2025 MLB
Draft: Top 30 Prep Prospects
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1. 3B Ethan Holliday, Stillwater (OK)
Height:
6’4
Weight:
210
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 yr 4 mo
Commitment:
Oklahoma State
Hometown:
Stillwater, OK
The younger brother of 2022 first overall pick Jackson, Ethan is already more physical and displaying louder tools than Jackson did at this stage. Offensively, Holliday's toolset is as loud as it gets. He has excellent pitch recognition and mature plate discipline, paired with a buttery smooth left-handed swing.
Holliday is relatively passive and stays within the zone, garnering walks at a frequent rate, plus he's gotten better at shortening his swing and becoming more direct to the baseball.
He's already posted triple-digit exit velocities on the regular in-game, too, including a 111 MPH bolt during 18U trials. Scouts expect Holliday to add more muscle to his frame as he matures physically, enhancing his power potential. There's not much to hate on that side of the ball. As a defender, many believe his ultimate home will be third base, as his physical frame is better suited for the position.
He's
shown solid range and fluidity in his game on the dirt and his strong arm would
fit perfectly at the hot corner. He's looking like the lead candidate for 1.1
at this point. If Holliday elects to attend school, he'll stay home and attend
Oklahoma State.
2. 3B/OF Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon (WA)
Height:
6’4
Weight:
205
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 8 MO
Commitment:
Oregon State
Hometown:
Mount Vernon, WA
It's not too often that the state of Washington is home to one of the top prospects in the country, but Neyens is putting himself in rare territory with his tools and performance. With an advanced approach, top of the scale bat-to-ball skills, and loud power from the left side, Neyens' offensive potential is sky-high.
His approach is very mature for his age, staying inside the zone and racking up walks in the process. The power itself grades out as plus with natural loft and loud bat speed, playing to all fields. He creates a tight coil with his core during his load, allowing his body to rotate rapidly and allowing his hands to explode through the zone. Against premier pitching, he's already tattooed baseballs at 108 MPH. It's loud.
Neyens has the tools to stick at the hot corner, though some scouts express concern about the footwork at the position, as it can get rather clunky. With that note out of the way, Neyens has the soft hands and strong arm to handle the position. If he moves off third base, he'd get a chance in a corner outfield position. Neyens is currently committed to the West Coast powerhouse of Oregon State.
3. RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona (CA)
Height:
6’4
Weight:
195
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 19 YR
Commitment:
Vanderbilt
Hometown:
Chino, CA
At this stage of the 2025 cycle, there's no better arm in the class than Hernandez. At 6'4, 195 pounds, Hernandez has plenty of projection remaining to his frame and his operation is as easy as they come. He's very athletic and moves fluidly down the mound with loud arm speed. His fastball has sat in the low-to-mid 90s thus far, though he's gotten up to 96-98 MPH in shorter stints and projects to sit closer to that mark as he fills out his frame.
He gets solid extension and fills up the strike zone, as well as showing a tendency to miss bats on the top rail. His change-up is one of the best in the country, a low-80s parachute that flashes plus with a ton of sinking action and velocity separation from the heater. He'll mix in a bigger curveball in the upper-70s and a firmer cutter/slider hybrid in the mid-to-upper-80s, both of which possess spin rates near 2,700 RPMs.
The mix of pure stuff, projection, and athleticism make him
the best arm in a prep class that lacks dynamic arms. Hernandez is on the older
side of the class and will be 19 on draft day. If he gets to campus, he'd be
eligible as a sophomore at Vanderbilt.
4. SS Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton (OK)
Height:
6’1
Weight:
175
b/t: S/R
Draft Day
Age: 17 YR 7 MO
Commitment:
Oklahoma
Hometown:
Fort Cobb, OK
A recent reclass from the 2026 ranks, the switch-hitting Willits projects to fit at the top of lists with a very solid toolset at his disposal. The son of former Angels outfielder Reggie, Eli has the chance to be a legitimate switch-hitter at the next level, as he's shown quality polish from both sides of the plate. Both swings are compact and short to the baseball with the right side featuring more bat speed and pop while the left side has more hitter-ish traits on display.
