Prospect Live: 2025 MLB Draft: Top 75 Collegiate Prospects
FULL LIST –
1. OF Jace Laviolette, Texas
A&M
Height: 6’6
Weight: 230
B/T: L/L
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 7 MO
Hometown: Katy, TX
At 6'6, 230 pounds, LaViolette is an extremely physical
left-handed bat with some of the most robust power in the entire country.
LaViolette has already cranked 50 home runs in his collegiate career and he may
end up amongst the likes of Eddy Furniss and Frank Fazzini on the all-time list
in the NCAA ranks. It's a controlled, violent, left-handed swing with a ton of
bat speed and an optimal bat path for doing damage, as he's a legitimate
all-fields power threat and has cleared the 115 MPH exit velocity threshold in
2024. His hips clear out quickly, allowing him to get leverage in his swing and
do significant damage.
The plate discipline is also solid, as he rarely expands
the zone and has a knack for racking up the walks. Yes, strikeouts are part of
his game, but he's got time to polish up the bat-to-ball skills. Despite his
size, he moves quickly on the basepaths and in the field. He split time between
all three outfield positions in 2024, though he logged a majority of his
innings in center.
His size, actions, and arm strength are suited better for a
corner outfield position and that's where scouts envision his future home.
2. OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson
Height: 6’0
Weight: 180
B/T: L/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 10 MO
Hometown: Hartsville, SC
Cannarella stepped onto campus as an infielder, but a
roadblock in the Clemson infield gave him an opportunity in center field that
he has not relinquished. A gamer in every sense of the word,
Cannarella is a
dangerous hitter with some of the best contact skills in the entire country.
It's a lovely left-handed swing built more for line drives right now, but he's
shown flashes of raw power to the gaps and to his pull-side. There was a
noteworthy change in Cannarella's approach in 2024, as he upped his fly ball
rate and tapped more into his pop, as his average exit velocity was ~91 MPH.
This led to higher swing and chase rates, though his bat-to-ball skills didn't
waver much and his swinging strike rate was under 8%. That'll play.
Cannarella
figures to stick in center field long term, as his instincts, routes, and glove
grade highly and give him the tools to handle the position. He also has
above-average speed, though he didn't flash it this past spring due to a labrum
injury he suffered in February. Assuming he returns to the field with a clean
bill of health in 2025, Cannarella has the toolset to be a top-ten pick.
3. RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa
Barbara
Height: 6’2
Weight: 180
B/T: R/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 2 MO
Hometown: San Diego, CA
The best mid-major arm in this class, Bremner has a
legitimate shot at being the first arm off the board thanks to fantastic
athleticism, starter traits, and exceptionally loud stuff. Bremner's body is
uber-projectable with skinny, lanky limbs and the delivery is as easy as it can
get, featuring little to no effort and excellent body control down the bump.
His case for best arm in the class gets better with the arsenal. Bremner's
fastball has seen a jump in velocity, sitting in the mid-90s presently and flashing
97-98 MPH in shorter stints with Team USA this summer. He can vary the shape of
the heater, showcasing quality carry upstairs with some flatness and more
tailing action at the knees.
His change-up is his bread and butter, a
double-plus offering with screwball-esque shape, high spin, and excellent
velocity separation off the heater in the low-80s. Bremner has huge confidence
in the pitch and can command it exceptionally to both sides of the plate. The
slider has taken a jump forward, as well, becoming a two-plane monster with
late bite in the upper-80s this summer. There's a chance for three
above-average or better offerings with above-average command.
4. OF Devin Taylor, Indiana
Height: 6’1
Weight: 215
B/T: L/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 6 MO
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
A physical left-handed bat with strength throughout his
frame, Taylor is a legitimate power threat with burgeoning raw juice and he
lets his quality athleticism play on the field. He built upon a stellar
freshman campaign at Indiana with a .357/.449/.660 slash line and blasting
twenty home runs, the first Hoosier to do so since Alex Dickerson smacked
twenty-four in 2010.
Taylor's pitch recognition is strong and his pure contact
improved, jumping to a rate just under 80% in 2024 with chase rates that grade
out as average. He's short to the baseball with a ton of bat speed and
strength, allowing him to tap into his above-average to plus power in-game. His
power plays to both sides of the field, utilizing the opposite field more this
past spring, though the power plays better to his pull-side.
There's a good
likelihood that Taylor will get some playing time in center field for the
Hoosiers in 2025, though his average arm and speed, paired with his route
running, likely relegates him to a future left field role. If he can prove to
handle the "eight" in 2025, he may wind up being the first college
bat off the board.
5. LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida
State
Height: 6’1
Weight: 192
B/T: L/L
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 3 MO
Hometown: Tampa, FL
After a rough freshman campaign in Tallahassee, Arnold
exploded onto the draft scene in 2024, striking out 159 batters in 105.2
innings to the tune of a 2.98 ERA. Arnold generates a ton of scap retraction in
his delivery, but he's on time with his arm and he creates a tough angle to the
plate with a slingy release.
His fastball rarely cracked 90 MPH in 2023, but in
2024, Arnold's average velocity jumped to ~94 MPH and topped out at 97 MPH. His
release point averages 54 inches in total and his heater has solid carry and
run with flatness, allowing the pitch to jump on hitters quickly and miss bats
aplenty.
His mid-80s sweeper is his best secondary, landing the pitch for
strikes consistently and averaging over ten inches of horizontal movement. He
commands the pitch well and there's some backfoot capabilities to righties.
It's as dynamic of a one-two punch as you can find in the amateur landscape.
Arnold has feel for a mid-80s cambio that has some depth and fade to righties,
though he's shown struggles commanding the offering. Given the arsenal,
command, and starting traits, Arnold's chances of being the first arm off the
board are high.
