability to backfoot the pitch to righties. He turns over a quality mid-80s cambio, as well. The expectation is that Sdao will be a starter in 2025 and he's due for an uptick in stuff with added mass to his frame.

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15. RHP Gabe Davis, Oklahoma State

height: 6’9

weight: 225

b/t: R/r

draft day age: 21 yr 8 mo

hometown: Choctaw, ok

At 6'9, 225 pounds, Davis is a behemoth of a human being and provides an interesting look on the mound. He's uber-projectable and controls his body rather well for his size, though there's still some kinks to work out with his delivery. He’s a bit stiff moving down the mound, but his wide angle to the plate generates difficult at-bats for hitters. After having a release height under six feet in 2023, Davis raised his release by half a foot, which hampered the fastball whiff rates a bit. With that said, he gets a ton of extension and sits in the mid-90s consistently, bumping 99 MPH at his peak. It's his cutter-esque slider that takes the headlines, though. It sits in the upper-80s and flashes tight shape and depth, becoming more of a cutter once it approaches 90 MPH. He's tinkered with a change-up and a bigger curveball, both sitting in the low-80s. Should the command turn the corner, Davis is in contention for being the best arm on the board.

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16. OF Max Belyeu, Texas

height: 6’2

weight: 210

b/t: l/R

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Aledo, tx

After having just twenty at-bats in 2023, Belyeu cemented himself as one of the better collegiate players in the 2025 class, slashing .329/.423/.667 in 59 games and earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors. He's got a physical frame with projection remaining and his barrel feel is amongst the best in the Big 12. He does chase a bit too much, but there's not a ton of swing-and-miss to his game and handles velocity and spin rather well. There's a bit of Kyle Tucker in his swing, as well. The power itself has stood out, too, as his 90th percentile EVs are in the upper echelon of college bats and he'll smash the ball to all fields. In the field, he's likely relegated to left field due to a subpar throwing arm and average speed.

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17. INF Henry Godbout, Virginia

height: 6’2

weight: 190

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 21 yr 8 mo

hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Godbout has one of the most polished hit tools in the entire ACC. Godbout has little issues at the plate and hammers fastballs, only whiffing on them 5% of the time in 2024. He doesn't chase a ton and he'll grind out walks, though his power is nothing more than fringe-average at best. He's an excellent rotator and should grow into more power as he matures physically, though he does have a stiff lower half and will need to utilize it more in 2025. Defensively, Godbout has manned second base for Virginia, where he's been a sound defender with solid range and instincts. Given Griff O'Ferrall's departure this summer, Godbout will more than likely get reps at shortstop in 2025 for the Cavaliers.

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18. RHP Cam Leiter, Florida State

height: 6’5

weight: 218

b/t: R/R

draft day age: 21 yr 5 mo

hometown: Bayville, NJ

The latest Leiter to work his way through the ranks, Cam transferred from UCF to Florida State and found immediate success in the rotation. While an injury cut his season short to just seven appearances, Leiter's stuff took a big jump forward under new coaching. Leiter's fastball has gotten up to 99 MPH and he'll hold mid-90s velocity deep into starts, missing bats thanks to a low release and elite extension despite modest shape. The upper-80's/low-90s slider is dynamic, flashing tight spin and late bite, while the low-80s curveball has a ton of depth and high spin. He'll tinker with a change-up to lefties, as well. Command is a work-in-progress, but given the easy operation and athleticism, he should grow into more strikes in due time. If healthy in 2025, Leiter has the chance to be the first arm off the board.

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19. c luke stevenson, north carolina

height: 6’1

weight: 200

b/t: l/r

draft day age: 20 yr 11 mo

hometown: wake forest, NC

Stevenson was highly touted out of high school last summer, but he chose to uphold his commitment to North Carolina and it has paid dividends for the freshman. He's eligible as a sophomore due to his age in 2025 and he's in line to be one of the first backstops off the board. He's built like a stereotypical catcher with a stout lower half and present strength throughout his body. He's got explosive motions out of the crouch and handles the run game well, showcasing a strong arm and pop times to second have been clocked at 1.9-1.95 seconds. He's a standout receiver, as well. At the plate, Stevenson has shown off legitimate pull-side juice and has a keen eye at the plate, racking up walks aplenty. He has a heavy barrel through the zone and stays direct to the baseball, and while he's shown some struggles with off-speed pitches, finding a catcher with the feel to hit like Stevenson is hard.

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20. 3b/of andrew fischer, Tennessee

height: 6’1

weight: 205

b/t: l/r

draft day age: 21 yr 1 mo

hometown: Manasquan, nj

After a fantastic freshman campaign at Duke, Fischer transferred to Ole Miss where he didn't skip a beat against better competition. He's a physical left-handed bat with a ton of juice in the bat, most notably to his pull-side. It's a violent swing with natural loft and bat speed, allowing Fischer to pull the ball in the air with dangerous intent. He does have a bit of bat-to-ball woes, namely struggling a bit with spin, but Fischer draws a copious amount of walks and gets the most out of the barrel. In the field, Fischer isn't the fleetest of foot, displaying some choppy footwork and limited range at third base, but he has a strong enough arm across the diamond to at least start his professional career there. Fischer will play for Tony Vitello in 2025 as either a third baseman or an outfielder.

