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2025 MLB Draft: Top 75 Collegiate
Prospects
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.
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