6. OF Brendan Summerhill,
Arizona
Height: 6’3
Weight: 195
B/T: L/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 8 MO
Hometown: Chicago, IL
If you're looking for an outfielder that flat-out hits, look
no further than Arizona's Brendan Summerhill. A long-levered, projectable
athlete, Summerhill broke out in a big way in 2024, slashing .324/.399/.550
with 32 extra-base hits in 58 games for the Wildcats. It's a beautiful
left-handed stroke with easy motions, lightning-quick bat speed, and an uncanny
ability to backspin the baseball.
There are very little holes in Summerhill's
swing, as he has posted elite whiff rates (87% contact rate in 2024) and
possesses great barrel feel. Summerhill likes to utilize the gaps often and
there's legitimate pull-side juice in the stick, getting up to the 110 MPH
barrier this past spring and given the projection, there may be more in the
tank.
Summerhill has posted above-average to plus run times and his defensive
instincts give him a solid chance of playing center field, though he may get
moved off to a corner spot in due time. He has the arm strength to handle right
field if such a move occurs. All in all, Summerhill is in line for a massive
junior campaign and has put himself into legitimate first-round conversation.
7. SS/3B Aiva Arquette, Oregon
State
Height: 6’4
Weight: 220
B/T: R/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 8 MO
Hometown: Kailua, HI
Born in the same town as former New York Met Sid Fernandez,
Arquette made the trek to the West Coast and flourished in his sophomore
campaign for the Washington Huskies, slashing .325/.384/.574 with 27 extra-base
hits.
With Jason Kelly returning to the SEC, Arquette went south to Oregon
State, where he'll suit up for Mitch Canham's group in 2025. Arquette's tall
and projectable frame stands out on film and while he's played shortstop
recently, he fits better at third base long term, where range, strong arm, and
instincts will play. Offensively, there's not a ton of warts.
Arquette's feel
to consistently backspin the baseball to all fields is impressive and the
overall power profile is robust, recording an average exit velocity of 93 MPH
with a maximum of 112.9 MPH. That will come down a tick in pro ball, but it's
every bit of above-average to plus pop. The contact skills are strong too,
handling velocity and spin well. He does get overly anxious and is in no rush
to take a free base, something that scouts want to see ironed out in 2025.
Overall, it's a potentially robust offensive profile with the defensive chops
to handle the hot corner.
8. 1B/OF Henry Ford, Virginia
Height: 6’5
Weight: 220
b/t: R/R
draft day age: 20 YR 11 MO
hometown: Charlottesville, VA
A draft-eligible sophomore, Ford is built much like an
automobile mechanic. He's extremely physical with plenty of strength throughout
his frame and he's a solid athlete despite his size. Ford has quality barrel
control and a ton of bat speed and loft, allowing him to tap into legitimate
plus power in-game. Ford does a great job of handling velocity, especially
against 95+ MPH, though his overall swing decisions and spin recognition need
work.
Ford loves to swing the bat and will be aggressive with his approach,
expanding the zone often, especially against breaking balls. His front foot and
leg lift may give him some fits on adjustability, too. It'll be interesting to
see what changes Ford can make to fend off some strikeouts in 2025.
Defensively, Ford has been subjected to first base on campus due to Virginia's
offensive depth, though it's been confirmed that he will be tasked with
handling right field for the Cavaliers in the spring. Shedding the first base
label will help take pressure off the bat and improve his draft stock.
9. C/OF Ike Irish, AUburn
Height: 6’2
Weight: 201
b/t: L/R
Draft Day Age: 21 YR 7 MO
Hometown: Hudsonville, MI
One of the most decorated recruits to make it to campus after
the 2022 draft, Irish has cemented himself as one of the best SEC hitters in
two years since. Irish has a beautiful left-handed swing that's direct to the
baseball with quick hands and loud bat speed. Irish's swing plane and bat path
are relatively flat, which makes him conducive for a hefty amount of ground
balls.
He does showcase leverage at times and can tap into average or better
power to his pull-side, though he'll need to find a bit more consistency with
that to avoid a ground ball rate over 50% like he had on the Cape. With that
said, he has solid contact abilities and fends off strikeouts, though his high
swing rate and aggressive nature means walks don't pile up often.
Irish's
defensive abilities behind the plate have gotten better, though there's a
chance he's moved to a corner outfield spot. His receiving and blocking skills
are fringe-average right now, though he's got a very strong arm that would
certainly play in right field. This is a bat-first prospect with a lengthy
track record of hitting that can't be ignored.
10. C Luke Stevenson, North
Carolina
Height: 6’1
Weight: 200
b/t: L/R
Draft Day Age: 20 YR 11 MO
Hometown: Wake Forest, NC
Stevenson was highly touted out of high school last summer,
but he chose to uphold his commitment to North Carolina and it has paid
dividends for the freshman. He's eligible as a sophomore due to his age in 2025
and he's in line to be one of the first backstops off the board. He's built
like a stereotypical catcher with a stout lower half and present strength
throughout his body.
He's got explosive motions out of the crouch and handles
the run game well, showcasing a strong arm and pop times to second have been
clocked at 1.9-1.95 seconds. He's a standout receiver, as well. Offensively,
scouts have raved about the bat. Stevenson can get a bit overwhelmed by spin,
but he possesses excellent barrel feel with quick hands and legitimate power to
both sides of the field.
He's already posted multiple exit velocities above the
110 MPH echelon in Chapel Hill and there's feel to lift the ball consistently.
It's hard to find a catcher with these kind of tools on both sides of the ball,
but Stevenson certainly has them.