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21. UTL RJ Austin, Vanderbilt

height: 5’11

weight: 193

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Atlanta, ga

One of the more decorated athletes to make it to campus after the 2022 draft, Austin is a gritty prospect that has become a bit more physical during his tenure in Nashville. He's been a bit positionless in 2024, playing a myriad of positions given the depth in Vanderbilt's lineup. With that said, he fits best in the dirt, though he can get some play in the outfield, too. At the plate, he's grown into his power and has average or better pop in the bat. All of the power plays to the pull-side, though he'll utilize the opposite field gap when able to. He's a high contact, moderate chase bat with a good eye at the plate, keeping strikeouts to a minimum. His twitch on both sides of the ball should continue to stand out as long as he doesn't outgrow the athleticism he has.

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22. 3b tre phelps, georgia

height: 6’2

weight: 204

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 21 yr

hometown: Kennesaw, ga

A draft-eligible sophomore, Phelps pushed his way into the Georgia lineup with an impressive performance in a limited sample size, slashing .355/.442/.686 with ten home runs. Phelps has impressive bat speed and very quick hands, as well as generating leverage and loft in his swing. This allows him to tap into his raw power, which grades out as above-average to plus. He does have some issues with spin and will expand the zone often, but he kept the strikeouts to a minimum in 2024. As a defender, Phelps has the tools to stick at third base, as he possesses solid hands, range, and a strong arm across the diamond. If he moves off the hot corner, he'll pick up work in a corner outfield position.

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23. INF Daniel Dickinson, Louisiana State

height: 6’0

weight: 180

b/t: R/r

draft day age: 21 yr 7 mo

hometown: Richland, WA

Hailing from Utah Valley, Dickinson has quietly been one of the best hitters in college baseball the past two years. Dickinson has grown into his body more on campus and has *elite* contact skills from the right side of the plate. There's some twitch in his profile and very quick hands, staying direct to the baseball and lacing the ball to all fields. He likes to hammer the gaps and utilize his speed on the bases, though he's tapped more into his power and projects as fringe-average to his pull-side. While he does chase a bit more than you'd like, Dickinson's plate coverage is otherworldly and he handles everything well, including higher-end velocity when he comes across it. As an infielder, Dickinson projects more as a second baseman. He has good range and footwork, though the arm strength isn't the greatest and likely hampers his ability to stick at shortstop. Dickinson will be taking his talents to Baton Rouge and play in LSU’s infield in 2025.

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24. INF Gavin Kilen, Tennessee

height: 5’11

weight: 185

b/t: l/r

draft day age: 21 yr 3 mo

hometown: Milton, WI

A highly decorated recruit out of high school, Kilen enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign where he slashed .330/.361/.591 with nine home runs in 54 games. His pure contact skills are exceptional, producing a contact rate around 85% in 2024, including an astonishing 93% in-zone contact rate. He has a consistent barrel path through the zone and has grown into some thump, primarily displaying over-the-fence power to the pull-side and he'll hammer the gaps for doubles. It's an extremely polished bat. In the field, Kilen profiles up the middle. He's shown a good arm across the diamond at shortstop and moves well laterally, though he could move to second base later on. After two years at Louisville, Kilen will transfer to Tennessee and join Tony Vitello’s infield for 2025.

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25. RHP Kolten Smith, Georgia

height: 6’3

weight: 210

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 21 yr 6 mo

hometown: Ocala, FL

A projectable and athletic specimen, Smith has enjoyed a breakout campaign under new head coach Wes Johnson. Smith more than doubled his strikeout rate in 2024, jumping to a 33.9% clip in 69.2 innings of work for the Bulldogs. Smith sequences his arsenal nicely, as both breaking balls in his arsenal saw usage over 20% of the time in 2024. Smith's firm slider in the mid-80s has sharp bite and stays short to the plate, flashing some late sweep, too. His low-80s curveball has little hump out of the hand and drops to the dirt from a high release, catching hitters out front. Both project as above-average pitches. His heater has gotten into the mid-90s more consistently, flashing some carry up in the zone and holding velocity deep in starts. He'll flash a firm change-up, too. He's still a bit raw overall, though his arm speed stands out and he's commanded the ball much better than in 2023.

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26. INF Mason White, Arizona

height: 5’11

weight: 176

b/t: L/r

draft day age: 21 yr 9 mo

hometown: Tucson, AZ

Despite White's shorter stature, he is one of the more powerful bats in this draft class. There's quite a bit ongoing during his load, but White's hands are explosively quick and he launches the barrel through the zone at insane speed, allowing him to tap into legitimate plus raw power to all fields. There are questions about the pure contact skills, though. He added more aggression to his approach in 2024 and began chasing more frequently, plus his whiff rate did jump up slightly. He'll need to improve upon this for there to be legitimate first round buzz. In the field, he's a fringy runner and has limited range, making him a projected second baseman at the next level.

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27. 3B Trent Caraway, Oregon State

height: 6’2

weight: 202

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 21 yr 3 mo

hometown: Dana Point, CA

One of the most prized prospects to make it to campus after the 2023 draft, Caraway would've been in contention for being the best freshman in the country had a broken finger not sidelined him for two months. He's a masher in every sense of the word. Uber-physical, loud bat speed, and robust power to his pull-side. He's already cleared the 110 MPH exit velocity threshold on numerous occasions and his barrel feel should continue to improve as he gets more at-bats under his belt. He does have contact issues and he's aggressive, which is something to keep an eye on in 2025 as a draft-eligible sophomore. He has the arm and range to stick at third base long term, though as he matures physically, he may be destined for a corner outfield position.

