On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the
upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending
with the pick for 1.1
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -
#26 Kyson Witherspoon
RHP Oklahoma
20/years old
6' 2" 206
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 |
Control: 45 | Overall: 50
Scouts have followed the Witherspoon twins since high school,
with the Diamondbacks trying to sign Malachi to an over-slot bonus as a
12th-rounder in 2022. Though they have similar stuff, Kyson since has surpassed
him as a prospect after performing significantly better in their first two
college seasons at Northwest Florida State JC and Oklahoma. He has much more of
a starter look and could climb into the first round in a thin college pitching
class.
Witherspoon has swing-and-miss stuff, starting with a mid-90s
fastball that peaks at 99 mph and stands out more for its power than its modest
life. His mid-80s slider can touch 91 mph while featuring both horizontal
action and depth, and he'll occasionally turn it into a low-90s cutter. His
upper-80s changeup is a work in progress that gets too firm but will show
interesting fade at times.
Witherspoon uses a compact arm action to generate quality
stuff with little effort. With his athleticism and mechanics, he should be able
to develop at least average control and command. When he misses the strike
zone, he often does so by too big a margin to induce chases, and improved
ability to locate his pitches could make him even more overpowering.
2-26-25 –
MLB mock draft 2025: Projecting first round for 2025 MLB
Draft
https://sportsnaut.com/mlb/mlb-analysis/lists/mlb-mock-draft-2025/
19. Baltimore Orioles: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
Kyson Witherspoon, the 20-year-old junior college transfer,
had an impressive 2024 season for Oklahoma. Over 17 games (11 starts),
Witherspoon had 90 strikeouts in 80 innings, averaging 10.1 whiffs per nine
innings. However, he did give up 40 walks, so he needs to work on his control.
He has an above-average fastball and slider which play well. The O’s have an
overabundance of position player prospects, but not on the pitching side.
Witherspoon could change that.
2-10-25
FLO Baseball - 2025 MLB Mock Draft 1.0-
https://www.flobaseball.tv/articles/13555752-2025-mlb-mock-draft-10-nats-stunner-with-the-no-1-pick
No. 30 Baltimore Orioles: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
Baseball
There are some high school player options here, but
Witherspoon is among the best college pitchers in the country entering the
season with a fastball that has touched 99 mph and a solid slider.
1-22-25 –
Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03
20. Kyson Witherspoon – RHP
HT/WT: 6’2/206 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Oklahoma | Age:
20.11
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.
This culminated in an appearance for Team USA and a stint
with the Chatham Anglers, both of which produced loud appearances and cemented
his status on the circuit.
Kyson’s one-two punch with his fastball and slider is utterly
dynamic. The heater has sat in the mid-90s and reached upwards of 99 MPH with
excellent life on the top rail of the strike zone, averaging over 17 inches of
vertical carry with some arm-side run.
His mid-80s slider is a plus offering with bullet-esque
shape, firming up into a cutter around the 90 MPH mark. There’s excellent bite
with some late sweep, averaging close to five inches of horizontal movement.
He’s tinkered with a solid change-up with tumble and fade in
the upper-80s, flashing average or better with a whiff rate over 45%.
His arm action gets inconsistent and stabby, leading to
command woes, but he fills up the strike zone and has a good chance to start
long-term.
1-16-25 -
An Early Look at the Top 30 Prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft
https://lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2025/01/15/top-30-prospects-2025-mlb-draft/#google_vignette
26. Kyson Witherspoon,
RHP, Oklahoma
Working with a mid to upper-90s fastball and a power slider,
he has the chance to move up boards with a strong spring. There is a lack of
proven college starters in this draft, and that could help his stock.
Top 50 college baseball prospects for 2025 MLB draft, per
D1Baseball
9 Kyson
Witherspoon RHP Oklahoma
12-10-24 –
Here's Pipeline's first full 2025 mock draft
https://www.mlb.com/news/first-full-2025-mlb-mock-draft?partnerID=web_article-share –
27. Guardians: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (No. 26)
Witherspoon's power fastball/slider combo and the lack of
slam-dunk college starters could allow him to rocket up Draft boards if he has
a big spring.
8/11/24 - Sports Gambling Podcast - 2025 Mock Draft
Kyson Witherspoon is an intriguing power pitcher who can
pepper the high 90s. He supports the heater with a hard slider and can throw a
changeup and curveball- consistent command is a work in progress, but he mowed
down Big 12 competition in his Sophomore year. Witherspoon posted an 8-3 record
with a 3.71 ERA, 90 K, 40 BB, and 80 innings pitched.
https://soonersports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyson-witherspoon/18788 -
2024: Perfect Game Midseason All-American … led OU with 3.71
ERA in 80.0 IP, 11 starts, 17 appearances and 8-3 record … 90 strikeouts to 40
walks … combined on one shutout and earned one save … had a 6-1 record in
conference play with 57 strikeouts to 21 walks … struck out four in 4.1 IP,
surrendering no runs and just three hits in a win over No. 9 Tennessee (2/17) …
earned first win of the season in first start as a Sooner, going five innings
and striking out three in a win over Wright State (2/24) … struck out eight and
got the win in five innings of relief, surrendering just three hits and no runs
with two walks at No. 12 TCU (3/15) … struck out a season-best 11 in longest
outing of the season, going 7.2 innings vs. West Virginia, allowing one run on
one hit and two walks (3/23) … fanned eight and got the win in 5.1 IP vs.
Kansas State (4/13) … stuck out at least six in seven of final eight starts of
the season … started the NCAA Norman Regional opener and got the win in 6.0 IP,
striking out nine and surrendering just one hit and no runs in a combined
shutout vs. Oral Roberts (5/31).
Prior to OU: A transfer from Northwest Florida State College
... appeared in 17 games with 69.2 innings pitched ... had a 3.10 ERA with 72
strikeouts.
High School: A right-handed pitcher from Fletcher High School
in Neptune Beach, Fla. ... ranked as a top-60 shortstop and top-280 overall
prospect in Florida and a top-430 shortstop and top-500 overall prospect
nationally by Perfect Game ... high school coach was Michael Grillo ... has a
twin brother, Malachi, who is also on the team.
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