He'll split the gaps on a regular basis from both sides with flatter swing planes, but he's shown an ability to lift the baseball. It's a very polished approach, too. He's an athletic specimen in the field, as well, showcasing solid range and enough tools to stick at shortstop long-term.
Willits has even had some run in center field this summer at the 18U Trials.
He's an average to above-average runner on the basepaths and has the chance to
be a base-stealing threat. He is committed to attending Oklahoma, where his dad
is a coach.
5. OF Ty Peeples, Franklin County (GA)
Height:
6’2
Weight:
185
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 yr 8 mo
Commitment:
Georgia
Hometown:
Lavonia, GA
There may not be a bigger rise over the past year in this class than Peeples. He's gotten more physical and there's more on the way, as his 6'2, 185 pound frame is still rather projectable.
We'll start with the tools at the plate, which are as smooth as they come. It's a gorgeous left-handed swing with quick hands, budding bat speed, and whippiness through the zone. He keeps it simple with little movement pre-pitch and he utilizes an optimized bat path and great rotation in his swing. Adjustability to off-speed pitches isn't a problem for him, either.
As he continues to grow, he'll add more power, though there's already present thump in the stick. There's a good chance that he'll hit for average and power at the next level. Peeples has the tools to be a center fielder right now, though he's destined for a corner outfield spot as he matures physically.
He has very solid route running, above-average speed, and a
strong, accurate arm. Peeples is committed to Georgia, less than an hour from
his hometown of Lavonia.
6. OF Brock Sell, Tokay (CA)
Height:
6’1
Weight:
185
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 8 MO
Commitment:
Stanford
Hometown:
Stockton, CA
While his last name may tell you otherwise, now's a great time to begin buying stock in Brock Sell. Sell is an exceptionally twitchy athlete on the field and his game has blossomed over the past year, turning into one of the highest upside profiles in this class.
His swing is as simple as they come. There's very few wasted movements in his load and the bat explodes through the zone, lacing line drives to all fields. He can be aggressive and expand the zone a bit, but there's minimal swing-and-miss to his game and he does a great job of consistently getting the barrel to the baseball. It's a hit-over-power profile right now, though he's begun to tap into more pull-side juice.
His hands are very quick and there's impressive bat speed there. Sell has been clocked as an above-average to plus runner and has the defensive chops to make a legitimate case to stay in center field.
The arm strength is certainly there, getting into the low-90s from the outfield, plus he's hovered around 90 MPH on the bump. He is older for the class and committed to Stanford, which is something to keep an eye on, but the tools look too good to pass up right now.
7. SS Lucas Franco, Cinco Ranch (TX)
Height:
6’3
Weight:
175
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 2 MO
Commitment:
Texas Christian
Hometown:
Katy, TX
An athletic and projectable infielder, Franco has risen up the ranks over the past year thanks to a solid toolset. Franco is a great athlete with a long, lean body type that oozes projection. Franco has very quick hands and rotates well, displaying budding bat speed and fluidity throughout his left-handed swing. There's some loft already present and utilizes his lower half well, meaning there's a solid chance that he achieves average or better power as he grows into his body.
His contact quality is improving as time goes on and his plate
discipline is already advanced for his age, keeping whiffs and chases to a
minimum. He's got the defensive chops to stay at shortstop, as he has soft
hands, fluid motions, and a strong arm across the diamond. As he fills out, he
may have to move to the hot corner. He's an above-average runner, as well.
Franco is committed to attending Texas Christian.
8. OF Dean Moss, IMG Academy (FL)
Height:
6’0
Weight:
182
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 19 YR 2 MO
Commitment:
Louisiana State
Hometown:
Atherton, CA
After traveling across the country to attend IMG Academy, Moss has put himself at the top of the pecking order for outfielders in this class. While he's smaller-statured, don't let the size fool you. Moss possesses loud power to his pull side with excellent bat speed and very quick hands.