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28. INF Cade Kurland, Florida

height: 5’11

weight: 190

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 21 yr 4 mo

hometown: Tampa, FL

An early enrollee at Florida, Kurland had a fantastic freshman campaign for the Gators. A middle-infield thumper, Kurland's power stands out at first glance. He'll utilize both sides of the field with impressive bat speed and he's shown great barrel feel thus far, though his swing gets long and he'll need to polish up the hit tool in 2025. He's aggressive and will chase often, leading to strikeouts piling up and a walk rate that scouts want to see raised. Defensively, he's built for second base at the next level, but given his physicality, there's a chance he may outgrow the position and get a tryout at the hot corner.

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29. RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma

height: 6’0

weight: 205

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 20 yr 11 mo

hometown: Jacksonville, fl

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Witherspoon attended Northwest Florida State College before transferring to Oklahoma with his twin brother, Malachi. While Malachi boasts the louder pitch mix, Kyson excelled in a starter's role for the Sooners in 2024, striking out 90 batters in 80 innings to the tune of a 3.71 ERA. His arm action can get stabby and inconsistent, causing some command woes, but his FB/SL duo is dynamic. He's run the heater up to 98 MPH with hop at the top of the zone and the slider features solid bite and two-plane break in the upper-80s. He's also flashed a fading cambio to lefties in the upper-80s, missing a good amount of bats. A jump in command with a cleaner arm action bodes well for his potential.

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30. 1B/OF Ethan Petry, South Carolina

height: 6’4

weight: 235

b/t: r/r

draft day age: 21 yr

hometown: Land O’ Lakes, fl

Petry burst onto the scene as a freshman at South Carolina, smashing 23 home runs and slashing .376/.471/.733 in 63 games. 2024 was much the same in the power department, as he hit 21 home runs in 61 games, but opposing pitching exploited some holes in Petry's swing, causing a drop in pure contact and a rise in strikeouts. He did walk at a higher clip, but he was susceptible to velocity up in the zone and spin. With that said, it's all-fields juice when he's on and if he can polish up the hit tool in 2025, the ceiling is sky-high offensively. Defensively, he's improved a bit in right field for the Gamecocks, but given his large frame and middling speed, he's bound to move back to the infield at first base. A return to his 2023 form will help his draft stock immensely in 2025.

Five Interesting Seniors For The 2024 MLB Draft

Most older college players sign for pennies on the dollar in the draft. It’s a bummer it has to be this way, as many of these players arguably need more money, given they’ll get less opportunity in professional ball, but it’s just the reality of the situation. Regardless, finding players who can be productive big leaguers out of this senior sign bunch is one of the best ways to find ROI in baseball. Even getting 1-2 WAR out of these players is a huge win for an MLB org. On top of that, it allows teams to take huge shots on tough-to-sign players, typically toolsy high schoolers, who otherwise wouldn’t sign. Below I list five seniors (in no particular order) who aren’t getting as much buzz as I think they deserve and have a chance to go on day two of the draft.

Hunter Cranton, RHRP, Kansas

Admittedly, Cranton is probably my favorite prospect on this list. He’s is one of the most MLB-ready college relief prospects I can remember. It’s been a meteoric rise for Cranton, whose fastball velocity jumped 4.2 MPH between 2023 and 2024, and has been up to 99.9 this season. Some of that can be credited to moving into a full-time relief role, but it looks like other offseason changes were made, particularly getting into his lower half more, and creating a quicker, more consistent arm path. On top of the velocity added, Cranton has improved his fastball shape. He’s added an inch of induced vertical break to his fastball, taking it from just outside of deadzone at 16 IVB, to now at 17.5 inches of IVB. While this number may not blow you away on its own when you take into effect that other fastballs from similar release height average around 15 inches of IVB, you get one of the most outlier fastballs in the country. On top of this, while he’s throwing about the same number of strikes with it, he’s locating it across the top of the zone much better in 2024. 

On top of these fastball improvements, Cranton has significantly altered his slider, adding 6 MPH of velocity to it, and allowing it to pair much better with his rising fastball. It now has a much tighter shape, sitting around 87 MPH with about five inches of sweep. This pitch will play much better off his fastball than the slurvy 82 MPH slider he threw in 2023. 

Cranton already has the looks of a big-league reliever. Thanks to these changes, his fastball and slider garnered a 37% and 44% whiff rate in 2024, respectively. Cranton right now looks like a good middle reliever in the big leagues, but potentially adding a third pitch, such as a splitter, could take him into higher leverage situations.

Drew Woodcox, LF, Texas Tech

Woodcox has had an up-and-down college career but finished his career strong in 2024 with a .321/.403/.642 slash line at Texas Tech. While Woodcox doesn’t have much defensive value, his bat took a huge step forward in 2024. It has the looks of plus raw power from the right side from Woodcox. His exit data is beautiful, not only does he have an average exit velo of 95 mph and a hard hit rate of 66%, but he consistently gets to his max exit velocities, with a 90th percentile EV of 108, just 3 MPH off from his max of 112. He keeps the ball off the ground and uses the whole field. However, most of his home runs have come to the pull side, so there may be some low-hanging fruit to tap into more pull-side power.

While Woodcox doesn’t make a crazy amount of contact (78%, 88% in zone, both hovering around average), but has a very selective approach. Just swinging 38% of the time, and chasing around 20%, these isn’t the type of swing decisions you’d expect to see from a power hitter like Woodcox. Additionally, he saw only 58% strikes this year, which ranked in the bottom 20% of hitters in D1 in 2024. It would be interesting to see what Woodcox can do if he sees more strikes and isn’t getting pitched around.

Woodcox is a below-average runner with solid instincts and a below-average arm in the outfield. He’s a solid athlete and will be fine out there, but most of his value comes at the plate. I like Woodcox in a soft-side platoon role.

Woody Hadeen, SS, UC Irvine

We go from a power-driven profile to one that lacks any real power but does everything else on the field well. Hadeen missed all of his draft-eligible 2023 season with a shoulder injury but has made up for this in his senior season in a big way. The switch hitter hit .362/.529/.420 in 2024 while walking more than he struck out. Hadeen is an on-base king, only chasing 8% of the time in 2024! This is the sixth lowest in all of D1. On top of his strike zone discipline, he runs an 89% contact rate, while posting above-average line drive rates. It’s a spray, all-fields approach, something you don’t typically see from a hitter with this type of strike zone discipline. While there isn’t much thump here (101 max EV, 98 MPH 90th), Hadeen’s selectivity and barrel control should allow for some doubles and high on-base percentages. 

Hadeen has also shown slick fielding ability in the field. It’s plus hands, footwork, and actions, and is incredibly smooth around the bag. While it’s likely only fringe arm strength, Hadeen can throw from different platforms and angles incredibly well. Take for example this slowly hit ball to his right, which he gets out of his glove incredibly quick, and throws off his right foot to nab a speedy runner. It’s not uncommon to see players add strength, let alone arm strength in professional baseball, so there’s likely the makings of an average arm strength that plays above average. This is a player who can play all three infield positions. 

RJ Gordon, RHP, Oregon

I wrote about Gordon when I caught the Ducks at Globe Life Field the first weekend of the season. He was filling up the zone with a 92-93 cut ride fastball, landing a big 12-6 breaker, and turning over an average changeup. I felt like his pitch mix was missing an out pitch vs right-handers, and that a sweeper would fit his arm slot and supination-heavy profile, as he was only throwing a low to mid 80’s cuttery slider. Well, it looks like before his March 15th start vs Cal, Gordon added a sweeper full-time and is throwing his cutter harder. Averaging 13 inches of sweep at 83 MPH, this sweeper has the makings of a true out pitch vs right handed hitters. 

However, there have been some struggles for Gordon learning this pitch, as it only has a 20% miss rate, but I would argue this is likely Gordon is still gaining feel for a pitch that’s tough to command, let alone learn in-season. This pitch will flash double plus, as the video below is one with positive IVB, almost 20 inches of sweep, and throw 84 MPH, but Gordon is still gaining feel for it. While the pitch shape averages are good, it’s been a bit more inconsistent than you’d like. It’s a pitch he leaves over the heart of the plate a bit too often, and while it may get some called strikes, in predictable counts hitters can sit on it and do damage as long as they see it out of the hand. I like Gordon’s pitch mix a lot. While the results haven’t fully been there, tinkering in season can be tough, especially for a guy who missed all of 2023 with an injury. On top of this, given the run-scoring environment in college baseball in 2024, Gordon has a solid set of skills that I believe should translate better than his baseball card numbers may indicate. I still think there’s a #5 starter upside here, especially if the right team gets ahold of him.

Cameron Leary, OF, Boston College

Leary is another patient power-hitting outfielder, this time from the ACC. With a 110 90th percentile EV and 114 max, Leary hits the snot out of the ball. Leary likes to pull the ball in the air, with a pull rate that’s 5% higher than the D1 average. With a free swinger, this isn’t a profile that would generally work for a long time, but I think with Leary’s level of patience, this should be able to transfer well to pro ball. His 16% chase rate is in the 88th percentile of college hitters, and he’s another guy who saw an incredibly low rate of strikes at 53%. He’s incredibly patient with a 37% swing rate overall, but his 68% in-zone swing rate is right at the D1 average, telling me he walks the line between selective and passive. While there are certainly swing-and-miss concerns, and Leary won’t be a player who hits for a high average, he should be able to walk and be selective enough to keep his profile afloat.

Defensively, Leary has some interesting attributes. As a 40-runner, he certainly has a home in the outfield. It’s a below-average arm, so he probably fits best in LF, but he did play 161 innings in center in 2024. While it’s not blazing speed out there, Leary gets good jobs and takes nice routes to balls. I’m not saying he’s an everyday centerfielder or even a defensive replacement out there, but the fact he’s able to hold it down at this level makes me like his chances to be an everyday left-fielder at the next level. 

Leary struggles a bit vs left-handers, hitting the ball a bit softer and on the ground more, often still trying to stay with his pull-side approach it appears. That being said, he makes the same amount of contact here and only chases a touch more vs southpaws, so maybe an approach change could be in play here. Regardless, I like Leary’s potential as a strong-side platoon option.

MLB Draft Prospects Out West | Part 1

College baseball out west might not have the sensational appeal that it does eastbound in the SEC & ACC but it’s still a massive hotbed for talent. We all know about Travis Bazzana, Malcolm Moore, and Rodney Green, among others, but there are dozens of other prospects out west with less acclaim to their name.