His left-handed swing is tightly wound, allowing him to burst through the zone and turn on pitches to right field with authority, as well as some opposite-field pop. While the power itself is impressive, Moss' plate discipline is advanced for his age and he loves to take his walks. Moss' pure hit tool is rather polished and he displays very little warts, staying within the zone and adjusting to off-speed pitches very well. He's done a great job of keeping the strikeouts at bay this summer.
With average speed and an average arm in the outfield, Moss is destined for a
corner outfield position at the next level. He is on the older side of the
class, as he'll turn 19 a couple of months prior to the draft, making him
eligible as a sophomore at Louisiana State if he chooses to attend classes.
9. SS/OF Coy James, Davie County (NC)
Height:
6’0
Weight:
185
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 4 MO
Commitment:
Mississippi
Hometown:
Advance, NC
James is one of the more potent offensive profiles in this draft class. A potential leadoff sparkplug type of bat, James has torched opposing pitching this summer, including a record performance at 17U WWBA in Georgia, where he set a record with 22 hits throughout the tournament. While he can be aggressive and reluctant to take walks, James has excellent barrel consistency and outstanding bat-to-ball skills that will allow him to hit for average at the next level.
He's beginning to grow into legitimate juice, too. He'll show the ability to
lift the ball to his pull side with very quick hands, giving him a chance to
hit 15+ home runs as a professional. There's a solid chance he can stick at
shortstop, as he's shown off great range, smooth actions, and a sound internal
clock at the position. In the off chance that he moves off the position, he'll
likely end up at second base, though he's gotten some run in center field this
summer. James is currently committed to attending Ole Miss.
10.
SS/RHP Billy Carlson, Corona (CA)
Height:
6’1
Weight:
175
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 11 MO
Commitment:
Vanderbilt
Hometown:
Corona, CA
A two-way athlete out of the loaded Corona High School roster, Carlson may just be the best shortstop defender in the class. Carlson possesses smooth, rangy actions at the "six" with bounce, soft hands, and a quick release across the infield. His arm is very stout and grades out as plus or better at the position, too, leaving little doubt that he'll stick at the position long term.
At the plate, his swing can get a bit steep, but there's not a ton of whiff concerns, and stays within the strike zone. He's beginning to lift the ball more and there's robust power in the bat thanks to loud bat speed. His athleticism and arm strength translate on the mound, as he's been up to 96-97 MPH already with fluidity down the mound.
The secondaries are promising, as he
throws a quality mid-70s curveball with depth and a mid-80s change-up with
solid fading life. He's thrown strikes at a solid clip, too. There's a ton of
upside if everything works out with Carlson. He is currently committed to
attending Vanderbilt and projects to be on the older side of the class.
11.
LHP/1B Kruz Schoolcraft, Sunset (OR)
Height:
6’8
Weight:
215
b/t: L/L
Draft Day
Age: 18 yr 2 mo
Commitment:
N/A
Hometown:
Beaverton, OR
A gangly, uber-projectable southpaw from Oregon, Schoolcraft reclassed from the 2026 class and now projects as one of the best two-way players in the class. There's more upside on the mound right now, as the 6'8, 215 pound lefty has exquisite body control and projects to throw much harder as he grows into his frame.
He's primarily sat in the low-90s, though he's maxed out at 97 MPH, with solid extension down the hill and a heater that jumps on hitters quickly. He'll miss a bevy of bats during outings with it thanks to a lower release and hop at the top of the zone. He had a grip change with his slider that now sits in the mid-80s with cutter-esque firmness and an ability to command it gloveside.
The
change-up has solid feel and shape, too. As he learns to sync up his frame
more, expect more strikes. He's also a power-hitting first baseman with legit
feel for the barrel and loud power potential given the projection. Schoolcraft
remains uncommitted as he enters his senior year.