While most of the more enticing prospects are playing out the final season in the Pac-12, the West Coast Conference (WCC), Big West Conference, Mountain West Conference (MW), and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) will send along their share of signees into pro ball. In order to prioritize depth and breadth, this overview will be split into three parts with the Pac-12 and WAC to follow below, the Big West to follow on it’s own, and the WCC and MW coverage to bring up the rear.

With conference play coming to a close, draft stocks are becoming more solid, though plenty of change will happen between now and mid-July.

PAC-12

Aiden May, RHP, Oregon State

The first of a handful of Beavers that stand out, May checks key boxes with above-average velocity, feel for spin, and sharp command. The 6-foot-2 right-hander has sat 93-95, topping at 98 this year--with two distinct fastballs--a fringe-average four-seam with some run and a somewhat flat approach because of his low 3/4 release height and a steep sinker that profiles to be an above average pitch as it avoids barrels and induces weak contact.

May backs the fastballs up with a 2800+ RPM tailing slider featuring premium late break. It’s easily a plus pitch that sits 83-86, capable of missing plenty of pro bats. There isn’t another pitch May uses often, though he’s flashed an upper-80s split-changeup with healthy fade that has the makings of a plus pitch because of his ability to kill spin and get the pitch downhill.

Continued development of May’s changeup could help keep left-handers off of his fastball and allow May to start as a pro. Improved strike throwing this year mitigates the reliever risk and the Albuquerque native will get a chance to start as a mid-90s arm with a plus slider and promising changeup.

Jacob Kmatz, RHP, Oregon State

From the same Albuquerque high school as May, Kmatz brings a resume as a three-year member of the Oregon State rotation. Unlike May, Kmatz doesn’t bring big velocity but he does throw a multitude of pitches that make him a tough scout for hitters. Standing 6-foot-3 and likely physically maxed, Kmatz will reach up to grab 94 but he will sit 90-92 with plus carry and some run on his fastball from a high 3/4 slot.

It should be an average or better pitch, even with the low-end velocity but Kmatz can keep hitters off of it by throwing a cutter, slider, curveball, and changeup. Kmatz focuses on the curveball, sitting in the mid-70s with hammer 12:30-6:30 shape. Surprisingly, it doesn’t miss many bats but when executed, it’s a contact killer. The slider doesn’t stand out though Kmatz has feel for it and changes speeds and shapes with the cutter to create effectiveness. Finally, the changeup has the potential to be Kmatz’s best secondary. He kills spin and creates a very steep plane with his high slot.

Kmatz lives in the zone which can get him into trouble at times with less-than-premium stuff but he won’t issue many free passes and avoids barrels when he’s at his best. There’s absolutely backend starter potential here because of the pitchability and arsenal diversity.

Bridger Holmes, RHP, Oregon State

Transferred in from Feather River College in northern California, Holmes has some gaudy characteristics that will get him selected early in this year’s draft. The lanky 6-foot-4 righty is a true sidearmer that sits 90-93 with a very lively sinker. The sidearm slot allows him to buy into the pitch’s run and bury it to the armside or get underneath the baseball and throw the heater up in the zone with run. There’s a chance for a plus offering here, especially if he can more routinely sit 92-94.

What has cemented Holmes as a mid-round prospect is a 3,000 RPM slider that hitters don’t pick up on because of the arm slot. It works hard horizontally and in and under the hands of lefties, allowing Holmes to dominate left-handers. While he’s a reliever going forward, Holmes will be a priority for teams looking for a varied look, premium feel for spin, and some projectability & moldability.

Tanner Smith, C, Oregon State

In some ways, Smith is the straw that stirs the drink for a dangerous Oregon State team. He’s a three-year starter behind the dish for the Beavers with above-average defensive ability and a bat that’s finally taking the requisite steps to make him a rounded pro prospect. Smith has good hands that can exchange the ball fast and his arm is above average, allowing him to be one of the best catch and throw backstops in college baseball. Smith is also an above-average framer and athlete behind the plate, with few pitches getting past him.

At the plate, Smith has seen an uptick in raw power and he now profiles to have average or better raw power with a chance to see a dozen or so home runs a season in the pros. Smith has also noticeably improved his swing decisions and is getting on base far more often as a result. There’s still some excessive swing and miss in Smith’s game and he’ll likely never be an average overall hitter because of it, though the improved approach makes the bat playable. Look for Smith to go sometime late on day 2 or early on day 3 to satisfy the teams’ yearly need for catching depth.

Elijah Hainline, SS, Oregon State

Part of an Oregon State transfer class that’s moving the needle in Corvallis, Hainline has picked up where he left off at Washington State. Primarily the Beavers shortstop this year, Hainline has flashed excellent and vastly improved zone awareness and now projects to walk at an average or better rate. The traits that Hainline carried into this year still prevail. Hainline has ultra-fast hands that clear the zone quickly and generate quality bat speed. With his slight frame, Hainline may be able to add a tick more power but he currently projects for average power output. 

Given a chance to play shortstop more often than at Washington State, Hainline has proven himself to be an above-average defender at shortstop with quick feet and an intense motor. There’s impressive two-way ability here and Hainline may be in line for an early day 2 pick, though the bat-to-ball skills remain fringe-average.