12. SS/OF
Sean Gamble, IMG Academy (FL)
Height:
6’2
Weight:
185
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 19 YR
Commitment:
Vanderbilt
Hometown:
Des Moines, IA
If you're looking for the best pure athlete in this class, look no further than Sean Gamble. An Iowa native who resides at IMG Academy, Gamble is incredibly twitchy on both sides of the ball. We'll start at the plate, where he's got some of the loudest bat speed and power in this prep class. His hips explode open, allowing his hands to race through the zone with impressive barrel lag.
He's had exit velocities with wood up to 108 MPH in-game settings already this summer and given the frame, it wouldn't be a shock to see higher numbers. He has excellent torque and rotation in his swing, though the hit tool does lag behind a bit. He's working on refining his approach and becoming more patient, especially on breaking balls. In the field, Gamble has the tools to be a potential corner outfielder, though his plus speed gives him a chance in center field with a strong arm.
If the outfield doesn't work, Gamble has seen time in the infield,
projecting best at second or third base. He is committed to Vanderbilt.
13. SS Kayson Cunningham, Johnson (TX)
Height:
5’10
Weight:
178
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 19 YR
Commitment:
Texas
Hometown:
San Antonio, TX
Despite the smaller stature that Cunningham possesses, he has a case for having the best pure contact hitter in the entire prep class. Cunningham covers the zone exceptionally well, keeping the whiffs and chases at bay. It's a smooth, direct left-handed swing with a good bit of bat speed and an all-fields approach at the dish. There is some pop in the bat, mainly to the pull side and he'll work the gaps for extra bases, but his swing is more suited for line drives right now.
He should add some lift to his swing in due time, but he'll profile best
as a power-over-hit type. Cunningham is a plus runner underway and has good
range at shortstop with smooth hands and a strong arm. There's a chance he
could move to the other side of the second base bag, but it's hard to envision
him leaving the dirt up the middle. Cunningham recently flipped his commitment
from Texas Tech to Texas.
14. OF Slater De Brun, Summit (OR)
Height:
5’9
Weight:
180
b/t: L/L
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 1 MO
Commitment:
Vanderbilt
Hometown:
Bend, OR
Slade Caldwell was just taken in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft, but it looks like he's been cloned and moved to Oregon as Slater de Brun. de Brun's body is very similar to what Caldwell is, as he's a smaller, yet physical outfielder with exceptional speed and an excellent approach at the plate.
There's very little to hate at the plate, as de Brun has posted incredibly healthy contact rates and rarely expands the zone, getting on base frequently where he can be a basepath menace. His bat speed is top-notch, though the swing plane is more suited for line drives to the gaps than fly balls over the fence.
His speed is
double-plus, if not better. He's had home-to-first times clocked between
4.05-4.15 seconds on the regular, displaying an incredible second gear and he
has the makings of a very difficult out. That speed translates to center field,
where he figures to stick long-term with strong route-running, instincts, and a
strong arm. There's a lot to love here and it would not be a shock to envision this
profile in the first round in 2025. He is younger for the class at 18.1 years
old and is committed to attending Vanderbilt.
15. RHP Josh Hammond, Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC)
Height:
6’1
Weight:
215
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 9 MO
Commitment:
Wake Forest
Hometown:
High Point, NC
The son of High Point skipper Joey Hammond, Josh burst onto the scene as an arm after a loud showing during the 2023 summer circuit. While the command itself is a work in progress and will need refinement, he has the makings of a true power pitcher. He has a very strong lower half down the mound, as well as extremely quick arm speed and fluidity down the mound.
The low-90s heater has touched 96
MPH in the past calendar year, coming in like a bowling ball and boring in on
right-handed hitters. He'll change the shape slightly and add more riding life,
too. However, it's the low-80s slider that has the most upside. It's a beast of
a pitch, featuring nasty sweep and bite that has left hitters floundering on
occasion. It may be a plus pitch at the end of the day. The CH has heavy fade
and there's feel to throw strikes, too. Hammond also has tools at the plate,
including impressive juice in the stick. He is committed to attending Wake
Forest.
16. LHP Cameron Appenzeller, Glenwood (IL)
Height:
6’5
Weight:
180
b/t: L/L
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 5 MO
Commitment:
South Carolina
Hometown:
Springfield, IL
At 6'5, 180 pounds, Appenzeller is insanely projectable and projects to be one of the best southpaws in the class. Appenzeller's delivery is incredibly easy and he oozes athleticism on the bump, creating fast arm speed and a slingy action to a lower release. As a result of the low release, he generates quite a bit of armside run on the fastball, sitting in the 88-92 MPH bucket and tickling 93-94 MPH in shorter spurts.
When in the zone, the pitch jumps on batters and he'll execute on the top rail for whiffs. Given the projection, there's a good chance Appenzeller could reach 95+ MPH in due time. His upper-70s sweeper flashes solid bite and spin traits and his low-80s change-up has heavy fade against right-handed hitters, too.
He commands all three pitches well and may
ultimately need a firmer breaker to give himself a "bridge pitch."
He's a legitimate data darling who should continue to garner interest as he
adds muscle to his lanky frame. Appenzeller is currently committed to attending
South Carolina.
17. SS Brady Ebel, Corona (CA)
Height:
6’3
Weight:
190
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 17 YR 11 MO
Commitment:
Louisiana State
Hometown:
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
The son of longtime Angels third base coach Dino Ebel, Brady is one of the more famous bats in this class. Ebel is renowned for his maturity and contact prowess at the dish, though he's had some issues with contact and chases this summer. His sweet left-handed swing is very repeatable with a quick, direct path to the baseball that is built for line drives presently.
He doesn't sell out for a ton
of power and while it's a hit-over-power profile now, he'll grow into more
power as he begins to fill out his lean frame. He's got the defensive chops to
stick on the left side of the dirt, too. He may grow off of shortstop once he
physically matures, but Ebel has excellent hands, rangy actions, and a strong
arm to handle the position. If he outgrows shortstop, he'll fit in at third
base. He will be one of the youngest bats in the class, too, as he won't turn
18 until late July. He is committed to attending Louisiana State.
18. C/UTL
Jaden Fauske, Nazareth Academy (IL)
Height:
6’2
Weight:
205
b/t: L/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 7 MO
Commitment:
N/A
Hometown:
Willowbrook, IL
An infielder from the state of Illinois, Fauske boasts one of our favorite swings in the whole class. It's a lovely left-handed swing with loose wrists, quick hands, and a whippy barrel through the zone. There's very few flaws in his approach, as he's got excellent barrel control and will utilize the whole field to his advantage. It's hit-over-power right now, but as Fauske continues to grow into his body, we should see higher power output.
He's already beginning
to register exit velocities into the triple digits and he's shown some pull
side power in game with quality bat speed. Expect the bat to be the money-maker
in his profile. Defensively, he's logged a ton of innings behind the plate,
where he's an average defender with a quick exchange and average arm strength.
He's gotten more run in the dirt recently, mostly as a utility type when he's
not catching. He's currently one of the top uncommitted bats in the country.
19. RHP Angel Cervantes, Warren (CA)
Height:
6’3
Weight:
193
b/t: r/r
Draft Day
Age: 17 YR 10 MO
Commitment:
UCLA
Hometown:
Lynwood, CA
One of the youngest players in the class, Cervantes is an intriguing arm out of southern California. Cervantes is a great athlete with a fluid delivery and a clean arm swing with little to no effort down the mound. It's led by a low-90s fastball that has a downhill plane with some ride and run to it. Given the projection of Cervantes' frame, he could reach the mid-90s in due time.
The
change-up is the best pitch in his arsenal and it's a contender for the best
cambio in the class. It's a higher spin offering that hits the brakes halfway
to home plate in the upper-70s to low-80s, diving away from lefties. He'll
throw in a curveball with high spin and shape manipulation, throwing both a
vertical and sweepy curveball. Cervantes projects to be one of the youngest
players in this class, as well. He is committed to attending UCLA.