Brock Moore, RHP, Oregon

One of the top pure relievers set to be selected in July’s draft, the 6-foot-6 Moore has stuff that dreams are made of. Moore sits 96-100 on his fastball, coming from a low slot with some carry to create a very flat approach angle. It’s one of the best fastballs in the entire class and could be a double-plus offering. Moore throws three other pitches, a slider, curveball, and changeup with the changeup profiling best for the next level.

Moore gets his changeup steep downhill by leveraging his big frame and the ball has plenty of spin-induced fade. It’s another plus pitch in Moore’s arsenal and gives him closer upside. Neither of Moore’s breaking balls are especially polished at this stage, but he can spin the ball with the best of them and if one of the breakers can take the next step, Moore could be confidently tried as a starter in the pros. Moore had issues with his control at times at the NAIA level but has thrown plenty of strikes this year and could fast track as a reliever.

Bennett Thompson, C, Oregon

A second notable catcher in the Pac-12, Thompson has a promising hit tool with an excellent feel for contact and above-average swing decisions. The Ducks’ backstop fares well against all pitch types, giving him a very rounded hitting profile and the potential to get on base at an above-average rate in the pros. Thompson has below-average power but his swing frequently creates loft, giving Thompson a chance to hit 5-7 homers a year as a pro.

In terms of framing and blocking, Thompson has work to do and his fringe arm paints a lackluster defensive profile. On the basepaths, Thompson is fringe-average as well. While Thompson has one pro-ready tool, it’s arguably the most important one and Thompson will get a chance to develop as a backup catcher.

Bryce Boettcher, OF, Oregon

Boettcher is a legit two-sport athlete, recording 37 tackles as an inside linebacker for the Ducks football team in 2023. The football instincts translate to Boettcher’s ability to roam centerfield. Boettcher is an average runner at best but there is a tangible knack for reading fly balls and taking efficient routes to them, giving him a legit shot to stick up the middle in the pros.

With the stick, Boettcher has excellent hands. It’s not the most aesthetic swing but Boettcher keeps his hands quiet and makes plenty of contact. Boettcher can be a bit aggressive but it’s still likely an average hit tool. Boettcher has a physically mature and large build, but the power is presently fringe-average. The defensive instincts and plus hands will get Boettcher to the pros and he’ll have a chance to blow up by pursuing solely baseball.

Jeffery Heard, OF, Oregon

Transferring in from Sac State, Heard has gone from a mid-major star to a power conference contributor. Heard has a very smooth swing that creates a ton of loft. While his raw power is below average, Heard hits the ball hard in the air giving him a chance for fringe-average power. Heard also profiles as an average or better hitter as his connected swing makes a lot of contact and he runs a mature approach. There have been some struggles handling secondaries with Heard expanding his zone a bit too often, inflating his swing and miss totals.

Heard is an average runner with better-than-average top speeds and he should be more than capable in an outfield corner. There might not be a ton of upside with Heard but he’s a safe bet to hit in the pros and might be able to infuse more power into his smooth swing.

RJ Gordon, RHP, Oregon

Gordon finally broke out in his first year as a full-time starter for Oregon. The 6-foot righty has a compact, efficient build with intriguing arm talent. Despite his smaller frame, Gordon has sat 91-94 this year, grabbing 97 once or twice. On top of the solid average velocity, Gordon gets 20.2 inches of induced vertical break which paired with his average release height creates a flat approach angle that misses bats. The heater is average though, as Gordon adds more mass, he might be able to more routinely sit in the mid-90s and push the envelope.

The rest of his arsenal is fair with a quality steep slider as his second pitch along with a fringy slider and promising fading changeup. The latter two pitches may never become regulars in his arsenal but Gordon’s fastball, curveball, and clean mechanics will likely get him a shot to start in the pros.

Toran O’Harran, RHP, Stanford

The Sacramento native O’Harran looks to add to the Stanford Cardinal pitching legacy that has produced Mike Mussina, Jack McDowell, and Jeremy Guthrie, among others. O’Harran’s calling card is his fastball shape; it’s got ideal modern heater characteristics. Sitting 91-94, O’Harran gets serious carry on the pitch, averaging 19.8 inches of IVB with a more upward release angle to create an extremely flat approach angle. As a result, O’Harran’s fastball runs a 28.9% whiff rate and profiles as an above-average and potentially plus pitch.

To back up the fastball, O’Harran throws a fringey slider with quality depth but limited glove-side movement. O’Harran will need to revamp the pitch’s shape in the pros and tap into his natural ability to generate spin. O’Harran’s changeup will help him move up the pro ladder. The velocity difference is a bit steep as his offspeed sits in the mid-to-upper-70s, but it’s an out pitch regardless of how it sequences with his fastball, bending to the armside with plenty of drop. Developing the slider will be key to establishing a third speed in O’Harran’s arsenal. If he can do that, along with the refinement of his overall feel, there’s a legit starter profile here headed by two borderline plus pitches, though he may be viewed more as a reliever in the meantime.

Jackson Kent, LHP, Arizona

Likely the highest-ranked draft-eligible southpaw in the conference, Kent mixes the pitchability you want from a low-90s lefty with the type of deep arsenal that indicates starting upside. Kent’s fastball may appear fringey on the surface but the 90-93 mph offering has a flat shape for similar reasons to O’Harran above; a flatter release angle and a lower-than-average release height. The pitch gets roughly average carry but can be a weapon up in the zone, especially because Kent locates it effectively. 