20. 2B/SS
Josh Gibbs, Forsyth County (GA)
Height:
6’0
Weight:
180
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 7 MO
Commitment:
Georgia
Hometown:
Cumming, GA
Gibbs is a lean, athletic infielder out of the state of Georgia who is really explosive on both sides of the ball. An XBH machine to start the 2024 summer circuit, there's quite a bit of noise ongoing during his load, but the timing of his swing is exquisite and the twitchiness in his profile really stands out. Gibbs possesses electric bat speed as a result of uber-quick, whippy hands, and loud body coil during his swing. Despite how noisy everything is, Gibbs stays in the zone and waits for his pitch, drawing walks and getting to the barrel often.
As
he fills out his frame, expect more power gains. There's a really good
likelihood that Gibbs is capable of staying on the left side of the dirt,
namely at shortstop. He's a great runner and utilizes his range on the dirt,
showcasing soft hands and a rather strong arm across the diamond. The overall
upside here is super enticing. Should Gibbs go to school, he'd enroll at
Georgia.
21. C Brayden Jaksa, Irvington (CA)
Height:
6’6
Weight:
210
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 5 MO
Commitment:
Oregon
Hometown:
Fremont, CA
At 6'6, 210 pounds, Jaksa is not your typical catching prospect. Jaksa has an extra large frame with proportionate strength and long levers to his body, giving him ample projection to his figure. While he's gangly, he does a great job of controlling his limbs and body on both sides of the ball. At the plate, his plate discipline has very little warts and there's a ton of power projection in the stick. He stays within the strike zone and maintains a high contact rate thanks to a consistent bat path through the zone.
He has a heavy barrel through
the zone with natural loft and leverage, allowing him to tap into legitimate
all fields power that should grade out as above-average or plus when all is
said and done. Behind the dish, Jaksa is rather mobile for his size thanks to
quality athleticism. He's a good receiver with a strong arm, as well. He's got
a good shot to stick back there, but if he has to move positions, he fits as a
first baseman or corner outfielder. Jaksa is committed to attending Oregon.
22. 3B/OF
Quentin Young, Oaks Christian (CA)
Height:
6’5
Weight:
215
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 4 MO
Commitment:
Louisiana State
Hometown:
Camarillo, CA
Another reclassification from the 2026 ranks, Young is as tooled up as they come. Young is an extremely tall, lanky prospect with a ton of projection remaining to his frame, plus he's an excellent athlete on the field. The raw power in his profile is one of the more enticing in the class, grading out as easily plus and some may even put a double-plus grade on it. It's a heavy barrel with a ton of bat speed and torque in the swing, allowing the ball to fly off the bat. The hit tool is a work-in-progress, as an inconsistent bat path and whiffs hamper him.
He'll need to iron out the kinks to live up to the sky-high offensive
potential. Defensively, he has loud arm strength and projects best as a third
baseman or right fielder as a result. His footwork at third base needs some
work, but he has good range and actions at the position. Young is related to
former big leaguers Delmon and Dmitri Young and will now be on the younger side
of the class. He is committed to Louisiana State.
23. RHP Landon Harmon, East Union Attendance Center (MS)
Height:
6’5
Weight:
188
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 10 MO
Commitment:
Mississippi State
Hometown:
New Albany, MS
One of the biggest risers in this year's summer circuit, Harmon possesses one of the best fastballs in the entire class. The heater jumps out of the hand from a wide angle thanks to Harmon's crossfire and catches hitters by surprise, darting away from righties with slight cutting action and some riding life. He's already been up to 98 MPH in brief stints, quickly settling into the low/mid-90s across longer outings.
He has electric arm speed and controls his
body well down the mound, allowing him to throw a solid amount of strikes that
should get better as he becomes more polished. His breaking ball has been a bit
inconsistent, jumping between an upper-70s slurve and a firmer low-80s slider,
but there's upside in the pitch as there's some late depth and sweep when it's
on. As he develops further, there's a good chance he'll generate a power
slider. There is a change-up in there, though it's rarely used. Harmon is
currently committed to attending Mississippi State.