The lefty has three secondaries to mix in with an above-average changeup representing the best one. With a bit of a funky delivery, Kent creates plenty of deception and also tumbles the pitch hard downhill, making it a weak contact magnet. Kent will then spin either a 12-6 curve or a slider that he likes to bury down. The curveball has proven difficult to hit while the slider gets average results. All four of Kent’s pitches are reliable, giving him a prototypical low-octane 5th starter outlook with a swingman floor that should get him drafted somewhat early on day 2.

Clark Candiotti, RHP, Arizona

Pushing 24 years old, Candiotti is an unusual name to include, however, a year with Arizona has done wonders for the big righty’s future. After sitting 88-91 at Wichita State last year, Candiotti has seen a huge velo jump and now sits 92-94 with some run. It’s an average or better pitch that teams may jump on as a senior sign money saver versus hoping for a UDFA commitment.

Candiotti has a fringe-average mid-80s slider with average depth but limited sweep that he’s still developing feel for. The Scottsdale native has an intriguing curveball with above-average drop that could become an average pitch and create legit pro upside.

Ryan Campos, C, Arizona State

The lefty-swinging backstop will be one of the first catchers off the board in July. Campos combines a zone contact percentage over 90% with above-average swing decisions to make a comfortably above-average hit tool. Campos produces more power than you’d expect from his compact 5-foot-8, 190-pound frame with a 90th percentile exit velocity over 103 mph. He won’t produce average power output but the bat is well-rounded. Campos can get too aggressive against fastballs but his zone is extremely tight when he picks up a change in velocity or spin.

Defensively, Campos is fringey in about every way. His exchange times can be average but his arm is usually a tick below average and his smaller frame minimizes his ability to vacuum up pitches in the dirt. Campos is clearly a serviceable defender but his path to being an everyday catcher is narrow. Fortunately, there is athleticism here that has served Campos well in the outfield—though sparingly this year—giving him a fallback option should catching not work long-term.

Nick McLain, OF, Arizona State

The brother of two-time first-round pick Matt McLain and Dodgers prospect Sean, Nick doesn’t carry the same hype as his oldest brother but the switch hitter is a talented and versatile player in his own right. The youngest McLain works an advanced approach, especially against fastballs, though he presents an oddity of whiffing against heaters far more often than he does breaking balls. He still impacts fastballs well and profiles to see all pitch types well. McLain has average overall feel for contact, giving him a chance for above-average hitting output because of his approach.

The power projection is minimal here with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 102.9 mph. McLain elevates the baseball well with a backspin-inducing swing but he’s likely to settle with below-average power. Strictly an outfielder, McLain’s fringe-average speed limits his overall range but he’s an efficient route runner and will be average in a corner. McLain is a sum of several good parts but his lack of a standout trait may leave him on the board well into day 2.

Cody Schrier, SS, UCLA

Discussed as a top-2 round player out of JSerra (CA) in 2021, Schrier found himself a 3-year starter at UCLA instead. A consensus freshman All-American, Schrier stagnated following his first year, in part due to a labrum tear in 2023. This year, teams will be considering Schrier’s former elite prospect status as they weigh selecting him. The UCLA star isn’t an explosive bat, with his career 90th percentile exit velocity hovering around 103 mph, but when Schrier is at his best, he blends average contact skills with average swing decisions to create a solid overall profile.

Schrier hasn’t fully figured out secondaries at the collegiate level and will do most of his damage against fastballs. Additionally, since the shoulder injury, Schrier has changed his stance and finds himself opening up earlier and reaching more with his arms, pounding the ball into the ground more often. In some ways, teams will see low-hanging fruit if they feel they can reconnect Schrier’s swing and he might get selected more in line with his overall reputation rather than his 2024 performance. Schrier’s ability to play an average shortstop, boosted by above-average arm strength will help his cause. 

Duce Gourson, 2B, UCLA

Gourson is one of UCLA’s best recruits in recent years and he’s lived up to the hype with early day 2 potential. The lefty-swinging middle infielder has quiet hands and a beautifully efficient swing that generates impact thanks to his load that creates plenty of core explosion and great lower-body engagement. The raw power is roughly average--with a 90th percentile exit velocity just under 105 mph--matching Gourson’s average-sized frame, but his bat path creates leverage and gets the ball in the air enough for him to maximize the raw juice. 

The strength of Gourson’s profile, however, is an above-average hit tool. His swing decisions are sound with a 20% chase rate and his zone-contact rate of 88.3% showcases the precision Gourson executes with. His college production does not match the underlying skill metrics or his pure talent. Gourson slid off shortstop completely this year with Schrier healthy, a necessary move as Gourson’s average range and fringe-average arm profile better on the right side of the infield. Gourson is a strong candidate to be a draft bargain for a model team with his complete offensive toolset.

Luke Jewett, RHP, UCLA

The Bruins best pitcher during a down year for the program, Jewett has a few promising components that make him a late day 2 or early day 3 target. The 6-foot-4 righty has a lively low-90s fastball that peaks at 95 with some carry and run. Coming from a high overtop slot, he’s a tough read for hitters though Jewett won’t ever miss many bats.