24. OF Anthony Pack Jr., Millikan (CA)
Height:
5’10
Weight:
175
b/t: L/L
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 6 MO
Commitment:
Texas
Hometown:
Lakewood, CA
If you're looking for a Dillon Head/Braylon Payne clone in this class, look no further than Anthony Pack Jr. Pack is an exceptional athlete with a ton of twitch on both sides of the ball. At the plate, Pack is a bit more of a slasher profile, though he's got extremely quick hands, tight rotation, and bat speed that separates him a bit from his peers.
He's employed more of a line-drive approach in recent viewings and while there's some swing-and-miss, Pack is patient and racks up his walks. He'll attack the gaps and utilize his plus speed to his advantage, plus there's some pull side juice, too. He's a fit in center field long term thanks to the aforementioned plus speed, which enables him to get excellent reads off the bat and chase down fly balls with ease.
He has the
chance to be an exceptional defender when all is said and done. Overall,
there's a lot to like with the profile and there's a good chance he's a Day 1
prospect. Pack is committed to the University of Texas.
25. RHP Marcos Paz, Hebron (TX)
Height:
6’2
Weight:
220
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 7 MO
Commitment:
Louisiana State
Hometown:
Carrollton, TX
Paz is a Texas arm with a ton of traits that lead to a starting role as a professional player. Unfortunately, Paz underwent Tommy John surgery in early July, taking him out through next summer and clouding his future a bit. He's more of a physical specimen at 6'2, 220 pounds, Paz has a low-effort delivery with a lightning-quick right arm and an arm swing that's a bit reminiscent of Chase Burns, allowing him to command gloveside with ease.
His stuff is very impressive, led by a fastball that has been up to 97 MPH this spring. He'll usually sit in the 91-95 MPH pail and the pitch has solid carry upstairs, as well as good command. His slider profiles as one of, if not the best, breaking ball in the class.
Sitting in the low-80s, Paz generates loud spin numbers and
hitters struggle to connect thanks to the late bite and sweep out of the zone.
There's a mid-80s change-up that has solid fade and tumble, projecting as
average or better. More strikes will come as he gets more consistent with his
delivery. Paz is committed to attending Louisiana State.
26. 1B/OF
Josiah Hartshorn, Orange Lutheran (CA)
Height:
6’2
Weight:
220
b/t: S/l
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 5 MO
Commitment:
Texas A&M
Hometown:
Anaheim, CA
Orange Lutheran continues to churn out quality prospects, as Hartshorn is the next in a long line of top prospects to hail from the school. A physical figure in the box, Hartshorn is incredibly athletic for his size and projects to be on the younger side of the class at 18.5 on draft day.
Hartshorn hit exclusively as a right-handed hitter last summer and decided to flip to the left side in 2024, strictly hitting as a lefty this summer. Hartshorn's bat speed stands out and while the swing can get a bit handsy, he coils his body very well and produces loud power off the bat. There's very little whiffs in his profile, as well, especially against heaters.
He's a solid average or better runner and has the
athleticism to handle a corner outfield spot, where he's shown the arm strength
to handle right field. Should he outgrow his athleticism, he would fit best at
first base, though that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet. Should he
make it to campus, he'll attend Texas A&M.
27. RHP River Hamilton, Sam Barlow (OR)
Height:
6’3
Weight:
185
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 9 MO
Commitment:
Oregon State
Hometown:
Woodvillage, OR
Could Hamilton become the next big arm out of Oregon? There's a chance it could happen, as the uber-projectable right-hander has a lot to like. Built like a twig, Hamilton's entire delivery is rather loose and athletic, moving fluidly down the mound with a bit of effort at release. It reminds us of Cole Schoenwetter's delivery a bit.
The fastball has a chance to be very, very loud. Already sitting in the low-90s consistently, Hamilton's heater generates a ton of vertical carry, averaging close to twenty inches of ride and he's shown an ability to add run down in the zone. He's been throwing strikes with it, too. There's a chance for a plus offering here as it jumps out of his hand.
The
low-80s breaking ball can get inconsistent, but at its best, he generates solid
sweeping action with late bite away from righties. His mid-80s change-up has
solid fading life, too. Command can come and go, though given the athleticism,
there's a good chance it'll continue to improve. Hamilton is committed to
attending Oregon State.
28. OF Brock Ketelsen, Valley Christian Schools (CA)
Height:
6’4
Weight:
195
b/t: L/L
Draft Day
Age: 17 YR 11 MO
Commitment:
Stanford
Hometown:
Scotts Valley, CA
Ketelsen is a bit of an unknown, but his mix of tools and projection makes him a quality prospect at this stage in the cycle. At 6'4, 195 pounds, Ketelsen is rather lanky and features a lot of twitchy actions in his game. A left-handed bat, Ketelsen has very impressive bat speed and displays accuracy with his barrel through the zone, staying short and direct to the baseball. There's already present strength and power in the profile, mainly to the gaps and pull side, though as he adds weight to his frame, expect the power to tick up.
His hips
open up violently and there's natural loft to the swing. In the field, he's
likely a corner outfielder at the next level, though he's able to cover a ton
of ground thanks to his lengthy stride and quality speed. He runs like a
gazelle in the outfield and shows defensive maturity, giving him a solid
outlook with the glove. He has also seen time on the bump, getting up to 92 MPH
from the left side. Ketelsen is one of the youngest players in the class, too.
With that said, he is a Stanford commit, which is something to keep an eye on
come draft day.
29. C Trent Grindlinger, Huntington Beach (CA)
Height:
6’3
Weight:
195
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 11 MO
Commitment:
Mississippi State
Hometown:
Huntington Beach, CA
Grindlinger has quietly had one of the better summer circuits of anyone in the class, hitting at every stop he's been at. A physical catching prospect from Huntington Beach, Grindlinger is one of the best catch-and-throw guys in this class. He has solid athleticism and moves well behind the dish with a very strong arm, throwing out would-be base stealers with ease on numerous occasions. He's a near-lock to stay behind the plate long term. At the plate, he does expand the zone a bit, but he does a great job of fighting off strikeouts.
It's a powerful swing with solid bat speed and he's shown an
ability to adjust to off-speed pitches, handling them well this summer. He'll
pepper the gaps with line drives and there's considerable raw juice in the bat
during his BP rounds, primarily targeting his pull side. It's a fun profile to
dive into. He'll be on the older side, as he'll turn 19 during All-Star Weekend
in 2025, though he's got the tools to be signed away from his Mississippi State
commitment.
30. RHP Grayson Boles, Saint Augustine (CA)
Height:
6’4
Weight:
215
b/t: R/R
Draft Day
Age: 18 YR 9 MO
Commitment:
Texas
Hometown:
San Diego, CA
At 6'4, 215 pounds, Boles looks every bit like a future workhorse starter. A projectable athlete on the bump, Boles moves fluidly down the bump and repeats his delivery well. While he's more of a low-90s arm currently, he's shown mid-90s velocity in shorter stints this summer and the pitch possesses a lively nature, especially on the top rail.
There's some flatness with his approach angle and as he matures, the expectation is that he may sit more in the mid-90s. That's an excellent recipe for a heater that projects to miss quite a bit of bats. He's flip-flopped between an upper-70s curveball and a low/mid-80s gyro slider, both of which have quality depth and project well.
He's used more
of the slider this summer, flashing short shape with nasty bite when he's on.
There's a fading mid-80s cambio in there, too. Given the athleticism and
repetition of his delivery, there's a good chance he'll grow into more
strike-throwing. A SoCal native, Boles is committed to attending Texas.
As the Mets will be picking 40th, none of these guys will be available.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but many find these reports enjoyable and informative
DeleteThe individual prospect profiles are dominated by second round and beyond targets
You beat me to that comment Tom
ReplyDeleteWho needs Holliday when you’ve got Acuna? I mean, really?
ReplyDeleteI understand Mack and thank you, but I couldn’t help but be a little arrogant.
ReplyDelete