His curveball and changeup are both developed pitches that give some real life to this profile. Jewett’s curveball gets late sweep and has plenty of drop, creating a really steep pitch that also runs away from righties. Jewett has below-average movement on his changeup but it’s a sequence-based pitch that tumbles late and is hard to barrel.

Austin Overn, OF, USC

One of the bigger fallers in this class relative to preseason expectations, Overn failed to build upon an extremely promising freshman campaign, though there are still positive takeaways. While Overn likely couldn’t establish the same rhythm in a weaker Trojan lineup, he did noticeably add strength to his slim-athletic frame, elevating his power from below average close to average with a 104.3 mph 90th percentile exit velocity.

Overn came into the year needing to sharpen his discipline at the plate but actually saw an increase in chase swings and fewer deep counts. The average bat-to-ball skills paired with that budding power make the offensive profile a more compelling match with Overn’s plus glove in center field and easy plus wheels. While he didn’t play himself into the back of the first round as was discussed prior to the year, Overn still has promising upside as a two-way outfielder and will likely find a suitor in the middle of day 2.

Cole Cramer, 3B, Washington State

A JUCO grinder, Cramer made the most of his deserved Power 5 opportunity, establishing himself as one of the best pure hitters in this year’s class. Cramer’s feel for contact is excellent from his compact swing with his zone contact rate hovering just below 95%. Cramer also showed a mature approach from the get-go with a great high for velocity and a fair ability to read spin.

Because his approach is so geared towards making solid contact consistently, Cramer is not a power player with well-below-average game power though it’s feasible he could tick up a grade with more physical maturation. Washington State’s primary third baseman this year, Cramer looks fringey at the hot corner but impressed in his brief time at second base and could emerge as average there. This looks like a classic late-day 2 underslot option for a team looking for a classic gamer type.

Peyton Schulze, 1B, California

An atypical smaller-build first baseman, Schulze slugs like he’s a whole 4 inches taller than his 6-foot-1 frame. Schulze has a clean undercut swing that elevates the ball around an average rate but always with some impact. Schulze’s pure power metrics jumped a fair amount this year with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 108.5 mph. He’s pretty easy to project for above-average power production in the pros with easy plus raw power.

Schulze’s bat-to-ball skills are impressive for a player of his archetype and few in this draft class have the raw power Schulze does with a zone contact rate above 88%. What Schulze does lack is his selectivity; he’s a fastball hunter and will cut some at-bats short by running a similar approach with one strike as he does with two. If Schulze can better control the zone, he’s got serious pro upside, even as a 1 B-only player.

WAC

Tyler Wilson, OF, GCU

Another Grand Canyon product from MLB bloodlines with the last name Wilson (unrelated to Jack & Jacob), Tyler won’t be a high first-rounder like Jacob, but figures to be in mid-day 2 range. The 6-foot-2 outfielder has a smooth swing that generates healthy backspin, helping to maximize his fringe-average raw power. Wilson has made a name for himself by picking up spin and running a tight zone, chasing just 18.8% of pitches out of the zone.

There’s more swing and miss than you’d like for a player with Wilson’s power and he gets beat low and away, but his bat still profiles to make an impact. Wilson is more than capable in the outfield and features an average arm.

Daniel Avitia, RHP, GCU

A softer thrower, averaging just 90.6 on his fastball, Avitita wins with finesse and deception. The lanky 6-foot-4 right-hander hides the ball well and drops to a low 3/4 slot that leaves same-side hitters fooled while the run on his fastball provides potential for an arsenal to compete with left-handed bats, though they’ve gotten the better of Avitia to this point. Avitia’s big frame helps him get well extended to the plate and kicks up his perceived velocity.

Avitia backs his heater up with a slider and changeup, both of which have been dominant offerings. The changeup is a legit plus pitch and one of the best offspeeds in this class, it gets ridiculous run and fade, moving like a breaking ball. Avitia’s slider isn’t close to plus but it’s a sweepy breaking ball that wipes out right-handers. The present inability to get lefties out places some reliever risk on Avitia’s profile, though he could be dynamic and unique from a pen role.

Brandon Downer, RHP, California Baptist

Downer will be a ball-of-clay pick for a team on day 3. The big 6-foot-5 right-hander has sat 92-95 all year with above-average extension and some carry on his fastball; it has the makings of an average offering. Downer has a well-developed arsenal to back up his heater with two breaking balls and a quality low-spin changeup. The changeup is deceptive and profiles as a fringe average second or third pitch while Downer’s curveball has one of the steepest approach angles of any pitch in the class.

Downer is still developing some feel and locates inconsistently but he’s got the requisite power and secondary characteristics to get teams interested in his development.

Mitch Mueller, RHP, Utah Valley

Mueller has a very whippy arm that drops into a lower 3/4 slot and brings some power. The 6-foot-5 righty sits 91-94 from a lower slot and leverages his frame for extension, getting his fastball some extra giddy-up and flatter shape. Teams will look at it as a pro-ready pitch.

Backing it up, Mueller’s changeup has shown promise and his curveball is an effective offering that he has good feel for. Mueller throws his changeup hard in the 85-88 range with a deceptive action though its movement is wholly inconsistent. Teams will buy the arm talent here and perhaps give Mueller a chance to start early in his career.

The West is full of talent that sometimes goes under the radar, especially in non-power conferences. Keep an eye on this crop to be selected and make a pro impact down the stretch this summer.